COASTAL WILDLIFE WEEKEND
September 9-12 • Nigel Brown
Residential: £325 (single); £275 (shared) Non-residential: £175
A weekend exploring the coastline around Tŷ Newydd in the company of naturalist Nigel Brown.
Here is a brief itinerary:
Friday pm – arrival, registration and a stroll down to the glacial beach at the mouth of the Afon Dwyfor. Evening meal followed by an illustrated talk on Llŷn’s coastal wildlife.
Saturday – exploring western Llŷn – from the magnificent high headland of Uwchmynydd with its colourful heath and clamorous choughs we will scan Bardsey Sound for seabirds and cetaceans before exploring Porth Meudwy, the Pre-Cambrian cove where for centuries travellers have departed for Bardsey Island, Ynys Enlli.
We will briefly visit the coastal village of Aberdaron and its simple church overlooking the sea where the celebrated poet R.S. Thomas preached and drew inspiration from his congregation, wildlife and scenery.
Heading eastwards we drop down to the wide expanse of Hell’s Mouth, Porth Neigwl, whose extensive sands hide an ancient buried forest and whose soft seacliffs support a wealth of butterflies and other insects.
Return to Tŷ Newydd for evening meal and after dinner talk from invited guest naturalist.
Sunday – we focus on the great Glaslyn estuary around Porthmadog which teams with wading birds and waterfowl. Nearby sand dunes display an array of plantlife adapted to extreme conditions and the
attractive cove rich coastal path west of Borth y Gest offers great variety of plants and seashore wildlife.
Return to Tŷ Newydd for evening meal and a chance to review the weekend finds, consult the identification books and if the night sky is clear, engage in a bit of star gazing and discuss the tidal influence of the moon.
Monday – Return to the mouth of the Dwyfor to bird watch, then back to Tŷ Newydd for coffee and final thoughts on the natural history of the coast.
Nigel will also tutoring a course with Mark Cocker in October. Click here for details.
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