Tonfanau to Penhelig 24 June 201

Metal footbridge across R.Dysynni, from under railway bridge Lion's-mane jellyfish  stranded on shore Shells on beach at Tywyn

Parking by Tonfanau Station, we took the footpath across farmland to the coast, but the shore was totally stony.  The River Dysynni runs parallel to the shore before turning abruptly into the sea, preventing further access south.  We returned to our starting-point and walked down the road to the new coast path road leading to a shiny new metal footbridge over the river, replacing the road bridge that was destroyed some time ago.  This saved a long walk inland to get to the first road-bridge over the river and was therefore much appreciated.  A vociferous pair of stonechats, presumably guarding a nest, warned us off.  The footbridge brought us to the railway bridge and we followed the bank of the river underneath and round the sand-and-shingle promontory.  When we arrived at the open sea we continued south along the coast.  The beach had few shells here, but the dunes had most of the expected plants, including seaside centaury and lots of sea holly.  This brought us to Tywyn, a town with many caravan and camping sites, but very poor facilities along the front until we found the popular Pebbles café, where we could get a decent light lunch and drink.  A damp spot on the beach had sea milkwort, of which we have seen little in this area.  We continued along the promenade and past another caravan park until the beach-top path petered out.  We descended across shingle to walk the firmer sand of the lower beach.  This had an abundance and great variety of bivalves, although rarer deposits also included small gastropods.  There were also washed up carcases of huge lion’s-mane jellyfish, notices about which, warning swimmers to beware, we had seen the day before.  While examining the shells we continued to walk the 5 or 6 kilometres of wide beach until we rounded the corner of the Dyfi estuary below the town of Aberdyfi.  Where the golf-course, occupying most of the fixed dunes ended, we crossed them, past tall pyramidal orchids and fragrant evening primroses.  Passing under the railway, which continues to follow the coast, we came out on the main road just beyond Aberdyfi station, past banks of ivy with ivy broomrape, and walked through the rest of the town passing the harbour and lifeboat station, and taking in homemade ice creams from a little shop.  We entered Penhelig in time to catch the train back to Tonfanau. Beach/sky vanishing-point

Stonechat Seaside centaury Penhelig Arms from railway station