Day 4 & 5 - Llanrhystud to Aberystwyth and Aberystwyth to Ynyslas
Updated: Mar 14, 2024
As I embark on this fundraising hike, I'm thrilled to announce the completion of the first leg of the journey! Over the course of five days, I've covered an impressive 134.67km / 83.68 miles.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of Nick, Gabrielle, Vanessa, Teresa, and Nigel on the ground over the few days, as well as the unwavering encouragement from my base camp at home and my partner Meg.
5 more things I've learned so far
At the end of day 5, I'll share 5 more key things I've learned so far.
Climbing mountains with a 20kg bag is HARD. (This may stay in every blog at this point).
There is still so much good in this world. I'm experiencing the kindness of strangers, friends and family every single day.
I love Aberystwyth and all the people I know there.
Drinking beer the same day as walking 20km will get you drunk quicker.
Sleeping in a toilet block isn't as bad as it sounds.
Day 4: Llanrhystud to Aberystwyth (19km / 505m elevation gain / 3hrs 42mins walking)
Last night I slept on my sleeping mat in the brand new toilet block of Morfa Farm Caravan Park which is closed until Easter. The family who run the site are actually friends with one of my old school teachers and someone who lives not too far away from base camp (shout out to Mrs Jenkins). Being able to sleep indoors on a heated floor rather than out in the cold was a welcome surprise after the 28km that day.
I started the day at 8am and headed to the local shop to grab a sausage roll to energise myself ready for another day of climbing and descending.
I was on a mission to get to Aberystwyth as quick as I could for two reasons. The first was knowing that I had a room waiting for me in Harry's Hotel, Bar and Bistro - the place I enjoyed working at for over 2 years. The second was because rain was forecast at 2pm, with a weather warning of high winds and surprisingly not something I wanted to walk in.
My fitness felt good as I meandered over hills, the sight of Aberystwyth dipping in and out throughout the morning. The burden of my backpack had eased on my shoulders since the initial days, and I was making good progress towards reaching Aberystwyth just as the weather was expected to change.
Arriving at Harry's at 12:30, I made exceptional time and was greeted with a pint bearing my name. Spending the evening with friends Jack and Steph, I indulged in a few too many beers, aware that the next day's walk was shorter and one I knew well.
Day 5: Aberystwyth to Ynyslas (& back into Borth) 22.03km / 405m elevation gain / 4hrs 21min walking
After my first lie-in of the journey, and with thanks to Vanessa and the rest of the team at Harry's, I set off at 11am after a full breakfast and a sausage sandwich in my bag ready for lunch.
Today was another exciting day as I was being met at Borth by another family member, Nick, who was letting me put my bag in his van, and who walked with me to the final destination of Ynyslas to finish the first section of my walk.
Blessed with fantastic weather, I leisurely savoured a stroll I had undertaken countless times during my time living in Aberystwyth. I started by "kicking the bar", a local Aberystwyth tradition in which you simply mark your end of the journey on the promenade by kicking the white bar.
I was reminded that this trek would never be entirely effortless as I encountered challenging moments on the steep slopes under the hot sun with the weight of my bag making itself present once again.
Meeting Nick in the wonderful small village of Borth, we set off along the beach to the most northern point of the Ceredigion Coast Path for the obligatory photo.
We wandered back into Borth via the river, where I was staying with Gabrielle, Nick's friend, who owns the wonderful cafe Uncle Albert's.
The following morning, Gabrielle guided me through the breathtaking Borth community gardens as we took a stroll around the village. Big thank you to Gabrielle and Nick for their unwavering kindness and support.
Loving these!