Day out with the Cornish

It had been a year ago since Mike and Daz, my Cornish friends, had come up to Wales. So I could have expected a message saying they were due again. They appeared just when teaching petered out. Good timing!

They were up for either an above ground or underground trip, but they had already done a massive hike, so I figured an underground trip would be more fitting. I didn't have buckets of inspiration, but I did mention which venues I had visited the past year. And one of these was a mine they hadn't been in before. They had been in a few meters, but then turned back. This might have had something to do with the cold water you encounter pretty much immediately. But now they were up for it. And we’d meet up there.

It was great to see them! And we got kitted up. After a while we went in. We first did the lower level. They had never seen a chute like that before! Or a wagon like that. 

Then we went up and checked that level out. And then it was time to head into the deep cold water. And we checked all the way to the end. Nice drippies, nice laddered shafts, nice artefacts. And then we went back out. Time to warm our feet back up! 

Mine level

Ladder going off into oblivion 

Crawling through a partial collapse with black speleothems

Decorative bottle

We changed, had a drink, and then decided to have a look at a nearby mine entrance none of us had seen before. How could this one have escaped me so long? I now know where it is. I might recce it before they come back. And then we went back to their accommodation. By that time I was ravenous! So I was keen to get lunch somewhere. And we settled on a nearby pub. I don't think any of the food touched the sides.

In the pub we made plans for the afternoon. Mike wondered if there was anything interesting to see in some area that boils down to the easternmost part of the Lleyn peninsula. I thought of the hillfort: Tre’r Ceiri. And we decided to go there. But I said I first wanted some tea.

We went back to their accommodation where I found a kettle and a big flask. So I did my thing. And then we could go!

It is a fair drive there. But quite a lot of the road is beautiful, so that was okay. And by the time we got to the layby that functions at the start of the standard walk up to the top, it was about 4:15. A bit late to start a walk! But this one wouldn't be huge.

We started our way up, and quite soon we got to the outer wall. The men were impressed! And it is quite an impressive structure. We had a little wander around, imagining what life would have been like when this place was still inhibited. We were most wondering about the issue of drinking water. But we didn't linger too long. We were back at the car in about an hour. 

Hillfort selfie

Notice the outer wall and hut circles

When we got back we had one more hot drink in their accommodation. And then it was time to go home. It was really time for the cat to get her dinner. But it had been a great time! And I'm sure they'll be back next year. I look forward to it already Maybe they will even do both a summer and a winter trip! That wouldn't be the first time…