It was the midsummer of 2012 and we were having a quintessential British summer holiday. The mid-afternoon sun played the annoying game of hide-and-seek and where clouds gathered in patches occasional drizzle of rain fell on the earth. The earlier promise of warmer weather did not materialise with the temperature struggling to reach the supposed average of 20°C. Fully wrapped under three layers of clothing, I was in a slightly grumpy mood.
We were exploring Snowdia National Park in North Wales and found ourselves
driving along its 200-mile coastline. The shimmering blue waters of
Cardigan Bay stretched almost endlessly over the horizon where it would
eventually meet the Irish Sea. The road was pretty quiet for a weekend although
we would frequently meet cars with dogs or children or both turning off to one
of the side road leading to caravan parks and beaches along the shore. We followed one of these signs just after the
town of Harlech and found ourselves in a nearly full tiny car park next to a camp site with no living soul around. On a signboard by the car park
meter, we found the map of the area and discovered that we were in an estuary, a place where the river meets
the open sea.
The beach is hidden by a towering sand dune with a long wooden walkway leading us to the water's edge. It was nearly deserted with only a handful of holidaymakers scattered along the sandy beach. A family with kids was building sand castles, lovers strolled just close to the shoreline before the waves would touch their bare legs and a couple of men were holding on to their kites as they sped off on skating boards along the beach. No one touched the water, people don't go to the beach to swim here. It would be too cold.
On that small hidden piece of paradise, we sat down to rest and waited for the sun to come out and give off the much needed Vitamin D. As I embraced the calm that came with such an idyllic setting, I thanked God for the breathtaking beauty of nature and for the unselfish men who have done so much to preserve these wonders that the future generations might be able to enjoy them too.
The beach is hidden by a towering sand dune with a long wooden walkway leading us to the water's edge. It was nearly deserted with only a handful of holidaymakers scattered along the sandy beach. A family with kids was building sand castles, lovers strolled just close to the shoreline before the waves would touch their bare legs and a couple of men were holding on to their kites as they sped off on skating boards along the beach. No one touched the water, people don't go to the beach to swim here. It would be too cold.
On that small hidden piece of paradise, we sat down to rest and waited for the sun to come out and give off the much needed Vitamin D. As I embraced the calm that came with such an idyllic setting, I thanked God for the breathtaking beauty of nature and for the unselfish men who have done so much to preserve these wonders that the future generations might be able to enjoy them too.
For more of the beaches in Snowdonia:
http://www.visitsnowdonia.info/beaches-76.aspx
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