A grand day out

The forecast was for a sunny hot (30°C) day, so MrM suggested heading for the west coast. I had in mind the Antony Gormley sculptures in Crosby, and maybe red squirrels in Formby. But MrM had other ideas, and we drove to Hoylake in the Wirral. The tide was out and we were able to walk on the beach (1st extra, looking back to Hoyland) out to Little Hilbre Island (2nd extra) and back. Lovely to be beside the sea again!

Next stop was the Wirral Country Park where, in need of refreshment, we bought ice creams. They were eaten while we sat on a bench overlooking the Dee Estuary, watching the tide coming in.

I had guessed that MrM wouldn't be able to resist going across the border into Wales, so it was no surprise when did just that and drove over Horseshoe Pass (3rd extra, limestone strata viewed from the pass) and on to Llangollen, where we enjoyed a pub meal.

MrM declared that our final stop was a surprise, and indeed it was. I didn't guess until we were almost there - the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (main Blip), which I've wanted to visit for a while. We walked along the towpath over the aqueduct, and back again, which I really enjoyed, though MrM was perhaps a little less enthusiastic! Some great views of the surrounding countryside (4th extra, with the shadow of the aqueduct) from the towpath.

After that we drove back home, meandering through the Welsh countryside, and through Derbyshire. A really grand day out.