Pupils head for Wales

Seniors take a trip to Rhinogs...

and enjoy a splash in the sea!

For some years headmaster Mark Daborn has been taking forms 5+ and 6 (Y7 and 8) to the reservoirs in the Elan Valley as part of a water management module in the geography syllabus.

"This year I felt a change was needed. We therefore set off for a day’s outing to the Rhinog Hills above the Welsh coast near Harlech.

"Cwm Nantcol is a most beautiful valley that runs inland between Moelfre and Foel Ddu, towards the end of the Roman Steps walk that comes out between Y Llethr and Rhinog Fach. At the lower end of the valley is a camp site with a signposted walk showing and describing the features of glaciation that can be seen there.

"We had a picnic lunch by the stream, and introduced the basic principles of glaciation. Then we went around the walk, looking at and discussing the features there. Particularly fine are the examples of glacial striation, the giant scratch marks on the exposed rocks; the remains of moraine, the rocks eroded and pushed along by the glacier; and the truncated spur where the end of Foel Ddu was simply removed by the passing ice.

"After the walk, we drove to the top of the road that travels from Llanfair over to Talsarnau, and got out to look at the whole sweep of the North Wales coast from Bardsey right down to Aberystwyth laid out beneath us – with Snowdonia crystal clear to the North.

"Feeling that enough work had been done, the party repaired to Harlech beach, where frolicking in the sea took place (fully clothed!) before collecting supper from the very long-suffering and cheerful proprietors of the chippy at the foot of Castle Hill in Harlech.

"A twelve hour round trip, and good fun as well as useful geography. And the most amazing thing of all – if you remember what the summer was like for the most part – the sun shone warm and clear all day!"

Links:

Snowdonia National Park Authority

Snowdonia Wales Net

Harlech