Is ARS getting bigger?

It is a question often asked, well sort of! And now there's a definitive answer.

On Saturday, ARS (Audlem Ramblers Society) tackled one the group's favourite walks – the North Wales Coastal Footpath starting from Conwy Marina and then along the coastal range of hills to Llanfairfechan.

The return is by train and, by good fortune, we have similarly posed photos from 2009 and 2011 at Llanfairfechan railway station. The top shot was taken this weekend with only Andy Davidson, the photographer, missing from the thirty one that walked the ten miles. The party couldn't quite fit on the station's footbridge steps.

The next photo was taken in September 2009. Andy did manage to get on this one and while it was taken with Chrstine Johnson's camera, we are not entirely sure who the photographer was. John Tilling is the likely candidate as he's missing from that year's party photo.

The bottom shot is of ARS on its hike through the splendid Welsh countryside in bright sunshine on Saturday. It's by David Carthy and captures the scene beautifully.

The route taken included about 1000ft of height gain over the entire length of the walk. Leaving Conwy Marina, the path climbs up behind Conwy Mountain with views back over Conway Castle and Estuary.

It then crosses the Synchant Pass before passing behind Penmaenmawr and finishes with a steep downhill section on a lane into Llanfairfechan. Along the route there are three stone circles where lunch was taken.

The footpaths are good and there are fabulous views out to sea including the Great Orme Head, Puffin Island, Anglesey and the Menai Strait.

After the train ride, it's through the middle of Conwy and then along the path beside the estuary back to the marina.

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