Earlier this summer we—Josh, the Outsiders buyer, my partner Katie and our two boys Eric (9) and Jem (6)—took to the Welsh Coast Path and covered some miles on the Llyn Peninsula section. It wasn’t quite the 2000 mile thru-hike dream, but it was our first multi-day / multi-night family walk.

In the most part the weather stayed kind; the campsites were well spaced for kid-length days; the route-finding was easy (keep the sea on your right); and we all behaved reasonably well.

Starting from Morfa Nevyn and ending in Aberdaron, we spent nights at Penrallt Coastal, Porth Iago and Mynydd Mawr campsites and though we carried enough food for the whole route, we bought food everywhere we could.

To save you a step by step account of the trip (a repetitive read of Jem sitting down and refusing to move over and over), we thought we'd share a few photos—from an old camera with the wrong date set—and ask ourselves a few questions:

What was the best bit?

Jem: Seeing the seals.

Eric: I have a few. The very start because I couldn't believe I was on the walk. Seeing seals! And just before bedtime at the campsites each night was a really nice feeling.

Josh: Maybe being given a pack of biscuits by a German couple; maybe the full English breakfast at Traeth Porthor; maybe the thick clag that came down on Porth Iago beach; maybe just the feeling of setting off; or the one of finishing… And seeing the seals, obviously.

Katie: Honestly everything about it. It felt like such a privilege to walk like that with the children, even when it was difficult. I loved seeing Ynys Enlli from the cliffs and sneaking down to the sea with Jem at 5am. Also seals.

What was the hardest bit?

Jem: The really hot day.

Eric: Being persuaded to go through the field with the cows and calves and the BULL!

Josh: Trying to figure out getting the bus back to the car at the end – and getting off the bus with all our stuff…

Oh, and breaking the news to everyone that I’d walked us half a mile past the campsite on day one when everyone was tired (and needing the loo).

Katie: Like Eric, the bull! And getting on the bus to go home was hard. It felt quite emotional, I would have gladly kept walking.

What was your favourite bit of gear?

Jem: First aid kit.

Eric: The Swiss army knife.

Katie: My walking boots. 

Josh: It was the first time I used the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe with the inbuilt igniter which was great, but the light weight tents and mats (MSR Hubba Hubba and Freelite Solo tents and Thermarest NeoAir XLite mats) were the biggest help in terms of weight saving when carrying enough for the four of us.

Do you have a tip for other people?

Jem: Try and walk on a warm day, but not a really hot day.

Eric: Go to the toilet at every proper toilet. The best temperature for walking is probably between 15°c and 20°c.

Josh: I had thought 8-ish mile days were going to feel too short, but without rushing around, and moving at kid friendly speeds carrying more weight than we were used to from day hikes, the daily distances felt just about right… so yeah, don’t push it on the distance maybe.

Katie: I agree with Josh about distance. I was really disappointed we were only planning about 8 miles a day but more would have been too much for the boys, especially in the heat. Take a high spf lip balm. And also, don't take it too seriously if your children tell you this is the worst thing you've ever made them do and they're never going for another walk ever again. Because really they loved the whole thing.

What would you do differently next time?

Jem: Go in autumn.

Eric: Go at a cooler time of year.

Josh: Try some of the food we carried for the trip before we left – we were last minute sorting food and took pots of porridge and sachets of coffee that were pretty awful and carried them the whole way without eating/drinking any more than the first ones we tried…

Katie: I don't know what I'd do differently. Try to make our own food and freeze-dry it. Maybe too ambitious. I think next time I'd like to walk a more varied terrain perhaps.

What was the best animal you saw and best food you ate?

Jem: Seals and choughs. Golden veg rice on the first night.

Eric: Seals, diving gannets, and choughs. Noodles in a green titanium cup cooked on the rocks by the sea.

Josh: I liked the Six-spot Burnet moths. The chips from a cafe we didn't think woud be open that we had with some packet lentil thing... and the noodles on the rocks.

Katie: I always love the choughs. The bull was pretty impressive too though to be fair. An apple.

Favourite campsite?

Jem: First one. Everything about it.

Eric: First one but the toilets did have too many spiders – 8/10. Second one – 7.7/10. Last one - 7/10.

Josh: Yep, the first night, at Penrallt Coastal Campsite was my favourite. It wasn’t glamping and if you want facilities that don't have resident swallows it might not be for you – but it was perfect for us. It had a relaxed vibe and the owner was great for an interesting chat.

Katie: Agreed, first one. I liked the last one too but mainly because no one else was there really.