Destination bridge

Abermaw/Barmouth, Gwynedd As I turned north again, I looked over the parapet into the blue, opalescent water that the ebb tide was swirling seawards

I have used the bridge across the mouth of the Afon Mawddach many times, but probably haven't given it the attention it deserves. Usually, arriving here marks the end of the long walk down the estuary from Dolgellau and I have been pushing for a feast of vinegar-soaked chips while waiting for my train home, or to seek a pint and a warm fire, depending on the weather. This time, I made the bridge itself my destination.

This venerable structure was built mostly from heavy baulks of timber, but has an arched iron span at the northern end, which once swung open to allow the passage of shipping. It carries both the single track of the Cambrian Coast railway line and a wooden deck that provides a short cut for walkers or cyclists who wish to avoid the much longer journey via Penmaenpool.