A CITY WITHOUT BEER

Just outside Prestatyn is the village of Meliden (see the map here) where Prestatyn Coachways could be found, with several 'deckers for schools etc.

Meliden is also home to the Miners Arms, a Marston's house when visited in 2007.

More Marstons at the New Inn in Dyserth.

Voel Coaches is based in Dyserth. Here are few vehicles at the depot.

A Lloyd's of Bagillt Fleetline passes by.

There was another bus company to be found at nearby St Asaph; Gold Star Coaches.

St Asaph has recently been given city status, but I've never had a beer there. There is a cathedral, though, seen from skyhooks (Photo by Visit Wales - Creative Commons License).

To the west, at Bodelwyddan, is an famous place of worship, dedicated to St Margaret, but better known as the Marble Church.

Ysbyty (hospital) Glan Clwyd is in Bodelwyddan and a Crosville Leyland National calls.

A walk into the sticks brings us to a local beauty spot by the River Elwy at Pont-yr-Ddol.

Our next stop is back on the coast, at Rhyl. Here's the sizeable railway station in LNWR times.

Semaphore signalling was still in place in the 1980s.

Some more modern shots taken in 2014.

There was also a railway on the pier.

Rhyl Miniature Railway opened in 1911 and is still operating today.

A couple of postcard views of the "Prom" at Rhyl.

Crosville Wales became the main bus operator in Rhyl in the 1980s and, by 1990, had a variety of minibuses.

Arriva later took over.

Arriva were running open-toppers in 2014.

Voel of Dyserth was operating competitive service too.

Other Rhyl services were provided by Lloyd of Bagillt and M&H Coaches.

Rhyl is not a great place to find cask beer. The Bee & Station is no longer a pub.

The Swan Inn is a decent pub, but has no real ale these days.

Therefore, we'll have to make do with the Wetherspoons; The Sussex.

We'll end this post here. Next time, I reckon we ought to reach Colwyn Bay.

TO OUR FIRST WELSH SEASIDE RESORT

The town of Flint, overlooking the mouth of the Dee, is served by a station on the line towards Holyhead.

Flint is home to a coach company that has had some interesting vehicles, including several Bedford VALs.

A Burlingham bodied Leyland Tiger Cub is retained as a "heritage vehicle" (Jim Sambrooks).

Further west was Bagillt station, since closed, photographed in 1962 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

There's another bus company at Bagiilt.....

They've had some fascinating buses over the years.

There was also a company called Hughes Coaches based in Bagillt.

At one time we could take the branch train to the town of Holywell.

One is obliged to go by bus these days. Some services were provided by Phillips of Holywell, with a depot in the town.

Lloyds of Bagillt run some stage carriage routes in Holywell.

Here's the former town hall in Holywell (Creative Commons License).

The Market Cross is the name of the town's Wetherspoons.

The Old Wine Vaults once served cask beer, but no longer.

The Red Lion, an old Ansell's pub, is closed now.

We're not doing very well! The Rock Inn at Lloc is also shut for ever.

Our next stop is the seaside town of Prestatyn. Here's an overview of it (Creative Commons License).

The High Street hasn't changed much.

Prestatyn has a railway station, served by trains on the North Wales main line.

A LNWR built signal box was still in use in 2003.

A 158 arrives in 2014.

There was once another railway in Prestatyn, as depicted on this postcard. The loco, Rhuddlan Castle, now runs in Hertfordshire.

Outside the station was the Royal Victoria - another closed pub now!

Thank heavens! Archies on the High Street has plenty of real ale.

At the southern end of town is the Halcyon Quest (HQ) where we will end today's post

Next time, we'll pass further west along the coast. Meanwhile, the route so far is here.