Walk 4 Ogmore-Swansea - 21st-22nd June, 2013

We have a busy few weeks coming up and the forecast wasn't great for Sunday so off we set on Friday morning to Port Talbot Parkway station.

Caught 8.48 to Bridgend and there took a cab to Ogmore Castle. Across the stepping stones by 9.30...I wasn't awfully keen on them halfway across!

Ogmore castle was reputedly one belonging to one of the 12 knights of Glamorgan about whom we found out quite a bit this trip though we had never heard of them before. Pleasant walk into the new landscape of dunes! And there are acres of them on this walk! Sighted lovely flowers en route again - even orchids!

Some phenomenal beaches were crossed too (sometimes the sand was a little soft for easy walking..). The first was over the Ogmore estuary to Porthcawl.

Lovely sea views all along from Porthcawl reaching the lovely Rest Bay and then approaching Kenfig Sands...so much sand!

Soon though we had to leave the sea behind as the path has to be diverted around the steel works -I understand it will be re-planned later this year which will make so much more sense for a coast path...

You can just see the steel works on the top right hand corner over the dunes...
It was amazing to see the depth of dunes we had to cross, then we arrived at the Kenfig reserve visitor centre...which was shut! That longed-for coffee and respite were not to be! We did though catch a view of the long gone Kenfig castle, smothered by the sand. It was once belonging to a knight of the 12...and the dunes were full of what I think is some kind of rock rose, lovely!

Then began the road walk into Port Talbot, made easier by the lovely people. Some even stopped their cars ahead of us and walked back to give us a donation and those in the traffic queue were equally kind - thank you so much!!! We were SO tired when we got to the car and retreated to the hotel which was on the promenade so we had a good sea view and the sun even shone a little over the Gower.

The start of Day 2 wasn't too auspicious...the wind had rattled the windows in the early hours and the rain was spattering the window. But after breakfast it looked a bit brighter and it wasn't wet so off we set! It was a lovely walk over Aberavon promenade and down to the beach and dunes once more..so much sand!

Rounding the dunes at Baglan Bay we passed another power station...a shame we need them but we do! I did see more orchids even here and so many flowers. The ladies fingers are now going to seed but the yellow and purple vetches have taken over with the ox-eye daisies .....and the buttercups just keep going! Walking alongside the amazingly wide Water of Neath, we could see the M4 and A48 bridges looming and knew the road walk started there on the A48....we did see though the floating dock built by Isambard Kingdom's father, Marc Brunel. Last used in 1959 and now in poor state and alongside a tower housing a hydraulic ram invented by George Armstrong of Cragside renown.

Not a happy walk for the rest...just a trudge along the road, getting wet through and blown about crossing that A48 bridge you see up there...there is a temporary diversion going into Swansea which means that rather than having a pleasant (I should imagine..) walk alongside the Tennant canal, you just stay alongside the dual-carriageway. We did see pretty flowers in the verge - even oil seed rape has naturalised hasn't it?

So we were very relieved to finally find Swansea station and head for the car at Port Talbot, very weary! Couldn't show our T shirts today either so no donations....just go to www.justgiving.com/Pamela-Mallpress if you would like to support!

A bit of a holiday coming up so it will be near the end of July when we can make the next walk...really hope the weather may be a bit more like summer then....

Walk 3 Barry to Ogmore..9th-10th June 2013

Sunday 9th June saw an early start to get down to Llantwit Major. Bit sad as we were leaving our little girls behind...
With the car in the station car park off we set to Barry (should we get senior citizen railcards??). Having walked through the town we headed for Barry Island. It seemed that my blogger friend who has passed this way before us also had trouble finding his way here ....there did not seem to be a sufficiency of coast path signs to follow....had Gavin and Stacey stolen them we wondered? The guys at the yacht club let us through and saved the day as we found ourselves at Jackson's Bay, back on track!

A lovely lady called out "Pam!" I thought it was someone I must know but she was a lady who has also done fundraising for Velindre and she donated - thank you!  The rest of the walk on the island was fine and then we headed off to the mainland and along a  long promenade where we had a drink and some welsh cockles - delicious!



Passing the ruins of a Roman settlement we had a steep climb up the bank to a country park. There followed some up and down paths with good views through the hedgerows of the coast. Soon we had to cross a large caravan park and then dropped down to the sea again and lunched on the now large pebbly beach. Already we've seen so many changing faces of the coast.

Off then to the most southerly point of Wales - Rhoose point. Not a very grand announcement of it..

The cliffs from here and the land immediately behind them have been the scene of much quarrying over the years. They really are magnificent, towering cliffs - many cliff hangers waiting to fall... we passed by Aberthaw power station, which interestingly also uses woodchip as fuel...nice chat here with a man about mullets....or were they? The path then continued along a kind of pebbly levee - not that easy to traverse..

and a bit worrying as we had a huge hedge at the landward side of us...steps soon became evident at Summerhouse point then it was field edge walking to Llantwit leaving behind the views of North Devon - it seemed so close! It had been a long, hot day. Llantwit is a lovely little town - worth another visit. Reminded us a little of Malmesbury - lots of history. Great meal at the Old Swan!
Day 2 began looking like it would be hot again but luckily the cloud cover prevailed more than yesterday overall. Still warm though and the sun would out at the end of the day. North Devon wasn't to be seen for much of the day - the mistiness stopped the view. Lovely walking with fantastic cliff views. We came across the huge St Donat's College - known now as Atlantic college. A private 6th form for all nationalities it seems. It was once owned by newspaper magnate Randolph Hearst. The views here were lovely looking back down the coast.

We soon approached Nash Point with its lighthouse which is the only working one in the UK where you can get married!

After the lighthouse we came across a little cafe where a good cuppa was enjoyed and we had a good chat with the owners who told us the path had to move away from the coast here for a while as the landowner wasn't pleased that people were picking - even digging up - rare plants there. Why do some people spoil things for the majority? We had some fun about not being able to see England that day too! We also met there a couple from Chippenham and had a good chat and received another donation - thank you!

Passing lots more stunning views of mighty cliffs and awe inspiring limestone pavements way below us,

we eventually came to Dunraven castle - or the site of. It was demolished in 1963 - not sure why....death duties? It must have been a very special private place - its own bay and all!

And so we approached Ogmore by the Sea. Sadly the pictures of the rock formations here just don't do them justice. It must be a geologist's dream to be there. We stopped once more for a drink before the final lap to Ogmore itself and hailed a taxi from the beautifully named pub, The Pelican in her Piety! The train was 1 hour late from Bridgend to Llantwit and the station was full of Rihanna fans going into Cardiff so it was entertaining!

Surprisingly this weekend we didn't see that many birds - none in the cliffs strangely. We did see lots of blue butterflies and the thrift and pink campions are flowering profusely. Lots of the woods were full of Harts Tongue ferns and the hedgerows full of clematis. Cows and horses of the levees have given the fields up to sheep and arable now! So another 28 miles or thereabouts completed.... Porthcawl awaits now across the Ogmore estuary in 2 weeks' time all being well.

Thank you again for your support everyone! If you prefer to send a little by text, it's RADN82 £2 (for example) to 70070

Walk 2 Newport to Barry - 2nd-3rd June 2013

Very proud with another 30 miles under the belt..or rather the soles of the feet. This time the weather was very kind, perhaps too kind. Sunday was the coolest but the one where we failed to apply enough sun cream, slightly red in the evening at Cardiff. Monday was just plain sunny! Mustn't complain...Car left at Premier Inn in Cardiff (sorry Jane and Joanna..) and train to Newport to resume at the Usk transporter bridge. No mean feat finding our way there through a not glamorous area of Newport...

With our Velindre T-shirts we thought we would find more sponsorship but apart from a taxi driver it wasn't that successful...thank you taxi driver, you know who you are! Walked along the levees again, saw the Uskmouth power stations in the distance and past the West Usk lighthouse with its tardis and all...Dr Who country now.

Saw a variety of mad creatures - a bull (luckily quite a calm one), a pair of mad dogs (a bit like the homeward bound pair, one short the other large and loud, looking a bit like Bullseye from Oliver...) and later a mad walleyed stallion and to complete the menagerie a pair of goats in the caravan site approaching Cardiff!
We also saw more oyster catchers, herons and very excitingly a pair of lapwings! Just not a camera good enough or a quick enough reflex to catch a picture!

The estuary views were fantastic. Could still see the Severn bridges as we left the coast for the night to trudge up Ocean Way to the hotel. About 17 miles so ready for a good meal and a good sleep....

Next day..set off at about 9.45 all sun creamed as the sun was hot! Very interesting walk around Cardiff Bay to the barrage and Penarth. Very quiet though we thought and all looks so new!

A bit sad that the levees have ended now. Completely different landscape now and the caravan parks are there in earnest but who can blame them they're in lovely places! Surrounded by lovely countryside and plenty of history...we even lunched in a World War II observation post - by golly it was cool!

The approach to Barry was very hot and not that interesting, the path mainly passing between the coast, which was lovely, and mainly residential areas. It was quite busy as we walked into the centre...the McDonald's provided a well earned rest and respite...

13 miles and ready for next week??