It was a lovely walk along the promenade on the side of the estuary here - if a little windy to start. The tide was in - apparently last night was one of the highest tides of the year around here at least. We had stunning views across to Llanrhidian, Whiteford Point and then Burry Holms - the scene of our previous walk along the Loughor estuary. We were following cycle route number 4, a seemingly coastal route, running parallel here with the railway. Apparently the National Cycle Network now has 10,000 miles of cycle tracks in the UK provided by 54 million of Lottery money. This path is particularly wide and splendid and a joy to walk too! The Llanelli Scarlets were celebrated in a park we passed.
And soon after we passed a nature reserve where we spotted herons and white egrets in the trees (Julia saw them really) - a phenomenon I've not seen before!
Just near a village called Pwll, there is a memorial plaque to Amelia Earhart who landed in the estuary here on her first cross Atlantic flight. Lots more wild parsnip, scabious, meadowsweet, clover, vetches and a little sea lavender.
We watched a dredger setting off as we rounded the headland going towards Burry Port. Very pretty views as we headed into pretty Burry Port both back to Llanelli...
..and on into Burry Port.. which must look so different now as a smart marina as opposed to the coal port it used to be. The coal mine owner who built the port to be free of taxes from Llanelli, died soon after the port here was finished! Across from the harbour is a lovely little lighthouse and over the estuary you can see Whiteford Point and its lighthouse.
It was near here where we met Tony who stopped from his cycling and had a chat and gave a lovely donation - thank you, Tony! More about Tony later too. Further donation here too so it was a good day all round! After light refreshments at the Lighthouse Cafe, we continued along more dunes to the right of us again and then the marshy estuary to our left. By now the sun was blazing down too! Soon after we had to turn into Pembrey Forest as the beach further on is owned by the RAF for bombing practice, not today luckily! But we had seen and heard the bombers when we were approaching Worms Head a couple of walks ago. It was then a long trail through the woods...
...which was OK and Chris found a well-placed log for our lunch...enabled us to spot interesting things...lovely pines,
more willow herb and grey willow herb, orchids, ragwort, hemp agrimony, silverweed...so much...common blues..
We did lose our way a little really but never mind..we emerged close to Pembrey racing circuit and airport. Although we'd heard the racing engines we didn't actually see any racing but decided it sounded like bikes this week. The airport was a bombing station in the War and apparently Guy Gibson was here and we wondered if Richard's Grandad had been here too as he was a Dambuster, who was also Welsh!
We trudged on bravely through a field of bullocks, good practice for what came the next day as it turned out! Final lap into Kidwelly was alongside a road and then on to Kamlas Ceymer canal, the oldest in Wales built for coal transport in 1768! The canal ending at Kidwelly Quay - now a pretty ruin.
Arrived back at station and the CAR! Into the town for a drink..Chris tried a bottle of Tomas Watkins, Blodwen and although it looked a bit odd (cloudy), he pronounced it very tasty! On to the marvellous B and B Caenewydd Farm where we re-met with Carole (we met her as we passed the farm to go to the canal a little earlier!). We had a really warm welcome along with a smashing pot of tea and shortbread! Carole was a terrific hostess - thank you!
We had a meal that night at Anthony's Hotel - which was very filling and soon after we all had an early night after a coffee and briefing for the next day!
Day 2 saw us enjoying a hearty breakfast on a really beautiful morning. We bade farewell and Carole gave us a huge donation - thank you so much! Car left again at the station and off we set. Only down part here was that we didn't have time to pass the very impressive castle which Chris and I visited 3 years ago. It really is impressive sitting on the river Gwendraeth most spectacularly. It was used in the opening filming of Life of Brian - the knights who go "ni"! Also legend has it that Princess Gwenllian bravely opposed the Normans here - not the English! Apparently the black cat that is the Kidwelly "logo" is based on an ancient word for Kidwelly linked to the word "cat". We had a good view over the Gwendraeth though. Swans and cormorants were swimming too.
Lovely riverside walk and then a little road walk uphill with good views back to Pembrey and Worms Head! Soon turned up through fields..more flowers...a toadflax here.. and wild strawberries..
Made our way steeply up to Llansaint, a pretty village, where we met Cath, Tony's wife who we met yesterday. He had asked us to visit when we met so we popped in. Unfortunately Tony was out but Cath made us really welcome and gave us much needed drinks! Cath and Tony had done so much fundraising, Tony on his bike and latterly together on a tandem. They had cycled down the Nile, over the Rockies, so many places and raised a lot for Velindre and then I believe for Marie Curie research. Cath was a lovely, really inspiring lady....thinking of her was to help greatly later in the day when spirits were low! Thank you Tony and Cath and very best wishes from us. Their lovely garden had fantastic views to Worms Head and onwards to Tenby and Caldey Island, with in between, Lundy Island just off the North Devon coast, visible today with the clear blue sky!
Leaving the village we walked many fields, some quite steep, and then we got our first views of the river Towy and Llansteffan castle on the other side.
We son dropped down to a minor road and into the pretty village of Ferryside which we liked very much.
We lunched on the beach of the estuary across from the impressive castle ruins of Llansteffan. At the end of the village we were soon back on tracks past farms and then over a field of bullocks which was a bit daunting more especially because we were lost and then had to re-cross their field! Later rather than sooner we re-found the path.....
Through more fields and down more tracks with good views of the Towy river which we were kind of following.
We soon got back to a minor road passing through a village of Croesyceilog and down into Carmarthen which seemed a long way away....Julia and Richard did a great job at pace setting - thank you!
So got the train back to Kidwelly and the car! Our getting lost had meant we had to catch a later train then intended so not home til 8.30. Still we had the pleasure of our eldest daughter and her husband and our 2 boys waiting for us!
So another 29 miles .....over 200 now....how many more can we manage before the weather and dark nights take over??
Don't forget to look at www.justgiving.com/Pamela-Mallpress or text RADN82 to 70070 just saying £1, £2, £5 or £10
Thank you - see you again soon!
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