Walk 7 Llangennith to Llanelli 18th-19th August, 2013

Getting the miles in whilst we can now before the weather lets us down - it's been so kind to us! Set off early to Pen Clawdd, our middle of the walk this weekend and where our Gower taxi would be waiting! Mike the taxi! The Gower would only offer buses otherwise which we find unreliable and not all that pleasant a method of transport when other options are available..So back to Hillend campsite to resume the Rhossili beach walk!

Just beautiful to walk across here to leave the beach then at Burry Holms and up and over Spaniard Rocks

to Broughton Bay where we now overlook Carmarthen Bay and the Loughor estuary! Fantastic views back to Worms Head too! My philosophy for the day was that our walk is a bit like life - we stand at headlands and adjudge where we've come from and where we're going to next....ha! ha!
Stayed on the dunes past 2 more caravan parks - quite nice ones too. around to Hills Tor at 194 feet high. Lovely views once more towards Whiteford Point and its cast iron lighthouse and nature reserve.

We turned the corner here though instead of adding 2 extra miles around the reserve and had a lovely walk through pines and out to Llanrhidian Marsh where we walked for the rest of the day really. On the edge of the marsh really with lots of sheep (more grey ones!) and ponies and pretty sea lavender. Got a bit lost past a little hamlet of Landimore and saw Weobley castle high above us. Then we neared Llanrhidian and took a break at the Dolphin pub. Lemonade along with a plate of local cockles - delicious!

Don't understand why people don't like them - they are undersold. Katherine Jenkins's ancestor was a cockle picker. A long walk then along a little road alongside the marsh into Crofty where we saw the cockle processing factory and all around here the cockle shells are used for footpaths etc. Lots of mallows flowering here and I decided they must be "marsh mallows" - oh dear......The seabirds were very noisy as the tide was coming in as we rounded the headland to begin the walk back into Pen Clawdd to pick up the car and head to the hotel near Llanelli, the nearest I could find for tonight!

Day 2 saw us head back to Pen Clawdd and after unsuccessfully finding a cash machine or a post office, we set off in the right direction! Had an interesting meet with a chap at the hotel who had been racing his Lagonda ar Pembrey yesterday and was upset because an Alvis beat him! Also read with interest a book published in 1943 about the owners of the house where we stayed, the Humphreys of Llwyn Hall. He had written poetry and she had written prose articles about the area and the seasons. The path out of Pen Clawdd ran parallel to the busy road but far enough away not to be too intrusive.

We soon had to cross the road to go up into fields where we got a bit lost once more - we both seem to miss signs at the same time - oh dear! Great views over the estuary and towards the bridge over the Loughor - how come this is the biggest estuary we've met so far and we've never heard of it? The path turned into an old hollow way - very pretty!

Reached Gowerton where we dropped down to a "marsh" road once more - the other side of the estuary looked so far away! Made our way to the edge of Loughor town, past its ruined castle in a park and so to the bridge soon dropping into the Millennium Park at this juncture looking a bit forlorn to be honest but very lovely none the less. Nice walking then with good marshy views! The park contains the Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust and its visitor centre kindly let us enter just for refreshments! Continued along the edge of the marsh - you can't believe how much marsh there is and knowing the extent of it on the other side too, it really is amazing! Lots of wild parsnip here in seed - even a warning as we had entered the park near the visitor centre not to touch it as it caused skin reaction...we only found out a couple of years ago that parsnip leaves can be very toxic for skin! Lovely views across the estuary to Whiteford Point.

Eventually we came in sight of the settlement of Machynys - Ynys being Welsh for island, this settlement used to be an island in the 18th century. It was soon taken over by industrialisation and became a centre for iron, copper, chemicals until the 1970's when it was demolished to make way for new housing - very nice it is too now. We headed towards the town passing various blue signs remarking on Llanelli's industrial past. Near where we passed there had been a floating dock until 1951 used in conjunction with the copper works which was the third largest in the world in the 19th century. We passed the site of the works as we headed to the station and awaited or train back to Gowerton where we were met once more by Mike who took us back to Pen Clawdd ...and home!

Lovely places, lovely couple of days dedicated to our friend Terry Burton who sadly died Saturday night from cancer. Bless him.

Walk 6 Mumbles to Llangennith 11th-12th August, 2013

We had been eagerly awaiting the Gower walk and now we were here! Having left the phone at home, the photos for this walk are from disposable cameras...better than nothing we decided! See what you think...

It was a bit of a cloudy start but not for very long, the sun soon burned through...we headed over from Mumbles pier, past the lighthouse which you can only peer at really round the corner sort of thing. This was a typical coastal path with all the ups and downs and in and out of coves and beaches! It was quite busy at first passing the lighthouse, Langland Bay, Rotherslade and Caswell beaches on a very well made and wide path.

We met a few lovely people to chat to on our travels but were finding that tourists aren't really interested in donating to however worthy causes....

It was relatively easy going but then we had some field crossing and then dropped down to Pwlldu Beach which was beautiful with its stone boulders at the back of a pretty beach with the tide out a little..

but then it was very steep going up out of the cove and around Pwlldu Head..and we hadn't done much climbing so far. Lunch was most welcome as we sat on the top and looked at the lovely view and the vast distances we'd covered! We could still see Port Talbot and its smoke as we rounded the Head past Oxwich beach a little further on! We dropped down on to the beach shortly after lunch on the tops!

Three Cliffs beach adjoins Oxwich making a truly enormous one with the tide out and this meant we could beach walk this next part - wonderful!, and it meant we missed the heavy going of up and down through the dunes. The 3 cliffs can just be seen to the right of the picture - they are amazing and you can walk under them through an arch to an even bigger beach behind where Pennard castle stands. About 4 miles of beach walking was refreshing with boots off and a lemonade at the Oxwich Bay cafe was most well received. Then up we went once more passing the 6th century St Illtyd's chapel in the woods. We had thought of walking along the beach further but rocks soon took over from the hard sand so it would have been hard going on the ankles so the climbing was preferred overall...Lovely walk through cool trees and onto a grassy path beneath high cliffs - different scenery once more!

The last mile of 16.14 total was long and so the B and B a welcome sight - and very comfortable too - The Rickyard in Port Eynon.

Day 2 saw us leaving Port Eynon around 10am in the sunshine once more. Eynon is named after an ancient Welsh prince and Port Eynon is the most southerly point on the Gower. Port Eynon has a pretty beach which we crossed with the tide out and walked up to the Point from the Youth Hostel - what a lovely place for one. Superb views from the top of where we'd been and where we had to go...and so we dropped down to Overton beach..

and around the other side..

Lovely walking along the clifftops with fabulous views. Passing Longhole Cliff where Cave Bear, Mammoth and other bones have been found but which is not for public entry so we had to go inland a little. Amazingly slim cliffs when we got back to the coast - and some grey coated sheep - and soon first views of Worms Head, named after the ancient Celtic mythical dragons. Lovely coves all along until we came to Mewslade Bay 

where we saw Ruth Wignall off the telly news - missed opportunity for sponsorship publicity.....views to the coves we'd passed were really lovely. Worms Hear soon in full view - and very busy it was too! With the tide out lots of people were walking across.

We enjoyed lemonade once more in Rhossili before dropping down onto the beautiful beach....voted the 3rd most beautiful in Europe recently (the top one being Rabbit beach in Sicilly - don't know Italian for Rabbit, sorry). Another super beach walk - the path normally goes above the beach but with the tide out it was too tempting. There were many steps to drop down to it! Lots of razor clams here and it was a bit windier. Saw a chap earlier in the day who was on his 35th day walking the path the other way round so had 700 miles under his belt. Didn't envy him though, he wasn't sure what day it was and can't have had time to stop and stare much. We left the beach about halfway along and headed for the Hillend campsite and up to the village of Llangennith to await our taxi at the Kings Head where we'd eaten the night before....

Walk 5 Swansea Bay 24th July, 2013

Well..a bit delayed in getting up-to-date with our walks. It's been a lovely summer, hasn't it, so other interests took over too! So to get us to where we are today....first of all was Swansea Bay on a beautiful summer's day and all the better because our grandsons were able - and willing! - to walk with us! We found a suitably placed, if expensive, car park, near the docks and off we set. first of all in wrong direction but as we headed over the old jetties, a gentleman guided us back to the coastal path signs. Interesting too as he explained to us that his father had been a fisherman here, following the herring, but like in lots of fishing communities, it suffered and died due to overfishing...(by the Spanish too)..a heritage to remember.

Lovely views as we rounded onto the bay front and of course onto the beach - irresistible to 2 boys! Tide was out and going further out - Swansea is a big bay!!

Had such great fun - the boys ran for miles, even venturing onto the dunes at the back of the beach by the prom.

Lunched at the 360 degree beach cafe and then continued along the bay. Many sand drawings were done

 and a game of throw the lime was enjoyed when the boys found a substitute ball.

 They enjoyed following in footsteps....

The beach did seem to go on for ever that afternoon and although we were amazed at sand sculptures - we wanted to stop to do one really - we did decline visiting an amazingly busy park and stuck to the vast openness!

So we pressed on and dried out Alex's shirt after he fell in the water! He did lots of writing his name in shells too. Saw lots of cockle shells..inevitable in this part of the world..and also lots of slipper limpets here. I used to call them devil's toenails but in fact they are only available as fossils! the more accurately named slipper limpets are in fact imports and not really good for our own seafood types. A bit like grey squirrels etc!

We pressed on and had to leave the beach as we approached the Mumbles and take to a footpath accompanied by cyclists and roller bladers...and an occasional little prom train which had its own little stations.....

....and as we passed the purple house, we had some rain so the dry T shirt was wet once more - but not for very long!

We walked in the end to Verdi's Cafe approaching the pier as we couldn't see anywhere else to have tea - and we were hungry! Afterwards we eventually caught a bus but had to walk back again to the bus stop in the town...5 went the other way before ours arrived.....then a longish walk to the car from the bus station. About 6 miles in 6 hours - well done all of us!

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??