Monthly Archives: July 2014

Felindre Farchog

Posted on by under Uncategorized

28/7/14

The “Navigator” had decided on a walk near the west coast resort of Newport starting and finishing in Felindre Farchog.

Route

This was another warm July day. The route started uphill straight away and an early stop was made to shed some clothing (memo to self, always check nothing left behind).

We walked into the grounds of Pentre Ifan Urdd Centre and turned onto a footpath where I discovered I no longer had my camera. Bother (censored expletive) I must have left it where we stopped earlier on. Most unlike me I rushed back and thankfully there it was.

Retracing our steps the trip continued and a welcome coffee break was had at the cromlech of Pentre Ifan

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From here we headed to the Ty Canol Nature Reserve with its odd shaped outcrops of rock. and on down through the ancient woodlands which has a huge collection of rare lichen

At the main road we crossed over and through Llwyngwair and back to the car following the Afon Nevern.

As a post script the fast walk caused some pain to my knee some 24 hours later but thankfully resolved itself by Friday. No more rushing about, stick to the plod.

Mynydd Mallaen

Posted on by under Uncategorized

21/7/2014

The Sunday evening chat with the “Navigator” resulted in a decision to walk in the Mynydd Mallaen area.

Route

We parked the car in the woodland car park in Cwm-y-Rhaeadr and walked uphill through the woods and then onto the open ground.

A coffee break was had at the waterfall at Craig Ddu.

There were extensive views from the top of the fall.

We then climbed steadily towards the trig point and the standing stone seen on the horizon. The weather was very hot and we lunched on the highest point we could find to have some breeze. From here we headed  along the path clearly shown on the OS map back to the woodland of Cwm-y-Rhaeadr and back through the woods where we came across the sculpture of a horse.

Newgale to Caerfai and St Davids

Posted on by under Pembrokeshire Coast

17/7/2014

I had been thinking of walking a tretch of the coastal path to take in Dale but because of weather and timings decided to change the route and walk from Newgale to Caerfai Bay on day 1 and then continue around the coast to beyond St Justinians and back to St Davids to catch a bus back to Newgale.

Route Day 1

Route Day 2

Our first day was very hot but at least there was some sea breeze to help.As I live in West Wales I am biased but the Pembrokeshire coast is stunning and today the sea was perfectly calm.

 

 

 

This stretch of the coast includes my favourite coastal town where I have had some excellent family holidays and you will have to agree that Solva is a jewell.

 

 

 

 

We continued on around the coast and ended our first day in Caerfai where we spent the night at Glan y Mor campsite. I can recommend this site, flat, quiet and with good facilities. We never did see the owners but left our fee in the honesty box.

The next day was not so good weather wise, with on and off rain and high winds.. We packed up and walked on past Porthclais and  around the corner where we spent  some time looking at the sea running between the mainland and Ramsey Island with the impressive Bitches causing huge waves.

As we walked towards St Justinians I was a little perplexed to see a huge crane adjacent to the lifeboat station. A ranger explained that a new lifeboat station was being built to house the recent addition of a brand new lifeboat and to help with the installation of an experimental generator which would use the tides to generate electricity.

He also told us an amusing story of a  recent visit by a chap from the body which lists various buildings. The current station took over from an old stone built station which is hidden from view under the cliffs.  Apparenty the official gentlemen only saw the current station and listed that!  They are now going through the process of de-listing and re-listing  the correct building. You couldn’t make it up.

Still chuckling we continued our walk along the coast and cut back inland at Porthselau. The rain had now forced us into full wet weather gear and embarrassingly we accepted a lift from a bus whose driver took pity on us! This was a lucky break as when we were dropped off in St Davids the bus to Newgale pulled in, result.

We celebrated the walk with a coffee and cake in a cafe in Newgale.

Llanddarog to Clyne Farm and Back

Posted on by under Cycling

15/7/2014 and 16/7/2014

My brother-in-law, Andy came down from Chester for what is becoming an annual “boys week” where we try to have some bikepacking, backpacking and where possible a canoe trip.

The forecast for the week was looking favourable and the decision was made to take the bikes for two days from 15/7/14 and then backpacking for two days and a one day bike trip to round things off.

I had decided to use the cycle  trip I had used last year from my home in Llanddarog and cycle to the Gower with an overnight at Clyne Farm and return the following day.

Route out

Route back

With bikes packed we set off heading on roads towards Cross Hands and then joining the cycle track which takes in the old mineral railway line down to Llanelli where it joins the Millennium Coast Path which leads to Lougher Bridge.

We stopped near Sandy Water Park for a coffee break and on to Lougher.

From here there is a cycle lane and quiet roads leading to Gowerton which then joins a traffic free route all the way down to the Gower at Mumbles. On reaching the coast we cycled around  to  the well known watering hole of Verdis. It was full to bursting and so we found another outlet for a welcome ice cream.

It was then time to cycle back along the coast and then climb steadily up towards Clyne Farm. To be honest it meant a push as the hill is very steep. It does however give good views once at the top.

We soon had the tents erected, showered and sorted out our evening meal.

Despite some 35 miles of cycling we walked back down to the seaside and enjoyed a couple of pints in the West Cross and of course back up the steep hill!

I slept well but I vaguely heard the patter of rain during the night.

We packed up wet tents in the morning and set off back to Llanddarog. The weather did improve and we stopped for a coffee break near the North Dock in Llanelli and then pedalled our way back home.

 

 

Llangranog

Posted on by under Uncategorized

14/7/2014

This was the coast walk that wasn`t. The Navigator had suggested a walk on part of the Wales Coast Path from Cwm Tydu to Llangrannog as a welcome back from my sojourn in Canada.

Route

We parked in the carpark uphill from the beach at Llangranog and commenced our inland stretch of the walk heading towards Cwm Tydu. However we came across worrying signs of a diversion and met a party of walkers who explained the coastal stretch we were heading for was closed following a landslide.

However ever optimistic we continued on well way marked paths until we saw an official notice confirming the closure.

We walked to the headland above Cwm Tydu where we had lunch and the retraced our steps back to Llangrannog.

The website of the coast path did indeed show a landslip had occurred but with no notice of its planned opening.