Monthly Archives: November 2016

Dinas Island Pembs.

Posted on by under Pembrokeshire Coast

With the “Navigator” back from enduring high temperatures in Cyprus, today’s walk although with blue skies, there was a dramatic shift in the mercury.

Our destination was a walk taking in Dinas Island on the coast and a walk inland to obtain good views of the coast.

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Route

The car was parked at Pwllgwaelod and we walked clockwise around the headland. One could be forgiven for assuming global warming had gone mad as the highest point was Pen Y Fan. My last time up to Pen Y Fan I distinctly remember it was in the heart of the Brecon Beacons with no coastal view!

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Pwllgwaelod beach

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The other Pen y Fan

 

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Cwm yr Eglwys

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Cyclamen

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What is left of the church following a storm

From Cwm yr Eglwys we headed south crossing the main Fishguard road and onto Bwlch Mawr to the viewpoint for a lunch stop and fine views of the coast.

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Here’s the link about the fund

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Aberbach

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Westerly winds!

After food our route was west to the coast and back to the car.

 

 

Llanmadoc

Posted on by under Gower

Despite being  in the throes of man flu, cabin fever kicking in and a blue sky day,  I struggled from my sick bed and headed out with Paul to walk part of the north coast of the Gower at Llanmadoc.

Route

The walk was taken from the Cicerone guide “Walking in Gower” and being reasonably short and flat I thought this would help my recovery. At the car park we chatted to a local who recommended the Cwm Ivy cafe situated just down the road and we filed this away for the return.

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We walked under Cwm Ivy Tor and onto the beach which we followed around to Whiteford Point. A detour was made to look at the Whiteford Lighthouse, the only surviving inter tidal cast iron lighthouse in the UK.

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Our return route was adjacent to the salt marsh on one side and woodland on the other. The described route takes you along the sea wall but following a breach the path can no longer be used to get back to Llanmadoc. However the alternative is nice enough where we passed a renovated bunk house and then we were soon sitting in the Cwm Ivy Cafe where we pleased to find there was complimentary mulled wine and mince pies – result!

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A good end to a walk

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View from cafe

Cydweli (Kidwelly)

Posted on by under Carmarthenshire

The navigator had suggested a walk which was not far from our respective homes as they could not meet me until 1000 and Mrs Navigator had an important engagement with the W.I. that evening  and needed to be home early.

Route

I had been promised that at least part of the walk would be new to me and in fact the early part was indeed new. We parked in Cydweli and walked to the renovated quay area which overlooked the estuary of the Afon Gwendraeth Fach. There were a number of keen bird watchers here with some expensive binoculars and cameras. We saw curlew, egrets and various gulls and a a little further inland a kingfisher.

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Estuary of Afon Gwendraeth Fach

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Cydweli Quay

We followed the  canal until we met the road into Cydweli and then followed a bridleway/cycle trail crossing the main road and up onto Mynydd y Garreg. We had lunch near the school which provided excellent views over to Caldey Island and to the south the Gower Peninsula. At the summit of Mynydd Y Garreg the views again were extensive to include the Carmarthen Fans to the north east.

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One of the attractive green lanes

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Caldey island in the distance

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The Gower

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Near Mynydd Y Garreg Village Hall

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Carmarthen Fans in the distance

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Bacon!!

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Trumps view outside of USA

The walk now took us downhill  to the main Carmarthen Llanelli road where we climbed the other side of the valley heading for Llwyn y Barcud and the farms of Penlan.

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Any idea?

We had planned to take the byway from Penlan Uchaf down to Cydwel but that path was not obvious despite us all walking it some years ago. We may have been thrown by the building  of a huge barn close to where we thought the path was.

We decided to follow another footpath taking us in a more westerly direction and eventually back tot he car. Hey ho!!

Mynydd Myddfai

Posted on by under Carmarthenshire

Paul telephoned on Saturday evening proposing a walk on Mynydd Myddfai. We had walked this route back in the summer but had made a navigation error and the weather had been a bit grim and here was a chance to put things right!

Route

It was a good autumnal day and we parked at the village hall in Myddfai village. The route takes in the first part of the Physicians Well walk and then a gradual climb to the trig point on Mynydd Myddfai.

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A frosty start

On the lane on our way out we were passed by a number of 4 x 4’s and we saw them again on our way back. Some had two way radios and we also saw a number of people coming off the hill with dogs. I’m sure it was all legal.

Our ascent was watched by a group of mountain ponies. From the trig there were good views all around.

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Looking towards Carmarthen Fans

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Looking east from the trig point

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Our previous walk went a little awry  from here when we walked down the wrong side of the valley but being more observant this time all went well and it was a steady walk downhill and along lanes back to the village hall. It seemed rude not to have a coffee and a slice of bara brith.