Sunday the weather was grim with rain all day but this being the UK, Monday was glorious and the “Navigator” and I set off for a walk from Stackpole in Pembrokeshire taking in Bosherton Lily Ponds, the beach at Broadhaven South following the coast to Barafundle and back to the car.

Route

There had been some fog from my village east of Carmarthen which had cleared  by the time I picked up the “Navigator” and the day just got better with blue skies and warm sunshine.

The lily ponds at Bosherton were mirror like, the surfaces only disturbed by the occasional cormorant, coot and assorted ducks.

Barafundle Bay is often mentioned in the best beaches in the world list but I prefer Broadhaven South.

From the latter we walked the coast taking in Stackpole Head and on to Barafundle Bay.

Here a number of sand artists had drawn Christmas messages and I joined in but  certain Facebook “friends” pointed out I had the year wrong!

Thankfully the tide will erase  my error. Anyway the sentiment is well meant.

This was the “scorchio” week and the decision was made to head for the coast where there  was bound to be sea breezes but it was not to be.

Route

We parked the car in Middle Mill a hamlet just up the road from Solva. From here we walked a lane to Whitchurch and then onto the old St Davids Airfield now a  SSSI.

Our coffee break was had in a postage size piece of shadow and then via lanes and footpaths down to the coast through Trelerw.

On reaching the coast path turned east heading for Solva.

With lunchtime approaching we were desperate for some shade or at least a breeze. There was none of the former and despite being on a high cliff overlooking the earthworks of an old fort there was little of the latter.

Following our food break we continued into Solva and back along the lanes to our car in Middle Mill.

Our usual Monday date was postponed because of stair rod type rain and so Friday was chosen. Unfortunately the “Navigator” takes politics seriously and had stayed up late to witness May’s humiliation and his own tiredness.

The theme for the day was to be flowers and St Davids the venue. When we arrived the first thing we noticed was a new roundabout and road had been built since our last visit.

Route

We set set off  in a westerly direction first along a footpath and then lanes leading to Porthselau on the coast where people were happily sunbathing.

Following coffee we then turned north passing Whitesands Bay and onto St Davids Head for a lunch stop.

Whitesands Bay with Carn Llidi

The return journey was via the shoulder of Carn Llidi passing the Youth Hostel and along the narrow lanes barely wide enough to accommodate tractors and pedestrians at the same time!

The flower theme follows.

Echium

Orchid

Honeysuckle

Foxglove

Yellow daisy type flowers.

With Mr and Mrs Navigator keen to show off their tan lines from a break in gran Canaria a walk was arranged on the Pembrokeshire coast. The forecast was heavy rain until about 1130 and sun thereafter and so we motored slowly and had our morning coffee break in the car above Abermawr beach.

Route

It was still raining as we set off but this had not deterred three Park Rangers busy digging out a new path near the beach.

Abermawr

Our route struck inland through a woodland which in a few weeks will be covered in wild garlic, and then onto lanes leading down to Abercastle and the coast.

Abercastle

Abercastle beach

he knew Trump was coming!

The sun was now shining and we had a grand walk back to the car at Abermawr.

The famous Pembrokeshire wall climbing sheep

We came across this little shrew busily chewing on an obviously tasty leaf and took very little notice of us as we busied ourselves taking his/her photo.

Cute

Abermawr

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.

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!

Pwllgwaelod beach

The other Pen y Fan

Cwm yr Eglwys

Cyclamen

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.

Here’s the link about the fund

Aberbach

Westerly winds!

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

The 31 October and here we are walking in shirtsleeves. Today’s venue was a circular walk based on Newgale,  Pembrokeshire.

Route

I was surprised to see a reasonable surf breaking with a couple of surfer dudes out enjoying themselves. With the tide ebbing we walked onto the beach  to Pwll March and then cut up along a rather overgrown path to Pen Y Cwm.

North Newgale Beach

We turned up a road past some houses and continued along a path which the further we went the wetter it became until we hit a minor road.

Where did I leave that tractor?

Here we turned south until the village of Roch was reached and where we had lunch in the village play area.

Suitably rested we continued on tarmac in a south westerly direction until we came to the coast at Nolton Haven and then north following the coast path back to Newgale.

Nolton Haven

A chimney which is all that remains of a coal mine

Whilst in Roch I received a very curt text from my wife who was clearly not best pleased that I had treated myself to a slice of home made Christmas cake which she was keeping for a good friend. A similar incident took place a few years ago. I can report that the cake was delicious.

The “Navigator” had decreed that today we would head for the coast with a little inland to start with and so we parked up in the National Trust car park at Stackpole Quay.

Route

The day started out a bit damp but brightened up as the day progressed. From the quay we headed towards Barafundle Bay and then inland to cross the estate and onto Bosherton Lily Ponds.

Looking down to Stacpole Quay

Stackpole Head

Looking toward Barafundle Beach

One of the ponds/lakes

Eight Arch Bridge

We stopped for lunch on a piece of high ground overlooking the ponds and the lilies which were still in bloom.

Two of many orchids

From here the path led down to the beach at Broadhaven South with views of Bishop Rock in the bay.

Broadhaven  South

Church Rock

The walk now was along the coast path with views of Stackpole Head and then down and across Barafundle Bay and back to the car.

Looking down into a huge collapsed cave

We saw choughs, a kestrel and a gannet. The latter was diving for food just off Church Rock.

Andy and Fran were down in Paradise (aka Tenby) for the Easter Break and with Thursday looking particular fine weather wise, Andy and I drove to Freshwater west on the Pembrokeshire Coast for a circular walk.

Click on any links for further information.

Route (the start is not shown but it is the car park at the north end of the beach)

Freshwater West Tide in

In my kayaking days we spent many a day kayak surfing off the beach and it was here that I discovered that a capsize in a rip tide sent one out to sea and not back to shore!

The weather was indeed excellent with shirt sleeves being the order of the day. I take the clarity of the sea around this coast for granted but Andy a Sheffield lad thought the sea was grey whilst growing up on the east coast and realised on a scout trip this was not so everywhere.

The above photos are not the most welcoming.

We spotted a number of choughs flying around the cliffs but no seals today.

Lunch was had next to a dismantled gun emplacement overlooking Rat Island before carrying on to West Angle Bay. We had a choice now to shorten the walk by walking along the road through Angle or carrying on around the coast – the latter won.

East Blockhouse – looking for the Armada

Thorn island

Possibly importing gas

As we turned the corner near Thorn island the Milford Waterway appeared with a number of ships moored up probably carrying oil or LPG gas. A new visitor centre had opened recently at Chapel Bay where renovation of a defence installation was now open to the public.

Carrying on around the coast we passed a pub which was doing a good trade with patrons enjoying a drink on the outside seats – we declined and walked on through Angle and back to our car via a footpath cutting across a newly ploughed field. This would be a mudfest after rain.

Angle Church

Quiet moorings

Freshwater West – tide out

The day ended back in Tenby where we met up with our wives and a big plate of fish and chips.