Friday 29 June 2012

LLANSTEFFAN AREA

With a month of poor weather and cabin fever not far away, not to mention the dodgy knee I was keen just to get out the house.

I telephoned my mate Chris for a chat and he mentioned that he was going for a short walk this afternoon to look at the ruins of the Pilgrims Rest at Llandeilo Abercowyn. I pleaded to go with him and  he agreed!

Route http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/e.php?d=20120629&u=129274

We parked the car near  Cwm Celyn farm and started to walk towards the farm.  The owner who was playing with his JCB said that his son had found a body that morning and the police were in attendance and may not let us through the land.  However we carried on through the farm and onto the footpath through the small copse and onto the Pilgrims Rest and the ruins of St Teilo Church.  The owner was very helpful and showed where the chapel was and gave some background to the Pilgrim's Rest.  The chapel was somewhat overgrown but the farmer hoped to take a strimmer to the growth soon.

The map shows the path going through the farm and then north along the Cowyn.  However there is now a short detour which leads east along the road and within a small distance a footpath sign puts you back on route.  I have to say this area is poorly sign posted especially as it now forms part of the Wales Coast Path, not to mention the ground was very muddy and full of holes made by cattle - but this is West Wales.

We turned right at the road at Pont Ddu and after about a half a mile at the T junction headed along the well signposted path into the woods.  Just past Gelli we turned south down the lanes back to the car just in time to miss the rain.

A 5.5 mile walk which gave me no knee problems and helped to blow away the cobwebs.

No pictures I am afraid.


Tuesday 5 June 2012

St Helens Circular via Seaview

A holiday on the Isle of Wight for the week commencing 26th May saw me tentatively trying to walk without the knee protesting. I tried a one mile route along lanes and fields with no problem and with other short walks things were looking OK. On the Thursday I thought it was time for a longer walk and decided on a circular walk from our base in St Helens, cross country into Seaview and back along the coast.

The route can be seen here.

We followed a footpath north from the Field Lane caravan site, passing a well hidden trig point (49).  It is usual to find these on hill tops not hidden in a wood. In one of the fields was a collection of cattle including bison, highland cattle and some unknown white cattle.



This path led to a road where we turned left and continued on into Attrill's Lane with spring flowers still blooming.


It is a feature of the Isle of Wight to see all footpaths sign posted with most showing a route number and destination.  I wonder if anyone from Carmarthenshire County Council is reading this!

We turned off this path and headed past Park Farm and then onto Calthorpe Road where we stopped at the Duke of Westminster for a shandy.  Much to our surprise the landlord was from Llandybie a village not far from our home and we had a short chat in Welsh!

The path next to the pub was then taken which led past a wildlife park and onto the coast. The coast path led into the quiet town of Seaview where we bought some posh sandwiches and ate them on the promenade next to the yacht club.




An interesting fact here is that the sign posted public toilets are actually in the local hotel!

Now refreshed  and toileted we continued our walk along the coast walking on the sands of Seagrove Bay and Priory Bay, attractive beaches backed by woods.




We stopped at the latter  for a sun break and read before continuing on to the beach just east of St Helen's.  This did include a rock scramble as the tide was heading our way.


Once safely across we arrived at the area known as The Duver where yet another stop was had to consume ice cream.

We crossed the causeway which overlooks Bembridge Harbour and walked back into St Helen's across the village green where we had already seen a couple of cricket matches.  It was now getting ready for the jubilee celebrations with a marquee erected. Unfortunately we will miss one interesting event which was billed as a "jelly fight" taking place on the Saturday.

Some 6.5 miles later and the knee was doing well albeit it was not a strenuous hill walk but still good to be out without pain.