A Different Part of Wales

Back in 2006 a few of us enjoyed a hot walk along the Pembroke coastal path. I recall an excellent trip. Here are just a couple of photos taken on 8 June 2006, included here by way of 'random pictures from the hard drive'.

Happy Days...

Cobweb

Mist was in the air as we set off from Little Haven on 7 June 2006.

Newgale Sands to Abercastle – June 2013

This is basically an index page for our recent 70 km series of day walks based in St David’s.

Here are links to the individual postings made ‘from the trail':

You can click them in order, returning each time to this page by clicking on the Back button (the arrow pointing to the left at the top of the screen).

Day 1 – Newgale Sands to St David’s

Day 2 – St David’s to Whitesands Bay and back to St David’s

Day 3 – Whitesands Bay to Porthgain

Day 4 – Porthgain to Abercastle

I’ve done a couple of slide shows:

Mainly for those who were on the trip – 210 images here.

For those who are content with a few of the images – 71 images here.

Press the ‘Slideshow icon to see the slideshow, and to view the pictures on the full screen, pressing F11 may work.  Press ‘Esc’ to revert to the normal screen.  To go through the images at your own pace, hover over the bottom of the screen and press the ll ‘stop’ icon.  You should then be able to move through the images in your own time using the arrows on your keyboard. 

Enjoy!

Tuesday 4 June 2013 - Porthgain to Abercastle

Liz and Rachel had children to attend to at home, but the remaining eleven of us headed off to Porthgain in the school bus to complete this year's coast path adventure. 

The weather remained perfect - cloudless and warm. We didn't need to rush. Today we were to cover all of 8 km (5 miles) in two and a half hours, so time could be spent admiring the remains of the old brickworks and lime kilns, this being an area where much quarrying took place between 1840 and the 1930s.

There's also a bright white phallic tower on the headland beyond Porthgain, and further on, a stone circle at Aber Draw has the aura of a recent construction. 

Elevenses were taken beyond here, at the site of some ruined buildings. A seal swam along the coastline below us. A little further on, choughs were nesting in caves and crevices whilst a pair of Canada geese explored an inlet as if on their summer holiday. 

Fulmars and cormorants were also in evidence, amongst many other species, some of which have been referred to in earlier postings.

Today's cliff tops were swathed in bluebells as well as the usual Thrift, Sea Campion and Spring Squill. They were also adorned in places with a robust form of Red Clover and giant Foxgloves. 

Cattle were huddled into shady corners of their fields and all too soon we were huddled into a shady corner of Abercastle, waiting for the school bus. It was half an hour late; the driver got lost!

No matter, we enjoyed the moment before returning to Treleddyd-fawr and dispersing or staying on for more sun by the seaside. In our case the former - we dropped Andrew off in deepest Cheshire before getting home by 8 pm.

What a lovely trip. We'll try to upload a slide show before we head off again. 

Today's picture was taken on the final descent to Abercastle. 

Monday 3 June 2013 - Whitesands Bay to Porthgain

Well, not quite Whitesands Bay. We started from the cottage at Treleddyd-fawr and headed back along the lovely heathland path to rejoin the coast path at Penlledwen.

Another wonderfully sunny day saw us yet again admiring this route at its very best.

Out at St David's Head a homing pigeon befriended us.  Soon afterwards, after passing through orchid meadows, we came upon a tame kestrel. Nearby, after we'd passed through a corridor of tormentil, cowslips,  birds foot trefoil, primroses and bluebells, we watched as a gannet caught its lunch.  Spectacular.  A buzzard glided overhead whilst choughs and oystercatchers argued in the bay far below.  Black redstarts cackled at us from their viewpoints in the gorse. We failed however to spot any seals. 

Meanwhile, the burning sun blasted us from an azure sky. Much sun tan cream was required. Miss Application ruled ok - everyone has red bits.

A great black-backed gull toured the coast line. We watched through a haze of bluebells as it glided past the spectacular cliffs.

Lunch was taken near Aberdinas, then we eschewed Abereiddy in favour of Traeth Llyfn (pictured) where the two Sues and Liz enjoyed a swim.

The Shed at Porthgain provided a fitting end to the day by way of Cornish style cream teas for everyone. Then an old school bus appeared to deliver us back to Treleddyd-fawr, where we later reassembled for an evening of international cuisine and debate. 

What fun! About 18 km in not much less than 8 hours was today's impressive tally.

Sunday 2 June 2013 - A Circuit from St David's

Another perfect summer's day found all thirteen of us back on the coast path from St Non's to Whitesands Bay (pictured).

We somehow managed to rendezvous at St Non's from our various lodgings, and once again we admired the artefacts and the stunning coastal views. 

Stonechats chatted in the gorse and jackdaws swooped and glided within the coastal inlets. A gannet floated uncertainly over the churning waters of Ramsey Sound and several parties of kayakers. 

Ox-eye Daisies dominated the verges of the path for a while, with Gorse and Thrift providing a panorama of yellow and pink. Heath Spotted Orchids and Common Star-of-Bethlehem had managed to colonise some damper areas.

Lunch was taken overlooking the Lifeboat Station at St Justinian. Swimming at Porthselau provided a diversion for Sue, Rachel, Liz and Sue, whilst the rest looked on as they shivered in the icy water. A more inclusive activity was the purchase of ice creams for most of the party from a kiosk at Whitesands Bay. Then we continued to Porthmelgan before heading up to Carn Han and on to the rented house at Treleddyd-fawr for tea and cake. 

The others stopped here, after 19 km in a good 8 hours, but while Andrew and Sue got a lift back to Y Gorlan, I explored some inland paths for another 6 km of late afternoon pleasure. They were little used and a trifle boggy, but very enjoyable. 

A quick turnaround saw us back at Treleddyd-fawr, this time for a barbecue and a convivial evening amongst friends. 

Saturday 1 June 2013 - Newgale Sands to St David's

Having completed the South West Coast Path last year, Sue Emmett's ageing followers have this year tracked her to Pembroke, for a go at Wales. 

Today's walk was a complete contrast with last week's forlorn efforts around Fraserburgh. Perfect weather and footpaths have made for a wonderful day out in what must be 'World Class' scenery. Whatever words I now compose can't do justice to the quality of the landscape and its flora and fauna. 

After an interesting ride on an old school bus, especially commissioned by Sue E from the local transport museum to blend in with its passengers, thirteen of us set off from Newgale. Jacqui, Hilde and Anita immediately caused confusion by embarking in the wrong direction. Many years of "Keep the sea on your right" had perhaps ingrained to the extent that they were unable to adapt to the Welsh convention whereby the sea is on the left.

Eventually they realised their error and by the time elevenses was taken they had joined the rest of us - Sue, David, Sue, David, Betty, Liz, Rachel, Andrew, Gaynor and me. This was the last time we convened as a group today!

Sue and I soon fell behind. Flower photos were to blame. Sue continues to experiment with her new Canon G15 camera, and it takes time. 

The Gorse, as can be seen in today's image, is in fine fettle just now, with it's vivid yellow flowers. There are also large swathes of Thrift, Spring Squill, Sea Campion, Scabious and more. We watched Linnets and Stonechats forage in the gorse, and a Peregrine soared overhead for a while. 

Tea and cake outside a café overlooking the inlet at Solva was followed for Sue and me by lunch on a bench just above the village. People were jumping in off the quay. A family passed, carrying a kayak up the hill. "Extreme Kayaking" muttered dad.

We then caught up with some of the others and ambled along with them on the gorse bedded cliffs above the shimmering sea for the rest of the day. 

Before heading into St David's, some of us went down to the well and the chapel at St Non's. The well is said to have sprung up during a thunderstorm when St David was born around 500 AD. Its waters are alleged to cure infirmities. Anita tried to go for a swim, but it wasn't deep enough. The chapel is very small, with an exquisite stained glass window. 

Last night Sue, Andrew and I enjoyed nosh at the Farmers Arms before adjourning to meet the others at their de luxe residence a couple of miles away near the Youth Hostel. Tonight it's Bishops - just down the road from our B&B, Y Gorlan.

Just 19 km in 6.5 hours today. All very leisurely. Fabulous coastal scenery. 

Another Day, Another Trip

And where might we be tonight?  

Here's the view from our B&B.

(It can't be Scotland, of course, as it's not raining! )

Sent from 'abroad'

Thursday 8 June 2006 – Dinas Fach and Newgale Sands, from Dinas Fawr

I didn’t get out much today, but I can offer this glimpse of a trip that topwalks.com’s archive simply refers to as ‘cloudless’. 

The whole week was cloudless.  We walked from Milford Haven to Trefin.

It was a busy time….trips, work, etc.

Must write it up sometime!

But for now I’m happy to recall that cloudless day from exactly four years ago, when six of us walked from Little Haven to Solva, via a long stop in the Duke of Edinburgh Inn at the end of Newgale Sands, where we sought refuge from the blistering heat. 

The UK coastline certainly takes some beating, especially in places like Pembroke and the South West Coast Path.