Walks – Page 7 – Walkies Cleo and Bonnie

Margam to Aberavon Sands

Well it is the first day of Spring and we have decided to increase the pace and start walking some weekends with the kids as well (well some of them at least) – might be harder to convince the big ones!!

The compromise on this route was that because most of the walk coincides with national cycle path 4, the kids were allowed to use bikes (plus with them riding ahead then coming back they did even more miles) and it allowed Cleo to get a ride part of the way.

So we parked up at junction 38 of the M4 by Margam Crematorium and walked towards Aberavon Sands – this isn’t a single leg in the book we are following – but the end of the Porthcawl to Port Talbot route, and the start of the Port Talbot to Swansea route, so it will make both of those legs a bit more manageable in future weeks.

We soon found the coastal path sign (along with the alternative red route which goes through Margam park) – do we have to walk that as well in the future to say we have done it all lol?

Time for a selfie

Signs all ways

Cleo with her trusted pilot

The first couple of miles really are not anything to write a blog about – So Cleo stayed tucked up in the basket with Rhiannon navigating. Here is a selection of what we saw!!

Then you end up on the main road to Aberavon and past a new blue cycle bridge, and along an estuary which is when it starts getting more picturesque and Cleo got to stretch her legs and walk for a few miles.

You head up a slight hill, and suddenly notice sand on the path and as you walk around a corner – bang – the most amazing views:

The walk along the sea front is beautiful (as long as you don’t look behind you towards the industrial area) and we stopped for hot chocolate and cookies on, of all things, a whale!!

We decided to walk a bit further, so that when we resume this walk another day we can cut down from Baglan station, so it meant walking as far as the kids could cycle before the path diverted in land.

Taking in some art (or trying to scale it)

And that ends the coastal path element for today 6.5 miles done, making 63.5 miles completed and 806.5 to go.

But we had to get back to the car – so in a first for us, we had to then walk back again!! After a stop to play on the beach of course:

Nothing much to say about the return journey, pretty much the same as the way there and thankfully the kids rode a bit slower (until they got a couple of mini magnums inside them!!).

But it was good for us to have pace setters to keep us moving – according to Strava the total was 22.1 km (which is 13.7 miles in total today), and we managed it in just over 3 and 3/4 hours. Definitely getting fitter which is a good thing with all the walks we have got planned in the coming weeks, sometimes back to back as well – might have to take the kids again.

Andrew and Sharon

Cardiff to Penarth Marina and optional loop

The primary aim today was to complete a small section between 2 completed walks…. Cardiff to Newport starts from Tyndall Street, and our Penarth to Barry walk started at Penarth Marina, but there were around 2 miles unaccounted for between Tyndall Street and Penarth Marina. So with the sun shining what better weather for a nice stroll.

The first thing to say is that if you haven’t done this part of Cardiff as one of your regular walks then you will need to allow a lot of extra time for sightseeing along the way. The first part from Tyndall street is just along roads but once you get to County Hall it gets more interesting. For instance who knew that the Red Dragon centre is on the coastal path?

Outside the Red Dragon centre with a sign on the lamppost

Andrew at the marker sign with Cleo

The walk continues pass the Millenium Centre and ahead you can just make out Penarth Church which we walked right past yesterday..

Famous sights litter the walk, from where the Welsh government meets to Dr who and the Norwegian church (now a cafe).

This is by far the busiest part of coastal path so far.

The walk continues along the bay, past a play area and with time for us to watch the boats while Cleo played fetch with Mr Stickman.

The walk then heads across the barrage, which is a fascinating place to watch boats raise and lower to get out to the open sea.

And at the roundabout is the sign which marks the starting point of yesterday’s walk and the end of today’s …..or is it??

So for the coastal path stats that is 2 miles completed today making 57 miles completed and 813 miles to go.

But… If you have the time we highly recommend continuing on the 10k Bay walk to see the rest of what Cardiff bay has to offer. We had a motive…. Sharon’s youngest was swimming in a gala at the pool and we wanted to stop by to cheer her on (plus Sharon likes walking circles)…. So along the Marina we walked, over a footbridge and past the white water rafting to the pool.

Then on we walked behind the skating rink, round the bay…

Up some steps, along the road ridge over the bay and straight on up takes us past techniquest and back to Mermaid Quay to complete the loop. Total walk today 7.1 miles in just under 2 hours. Add on the 12.8 miles of yesterday and that is a grand total for the weekend of 19.9 miles…. Almost made the 20!! Off to Bella Italia to out some calories back in now.

Penarth Marina to Barry

A warm spring day, a little overcast, but a good day for walking – so we parked the car at Barry train station and took the train to Cogan (£5.20 single). Don’t ask how Cleo managed to get a muddy face before we even started!!

Cogan was about 1 km from the official start of the trail, so we strolled down to Penarth Marina and the starting point:

The first part was a steep uphill section of road into Penarth itself, past a church and along residential streets

Then suddenly there is a left hand turn to the coast and the most amazing views of the sea and Penarth Pier

We wound down the hill and along the seafront – stopping for a well needed bacon roll and coffee at The Fig Tree – roll OK, service very very slow so I stopped the clock on this one!! We continued up the hill and hit some decent path, the pace was good at this point, 1 km every 10 minutes or so.

Past an old WW2 lookout, and Lavenock church, and we then headed across Lavenstock nature reserve where things got a bit sitcky:

Just time to stop for a couple of selfies on a bench

There was a stop to see an old WW2 gun fortress at Lavernock point, and then we had a clear view of Sully Island

At this point the coastal path goes inland behind the campsite – so we did as told – but our advice to those following in our footsteps would be to head down and along the beach and back up and save a boring mile or so.

On down into Swanbridge, and a great view of Sully Island – The tide was out, and we chatted to some locals about the danger of heading across just before the tide turns – definitely one to come back to another day. On past the Captain’s Wife (a pub not a person), and along the coast some more past Sully.

At this point after a snack the path has to head inland to get around Barry docks (although we suspect there is a way through somehow), a loo stop followed and then the longest most boring stretch of road into Barry with just lampposts to count.

one lamppost, two lamposts... — one lamppost, two lamposts…

Past the docks council offices,

And then back to a nice part along the docks with the sun shining and the jumpers coming off.

Under the railway line, turn left and there was our car by the train station. So the official walk was 19.4 km(or 12.1 miles) in 3 hours 32 mins, but excluding getting to Penarth Marina that is 11.5 miles of coastal path walked. Taking our total to 55 miles done, 815 miles to go.

Then a stroll down to Barry Island for an ice cream added a further 1.2 km to our day (but not part of the walk) making 12.8 miles walked today (for Darren’s count!!).

Caldicot to Newport Wetlands

Walk 4 – and having checked train times and wind direction we decided to walk from Caldicot (the end of our very first walk) to Newport Wetlands. This is one and a bit walks from our book and about 12 miles in total,but very flat. We chose to walk with the cold north easterly wind behind us rather than in our faces – a wise choice.

So off we set at 10.30 with a frantic run to Newport station for the train to Caldicot – £11.20 for 11 minutes on the train!!! – I need to get into this train driving lark.

And at exactly the spot the train stopped was the post which marked the end of Walk 1 for those of you following our tale:

Remember this – the end of walk 1 is the start of walk 4 but less muddy!!

Our first dilemma – Sharon was certain we needed to turn left – I was equally certain it was right (given that was the direction the Newport train had come from) – eventually I won, but I could sense that Sharon thought we would be turning round in a while.

The first part of the walk was quite noisy, alongside the M4 on country lanes, but eventually we crossed over the M4 (legally) and headed for the coast:

The exact spot the speed camera van sits in above the 50 mph tolls

And when we reached the coast we could see the Severn bridge off to our left and Newport to our right:

Look left

Look right

So having concluded we were going the right way we set off along the coast. It was a cool but bright day and in the sunshine it was quite warm – our pace was good at between 10 and 11 minutes per km in walking boots, and soon we made it to our lunch rock.

Lunch stop

Why do cows get their own road?

Stopping, as always, was a mistake and we were quite cold and a bit slower after the lunch break, but we continued along the coastal ridge, all the way past Redwick and on to Goldcliff.

There is a famous pink house with equally famous angry occupants along the way, so we obeyed the sign – apart from the photos bit and carried on our way.

At GoldCliff we were met by a nice surprise – The Seawall tearooms, where we sampled the hot chocolate and a piece of carrot cake and a piece of lemon cake – the cake was delicious, and Wendy, the owner was very welcoming and friendly – well worth a stop if ever you hit this bit of the coast. Cleo even got some doggie biscuits

We then headed inland a bit as we started across the wetlands, past the Farmers arms (a pub) through countless gates, and besides some bird spotting hides:

The pace slowed as the old war wounds of 2 weeks ago surfaced, but we made it on to the wetlands site and round to the lighthouse for the end of walk 4:

Just time for a selfie before calling for Mum taxi to pick us up and take us back to our car – 12 miles in total in just under 4 hours, and a walk well worth doing if you find yourself in this area. 43.5 miles done, 826.5 miles to go!!

Cardiff to Newport

It’s been a while since our last walk – but after some debate we decided to do our longest walk so far yesterday – from Cardiff to Newport. Yes, yesterday, we were in no fit state to write up the blog when we got back last night!!

So, the 11.10 train got us into Cardiff for 11.35 and we headed off to the starting point on Tyndall street for a 14 mile walk to the roundabout just past work in Newport, and about a mile short of the transporter bridge.

The first couple of miles were all roads and industrial estates…

Less than a mile in and Sharon spies a Greggs

After walking along Ocean Way and Rover way we finally cut right and found the coast and walked for a mile or so behind the water treatment plant, and the traveler site.

We then passed very close to Tescos at Pengham Green but decided that walking across the whole car park to get food was a trek too far – a decision we would later regret. A bit more road walking followed before we again headed towards the coast, and a nice quiet canal on the way…

And now it was lunchtime – well I say lunch but all that was left in the bag were 2 bags of pickled onion monster munch and a coffee, and even stopping for 5 minutes made us quite cold – but Cleo got acquainted with the new member of our team – Mr Stickman

And off we set at a faster pace to warm up, meeting some horses on the path

And on the walk went – the rain started falling lightly, and the path was muddy under foot – we started debating where to ask Mum to pick us up from – but she will never find us by here. Then we found the West Usk Lighthouse Inn – right on the coast – success – unfortunately the chef had a “family emergency” which coincided with the Wales match so we made do with a coffee and crisps again.

A welcome warm up by the fire and a brief watch of France v Ireland before on we went

The signs still said 6km to go, the feet said to stop, but we were averaging 5km an hour so the end must be in site – another 1.5km brought us to the lighthouse, and over the river we could see the wetlands, the site of a future walk.

so close to the wetlands but a few mile to get there — So close to the wetlands but a few mile to get there

And with the transporter bridge in our sites we carried on, until the path turned us away from the bridge and on towards Duffryn. Then we hit our big snag of the day – the bridge we were supposed to cross was closed, well gone actually, as part of the railway Electification work.

Left and right are the bridge, in the middle isn't a bridge — Left and right are the bridge, in the middle isn’t a bridge

Turning back would add 3 or 4 miles to the day, so we don’t let little things like that stop us and we carry on the walk – although at the other side of the bridge there is a useful sign…

A short work on the bike path concluded today’s walk at just before 5pm, 23.4km, 14 miles completed, 4 hours 58 minutes.

Our finishing point

And we have big plans over the next couple of weekends to join up the parts we have done so far and complete this section – once Andrew can walk again that is!!

Llantwit Major to Southerndown

After a lot of changing our minds, we decided that for our second walk we would do the Llantwit Major to Southerndown route which is 8 miles. We headed to Southerndown where we left the car to catch a bus into Llantwit Major. It was a rather foggy morning with not a lot to see at this point:

But while waiting for the bus the fog magically lifted – the guidebook said that bus 145 was the one to get us to Llantwit Major, but that had been replaced in 2013 by the 305, which turned up 15 mins late, and we were on our way.

Once in Llantwit Major we headed for the beach (which explains why we walked nearly 2 miles further than the coastal path today), grabbed a coffee and hot chocolate and headed up the first cliff.

Cleo posing with Sharon nice and clean before the walk

The view from the cliff down onto Llantwit beach

We had debated whether to go with walking boots or wellies, and opted again for wellies, which turned out to be the right choice after the first mile which was mainly spent sliding from side to side in the mud.

We found a contender for house by the sea at Tresilian Bay

Once we climbed up the other side of this cove we were faced with a problem:

Part of the path had fallen off the cliff into the sea below, but we were able to detour slightly and keep the walk going:

And not up here — The path is not up here

Lunch followed at St Donat’s castle

And off we set on better paths to the Nash Point Lighthouses

Nash Point lighthouses as we neared them

Well mostly better paths- Sharon did have to swim across this one — Well mostly better paths- Sharon did have to swim along this one

The rest of the walk was one of the most picturesque and quietest walks we have been on, very few people had ventured out today, and this was one we will return to on a summer’s evening when the views will be even more spectacular:

599 607 608 611 614 616 619

There were some massive slippery slopes to climb down, and some equally large hills to climb up, and Sharon gained the first injury of the walks when she slipped on to some gorse and drew blood (I didn’t pass out!!).

And time for a very nice view while eating afternoon tea

And before we knew it the walk was almost at an end as we past through Dunraven castle, and on over to Southerndown and our waiting car.

For those who like statistics (and who wouldn’t!!), the walk was 15km or just under 10 miles, and took just over 3 hours including breaks. During the walk we gained a total of 654 metres in elevation. So that is now 17.5 miles completed, and 852.5 to go. Already planning the next leg of our journey.

Andrew and Sharon

Chepstow to Caldicot

An early start (which is not easy on New Year’s Day – Happy New Year to you all by the way!!) as the rain was forecast from 2pm, and we got to Caldicot train station by 9.30, for a quick journey to Chepstow. Cleo’s first ever trip on a train as well.

We decided to walk from Chepstow back to the car in Caldicot and, after stopping off for a Costa, we headed for the Bandstand which starts the walk (we had been advised that wellies would be more suitable than walking boots for today’s leg of the journey).

The wheel showing the sections of the walk

This is us (before the walk and smiling)

And this is Cleo - nice and clean at this stage — And this is Cleo – nice and clean at this stage

The coastal path is 870 miles - today we are attempting 9.5 miles — The coastal path is 870 miles – today we are attempting 9.5 miles

There isn’t really much to say about the first 2 or 3 miles – once you get out of Chepstow town centre it is all suburban streets, industrial units and woodlands, following the signs but not seeing much coast at all, as the sign explained…..

One of the signs which will become all too familiar

The sign explaining why the coastal path had no coast!!

But once on the coast proper we found a fish, and had our first casualty as the water bottle dropped to the floor and shattered.

A church and a nice statue of King Tewdrig soon followed and the walk then took us across a few very swampy fields some of crops and others of animals – including, according to Sharon, some very pretty sheep (she has been living in Wales too long!!).

After stopping for a wee, crossing the golf course briefly and then the train tracks we finally started to see the coast and some lovely views of the Second Severn Crossing, before having a paddle at Black Rock.

The water is lovely - come on in — The water is lovely – come on in

IN the sea at Black Rock — In the sea at Black Rock

At Black Rock we also got an update on our progress – 6 miles completed and just 864 to go!!

The 6 is good (miles completed)... the 864 is not so good!!! — The 6 is good (miles completed)… the 864 is not so good!!!

The last part of the walk is the best for views of the Severn Estuary, and for landmarks – we crossed under the Second Severn Crossing, then walked along by the motorway (the famous windsock you see as you drive over the Severn bridge) and then we crossed over the M4 on a footbridge.

And the end was in sight – 9.5 miles, in just over 3 hours, the wellies and swampy conditions didn’t help but we beat the rain, and boy are we shattered – I bet even Cleo sleeps well tonight after a well-earned bath.

Newport left and 16 miles (via a shortcut)- the car is right - we choose right!! — Newport left and 16 miles (via a shortcut)- the car is right – we choose right!!

And off now to plan the 2nd leg of our mammoth journey. This morning Sharon said we should try to do all 870 miles during 2016, let’s see if she is sticking to that plan tomorrow.

Andrew and Sharon

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