September 16th 2021
27,888 steps, 19,000m, 11.9 miles
The day began with a drive to Porthgain, my planned ending point for the day and then getting the Strumble shuttle bus back to the Woollen Mill where I left off yesterday. I was very early so had a bit of mooch around (establishing a touching point)- admiring the industrial history of bricks/slate production and the decaying buildings around the harbour. The bus came and it took about 25 minutes to get back to the wool mill. As it wasn’t very crowded, I had a coffee and a tasty piece of barabrith contemplating the day ahead. There hasn’t been much opportunity for on route coffee stops. All this meant a latish start heading off about 10:30!
It was warm and sunny and very still! Initially a nice walk down a lane to get back to the coast path – and then on to a beach Aber Mawr. This was a place that we found on the 2004 visit to this area – and was within walking distance of the holiday let back then. The path included a stony walk across the beach! Over the other side there was a zigzag path to regain height – it was cut very deep so I couldn’t see over the close vegetation and it was narrow so it was a bit claustrophobic. Then a lovely stretch with good views, seals and the rest. By the time I needed another rest (and my flask coffee) I had just done a step descent into the Pwllstrodur bay. The walk continued in the same vein as before and I reached Abercastle before I needed to have lunch. I did avail myself of the toilet, and had a chat with some chaps I had seen several times already who were eating their lunch!
I decided to have lunch once I had reached Castell Coch, the chaps passed me at this point. The path continued and Trefin came on to the horizon, but the path really only touched the far side of it – with 3 steep dips up and down before finally reaching the bay. I had a drink and some fruit on an available slate bench. My legs were beginning to feel it, but it was another 2 miles to go to get back to Porthgain, starting with the inevitable climb out of the bay.
This section was mostly reasonably accessible, with 2 steep short ups and downs, and I took a short cut back to Porthgain when it was presented! The chaps were just finishing off their pints in the Porthgain when I got back to the pub (via the touching point). It was about 4:15pm by then. They were determined to do another 10 miles (on difficult terrain! – rather them than me).
The final part of this day included some views back to where I had started on Strumble head just 2 days walking ago. Pretty awesome
I also took my best shot of seals!!! amazing to see the pups on the beach and adults swimming in the clear water! (and without having to lean to far over the edge!)
The Adventures of Alison 