Penarth to the edge of Barry
On the trail steps, 15,134 on the trail miles 6.33. Off the trail steps 5316, off the trail miles 2.
After some dithering over where to park the car, I finally found a suitable car park in Penarth – right near the coast path but a bit of a trek from a bus stop. It had toilets and a café too. I decided on wearing the old boots to give my feet time to get used to the new ones too. I set up a touching point by the café and the coast path and set off.
The initial stretch was lovely and very easy with many dog walkers! The sun was shining but it wasn’t particularly warm. I moved onto a more conventional cliff path, and in places rather tacky after yesterday’s rain. The views were a bit obscured by overgrowth on the sea side of the path, but the views were great every time there was a gap.
It was a day of 3 detours round caravan parks and the first was named after Marconi as it was close to the spot where the first morse code message was transmitted. I passed a church dedicated to St Lawrence. I found a bench and had morning coffee, just after a section through a nature reserve. The second caravan park diversion was further inland, before leading down on the road to Swanbridge. This was territory I had covered once before on a circular walk from Cosmeston (another favourite Saturday afternoon spot with Jane and Jasper!).
After the 3rd caravan park, I hit Sully recreation ground. I resisted the temptation to go and browse at the busy car boot sale! The path led between the houses and the rocky beach, and again was busy with families and dog walkers. After an uncomfortable stony section for about ½ a mile, I found a bench and ate my lunch there in the sunshine.
I went a little further along the beach edge, before the coast path turned inland. I didn’t succumb to the temptation of seeing dinosaur footprint fossils further along the shore (though the new coast path walk book was very enthusiastic about them)! I headed inland past the inevitable chemical works and walked back to yesterday’s ending touching point at the bus stop by Macdonalds on the edge of Barry. I was lucky that I had a about a five minute wait to get the 94 bus back to Penarth as they are only 1 an hour on Sunday’s.
Unfortunately, I alighted the bus at Penarth station, but then had a 20 minute walk back to where the car was. The bus ride was long enough to have got a bit stiff! All in all a good day, rounded off with a rum and raison ice cream at the car park café before heading back to base camp!
Penarth to the edge of Cardiff (De Haviland Street bus stop near Pengam Green Tescos!)
On the trail steps 18302, on the trail miles 7.88. Off the trail steps 5342, off the trail miles 2.29.
After making some phone calls, I set off from the Penarth car park I had used yesterday. I would have the same problem of getting back from the bus stop but it was a fantastic place to start. I was in my new boots, having done some adjustments to the insoles and lacing arrangements! I touched in on yesterday’s touching point by the café, and headed in the opposite direction, gently down hill into Penarth. As I got to the sea front, I saw the Waverley setting off from the pier (which was to have some friends on it later that day!).
It soon became apparent I would have to ascend over Barrage Hill. There was an excellent view point at the top. It was a bit overcast at this point, but I soon took off the waterproof I had on as I ascended the hill! The path gently wound down to the beginning of the Cardiff bay barrage through housing of typical style in Penarth! The walk across the barrage was interesting, and again the terrain of many dog walkers and cyclists… I contemplated a Mothering Sunday boat trip at Cardiff bay from many years ago!
I stopped for coffee and a caramel chocolate brownie at the Norwegian church, before doing the ‘city’ leg of the walk. The Norwegian church was another stopping point on trips into Cardiff from theological college! The sun was out when I left the café and heading through much of the redeveloped part of central Cardiff past the Millenium Centre and the Senedd building. I was heading for County Hall, when I got rather caught up in a large building site. I eventually found my way to the Atlantic walk – but I was less than confident it was going to work out – with lots of building work going on (and for once an absence of coast path signs for reassurance!).
What followed was a charming section on the side of the canal – but it was very overgrown – and I saw baby coots and cygnets! This led into a section on roads in a very built up area. Just beyond Lidl, I stopped again at a picnic area and ate some lunch whilst contemplating what to do. The walk book was a bit sniffy about the next section (and it was longer than I knew I could do at that stage of the day), and I took a shorter detour (which it did suggest). This took me through Splott, Tremorfa (and Tremorfa park). It was quite a contrast in style but one of the things I love about this walking stuff is the variation in what is on the trail. I stopped at a bus stop by the Pengam Green Tescos, where I established a touching point to pick up the trail.
I then did a rather satisfying bus ride back to Penarth. First a number 11 into the city centre, and then after a bit of confusion on to the bus station (which I couldn’t find initially – it had been vastly redeveloped since my last visit 20 years ago! This was a case of where memory was not helpful! I realised eventually it was in front of me looking very smart in its new splendour!). Then a 92 back to Penarth station and a repeat of the 20 minute walk back to the car park. As the bus ride was about an hour (though I had walked a much more direct route!) all told I was very stiff on the way back to the car so it was slow going.
The Adventures of Alison 