Cwm Colhuw (Llantwit major beach!) to Monknash beach.
On the trail steps, 13,202* on the trail miles 6*. Off the trail steps 21,030, off the trail miles 8.6.
*Due to the lack of internet this is a bit of a guess!
Since my last blog, I had a rest day taking in Bridgend outlet centre, and a new frock for an upcoming event. Then a hot afternoon wander around the garden at Dyffryn (National trust and very close to base camp), which was a work in progress and a mass of Orchids!! Very hot – but good to give my legs a rest!
My final walking day started early, as hot weather was forecast. I set off and was at my parking space at Llantwit Major beach (where I finished the first walk with Gavin several days ago!) I set up the forgotten touching point, used the facilities and set off up the first ascent on to low cliffs. It was a beautiful day and a very well kept path as I snaked up and down on the low cliffs – A short stretch on a stony beach after the 2nd descent and then some very welcome shade in the woods around the Atlantic College at St Donat’s. I had a brief hot coffee on the beach there!
And then onward – up out of the woods into grassy fields with the Nash lighthouse getting closer and closer. It was a lovely and relatively easy stroll at this point if a little hot! I walked through the somewhat deserted cottages and past the lighthouse, and stopped for a second breather just beyond the car park.
I did a big up and down to get to a more deserted stretch next to a field that the farmer was cutting (for silage I guess!). I kept seeing a couple who seemed to be using a bird identifying app as they went. I stopped for a third stop by a stone stile and kissing gate. I knocked over my second coffee which was annoying, but I did get half of it. At this point the view was stretching out ahead for walks to come (as this is my final day on this trip!). It was getting hotter than I could deal with, so at the next opportunity after a tricky descent down to Monknash’s beach, I set up a touching point on another stone stile and then after due consideration I took an inland path.
I had had no internet signal for most of the day, so wasn’t able to work out if the buses back to Llantwit would work well or not! The initial section was rather in the stream and then the path turned out to be a rocky track gently up onto the headland in woods, with a lovely stream and the remains of some kind of mill/industrial building. I was on the Valeways millennium heritage trail and found a car park at Mill Farm I may be able to use in the future and just beyond a pub the bus stop. Miraculously a 303 was due in 10 minutes. It actually arrived after 16 causing difficulties on quite a narrow road.
In Llantwit it dropped me off at the train/bus station and in the heat I walked to the local spa and got an ice cream and a cold drink!. I then had a hot half an hour winding back to the beach (including some very unwelcome ascent!). The final section included a sharp descent, a footbridge over the stream, and then about half a mile of all weather accessible path down to the beach car park.
I found an unconventional sheltered shady spot for lunch and had a drink in the café (which was open this time) before heading back! The car was hot, hot, hot – settling after about 10 minutes on 29 degrees!
A fantastic walk – classic coastal path stuff and a great way to end this stretch of Wales coast path walking. Chepstow to Monknash Beach….
That’s 75.6 miles on the trail, and 29.6 miles off – total walked 105.2 miles
And the trail total is 448.7+75.6= 524.3 miles!!!
The Adventures of Alison 