On the trail steps 39281 miles 16 – Off the trail steps 20500 miles 9.6. Total Miles over 3 days 25.6! Overall Wales Coast path total 652 miles!This trip total 88.3 miles
Tuesday began brighter than the last couple of days and I set off for Gowerton to get the train to Pembrey and Burry Port – so I could walk back to Llanelli. All was well and I found a space in a free car park about 3 minutes walk from the station. I had 10 minutes to spare and the train was then a few minutes late. It had come from Crewe and must have started early!
I alighted at Burry Port and it was a short walk to the modern dock to get on the coast path and set up a touching point
I caught a glimpse of another light house (a short stubby one at the dock) as well as several sightings of the iron one on the way. The vast majority of the going was on the Millenium path/cycleway and was very easy going and with views over the Loughor estuary. I was regularly overtaken and greeted by cyclists and joggers. There was one brief shower of rain as I stopped for a coffee.
There were several decorative pillars and the arrangements for tunnels nearer Llanelli were impressive, alongside a smart welsh dragon and a cormorant statue. I walked further on to the new developments where I had finished on Saturday and saw a shelter which was decorated with an otter. The only thing that didn’t feature were naturally required facilities and in the end I had to resort to nestling in a bush by the shore not far from my finishing touching point. Once I had reached that I returned a few hundred yards to a smart metal bench with a wind break to eat lunch and then made my way back to Llanelli station.
I saw some fabulous street art which I appreciated and related to the history of Llanelli and got a bit distracted and found myself going rather a long way round to the station. Didn’t have long to wait for the train back to Gowerton!
Wednesday
I repeated the early part of Tuesday with the drive to Gowerton to get the train – this time to Kidwelly so I could walk back to Burry Port. I was a bit apprehensive about this as it was a long way! But there wasn’t an obvious exit at an earlier point.
During this time the hospital rang and arranged a follow up appointment later in September – it was good to have that sorted so I know how they will approach my skin issues moving forward.
The train ran better to time, and I got the last space in the car park at Gowerton. This was because of a bike ride setting off from there. I set up a touching point near the Kidwelly station which was also on the trail!
The initial section took me down to a canal and then alongside it and 2 roads – before heading out into a wildernessy area on a raised path with just the cows and a few cyclists and a handful of walkers. Unfortunately the cows seemed to think the path was the best place to relieve themselves! First there were antitank defences, and then the noise from a racing circuit and the local air field. The path cut down to a track related to the airfield I think. I sat on an available low concrete structure for a coffee and then eventually the path got to the edge of the Pembrey forest. There was a long section through the forest, which ended up eventually at the coast. I was intrigued that the bikes were also going this way and after a brief section through dunes were being recommended to cycle on the wide expanse of sandy beach.
For me it was obviously a long walk on the beach (about 3 miles). I stopped midway near to the various ship wrecks and sat on a log for lunch and then carried on until I saw the way off on the coast path in the Pembrey country park. It was disappointing that the café was shut – though the toilets were open.
I pondered what to do as I was quite tired at this point but after my second coffee decided to crack on – a section through the country park went past a little train (also shut) and then a dry ski slope. I was concerned the last section was through dunes marked on the map, but It turned out to be the start of the bicycle track and it was a very easy if long section – which had good views of the Loughor estuary (and inevitably both my two lighthouses – the iron one and the short one at Burry Port towards the end). It was beautiful – even if I was rather tired by this point. The last mile seemed to take a while before getting back to the touching point at the new dock area.
I staggered back to the station via a local café where I picked up a drink and some sustenance. This turned out to be a bananabread cookie – which was just marvellous and just what was needed after a very long (for me) hike – 13 miles was crested on this day! (who knew I could walk this far)!
On the train I had a wonderful view of the iron light house – with a rays of sun cascading down from the clouds – it was a moment of wonder and something deep. I love a modern worship song about lighthouses and it felt like a sign somehow. God being the peace in a troubled sea and the importance of following safe to shore. Powerful!
I was a bit stiff getting off the train and too late back to base camp to ease my muscles in the jacuzzi which was a pity.
On Thursday I decided to take an easier day – I drove up to Fairy Hill and walked along the top for a bit in both directions from the viewpoint to take in the view and the beauty of the Gower! I then went on to Southgate for a good coffee and chocolate cake and then took a leisurely drive back to base camp.
Having a base camp with a swimming pool and spa bath has been a bonus too on most days for my aching leg muscles…
Overall I am very pleased with my progress on this break – adding 56 miles to my coast path total, and doing over 88 miles in total (I did several circular walks this time which mean a lot of connecting and off trail walking!). The progress map shows why I have seen the iron lighthouse on most days! It is the purple line – a bit between Port Eynon and Rhossili and then all the way from Rhossili to Kidwelly station – result! I cannot commend the Wales Coast path highly enough! Give it a whirl!
The Adventures of Alison 