Steps on the trail 13,377 Miles on the trail 5.73 – Steps off the trail 4298 Miles off the trail 1.78

Good to be back on the trail after a gap year in 2024! Alot has happened since I last attempted the coast path, and much to ponder as I set off today. Yesterday I established base camp for a 2 week foray into the South Wales part of the path. Some of this is very familiar territory after my time in Llandaff at Theological College. Though this now feels a long time ago! Happy memories of Jane and Jasper came to the fore via starting in Barry Island (about 8 miles from base camp). This was very apt and is now looking a little more affluent trading on the Gavin and Stacey connection. Back in the day, Barry Island was a regular Saturday afternoon walk spot (as an escape) though usually in better weather than today. It was cool and intermittently rainy!!

I parked in the big beach car park, and heading off on the trail, establishing a touching point at the start and where I finished today. I used the first coastal path sigh I saw, in very fetching red livery. The first part of the path was very familiar and I contended with drizzly rain, as well as being overtaken by very hardy runners on a long distance run! I saw a refreshment stop for them further on. Signage for path was plentiful including rather impressive tiles on the pathway

It was me and the dog walkers initially! I stopped for a coffee once I had gone past the beach and the headland and round through some housing. The rain thankfully eased off at this point. Lots of varied housing including a large more modern harbour side development.

What then followed was a lengthy section by the side of main roads, as we skirted round the docks and then on to a chemical works. I did spot an orchid in an unlikely place on the first section. I was becoming aware of potential boot issues (I was wearing a new pair I haven’t got fully accustomed too!) and need some adjusting/wearing in. In order to prevent blisters, I stopped about a mile before I had really intended too. I set up a touching point by the bus stop and got a 95 back to within a 10 minute walk of the car. The bus did a long route around the outskirts of Barry first, so by the time I got off I was rather stiff.

I moved the car to a more scenic spot in the car park and ate my lunch in the car (as the rain was falling hard by this point once again!)! A good start