Penarth Ramblers explore Pembrokeshire and St Brides Major:
By Joy Strangward.
Recently, William from Penarth and District Ramblers took his assembled group of 18 walkers on two days of adventure in Pembrokeshire.
They were rewarded with glorious autumnal sunshine for the whole trip. On the first day, starting from the pretty coastal town of Newport, they followed the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, overlooking tiny coves from the clifftops before arriving at the ruined St Brynach’s Church, damaged in a great storm in 1859. Then, they walked to the promontory of Dinas Island which is famed for its bird life – with glorious views of Newport Sands and the Preseli Hills.
After lunch at Pen y Fan, they descended passing seal pups sheltered safely in remote coves before climbing Soar Hill. Then, via a bridleway and stepping stones over a stream, they arrived at a lovely waterfall. Passing various farms and spotting two adders, they began their return to the start, passing St Mary’s Church and the impressive remains of Newport Castle.
On day two, they set off from the stunning Gwaun Valley – carved out after the Ice Age – for an inland walk with lots of climbing. A steep ascent through woodland was followed by a second climb onto Foel Eryr, which stands at 468m above sea level and has a Toposcope standing beside a much older huge Bronze Age burial mound.
They descended past Bwlch-gwynt and through forestry before another steep climb to Waun Mawn with its standing stones. Crossing open moorland, they stopped for their lunch break. A descent through fields led to Llanerch for another steep climb on the opposite side of the valley, which brought them to Carn Edward with its glorious views of the Preseli Hills, before making their final descent through Cwm Bach ready for the journey back home.
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The second ‘shortish strides’ saw a group of 12 walkers join Joy at St Brides Major for a half day six-mile tramp in overcast weather, which took in the Church of St Brigid before heading over open common land at Beacons Down, which was dotted with sheep. Arriving at the hamlet of Heol y Mynydd, a bridleway led them to the B4254 and across the road to join the clifftops into a blustery wind, which fortunately was on their backs.
With grand views of Trwyn y Witch and Dunraven Bay ahead, they descended to enter the Dunraven Estate via a gate and made their way up to the 16th Century walled garden where they stopped for a refreshment break out of the wind. Exiting through an autumnal woodland carpeted with fallen leaves brought them to the clifftop overlooking Traeth Bach and Mawr, before they turned inland crossing stiles in Dunraven Park to reach a field containing Gloucester Old Spot Pigs. They went through into woodland at Pant y Slade before more fields led to Pool Farm and the pretty Pitcot Pool for the short journey along the lane at Penylan Road and a descent to their start.
You can follow the group here or on Facebook.
Joy Strangward
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