Ramblers coastal walk from Dunraven Bay
Leaders from Penarth and District Ramblers recently took walkers on two different coastal walks beginning with Robin and his spaniel Biggles who chose to begin their walk from Dunraven Bay known locally as Southerndown beach. The idea was to stop off halfway for lunch at the Plough and Harrow but as the pub’s kitchen was closed for refurbishment they had to change their allegiance and opt instead for The Star Inn at nearby Wick, which meant a slightly longer walk.
Setting off under clear blue skies with plenty of sunshine on offer they joined the Heritage Coast path (which is also part of the Wales Coast Path) along the clifftop to the steep sided Cwm Mawr where the Nant Cwm mawr topples over the cliff in a waterfall. At this point Robin contacted the pub with the group order for the party of eight, before they carried on through Cwm Bach turning inland by field and road to arrive at the village of Wick. After ordering their drinks and Biggles settling down by the fire they enjoyed a lovely lunch and thanks go to The Star Inn for their warm welcome and delicious food.
Resuming their walk by road to Marcross, some field walking led to the pretty woodland at Cwm Nash, past the ruined corn mill and downhill beside the Nash Brook to the beach. Scrambling over large pebbles and rocks where walking poles came into use, saw them tramping across the stunning beaches at Traeth Mawr and Traeth Bach, before heading over craggy rocks and uphill on a very well-worn path to the viewpoint at Dunraven Park. All that was left was the short walk past the walled garden and back to their cars just as the light was beginning to dim.
Twelve joined Joy at Newton
By contrast a few days later a group of twelve joined Joy at Newton on an overcast and dull morning but certainly not cold for the time of year. Setting off down Beach Road and entering sandy pathways in Newton Burrows, a short climb led to views across to Ogmore-by-Sea in the east and over the village of Newton before crossing a raised green with lots of freshly dug molehills. Following a wide track through autumnal woodland several local residents warned them that a tree had fallen across the path following Storm Arwen and clambering around it, further along a descent through a sunken sandy path led them into coppiced woodland.
The pretty autumnal leaved pathway on the northern edge of Merthyr Mawr Warren led them on through several gates before exiting and descending a long sunken bridle path to the valley below Candleston Farm. With only three stone stiles to climb on the entire route, luckily the first was avoided by passing through an open gate for a climb through a grassy meadow, then downhill over the remaining two stiles to join a road. Arriving at the Merthyr Mawr Estate car park they found out that filming was taking place in nearby woodland for an episode of the TV series Casualty, before deviating into the grounds beside the ruined Candleston Castle for a sheltered refreshment break.
During this time they heard some of the castle’s history whilst enduring a light drizzle rain, before continuing through Merthyr Mawr Warren and heading towards the Ogmore River where they saw dozens of Canada geese on its banks. Crossing the lovely long beach at Traeth yr Afon with the tide coming in, brought them headlong into a strong westerly breeze with accompanying short bursts of light rain and the odd glimmer of weak sunshine, as they made their way past the Black Rocks and back to their start just prior to more heavier rain for the journey home.
You can follow the group’s exploits here or Facebook.
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