Ramblers encounter cormorants, egrets and a Pelican in the Vale
By Joy Strangward
Joy was joined by 13 walkers and Bruno at The Fox in St Brides Major mid-week on an overcast but dry morning for a ‘Shortish Strides’ walk of seven miles.
Heading up by road past the impressive 12th century St Bridget’s Church, they soon reached Beacons Down. Crossing heathland which had been churned up by horse riders to the even muddier Pant Mari Flanders, they picked their way down to the stone well which provided water to the hamlet of Heol y Mynydd and Norton Farm before piped water was introduced.
From Pant Norton they passed through the farm at Sutton Rise and descended through Ogmore-by-Sea. Long distance views were blotted out by mist and a brief glimpse of the sun followed as they made their way above the River Ogmore, along sandy paths with views of horse riders galloping across Traeth yr Afon, and cormorants and a little egret below them.
A sandy and muddy bridle path led them above the main coast road to emerge beside the Pelican in her Piety. In 1536, Sir Edward Carne was granted the lease of Ewenny Priory which he later bought. He had served King Henry VIII as an executor during his divorce from Catherine of Aragon and was promoted to Abbot of Gloucester. In his coat of arms, a female pelican is shown standing in her nest, wings half spread whilst she plucks at her breast allowing blood to drop into the beaks of her chicks, which was an ancient Christian symbol originating in the Middle East.
The first inn was built when the Carne family were prominent and during the millennium the pub’s name was changed from ‘The Pelican’ to reflect its history. Following lunch at the delightful ruined Ogmore Castle, a fairly steep climb led them up onto Ogmore Down where there was less mud and eventually back to their start after a lovely half day walk.
The River Wye and Offa’s Dyke
IN lovely bright winter sunshine, a group of 17 walkers and Bruno joined Robin and spaniel Biggles from Penarth and District Ramblers at Lower Redbrook.
During the 17th Century, the delightful Valley Brook, which descends to the River Wye, was dyed deep red because of the copper works and so the village gained its name. A steep climb through Forge Wood was made more difficult by the fact the path was deeply rutted and extremely muddy following tree felling works.
Morning break followed in the churchyard of All Saints, also known as the ‘Cathedral of the Forest’ due to its size, whilst overlooking the Almshouses which date back to 1615. Moving on past the Ostrich Inn they slithered along the perimeter of a recently-ploughed field where deep thick mud again took over as they trudged through.
A steep muddy track brought them onto part of Offa’s Dyke Path, named after King Offa who in the 780s decided to curb the unruly Welsh by building a huge earthen wall, which roughly covers the border between England and Wales. Fields led them to the Kymin where the Roundhouse is sited, along with the Naval Temple, which honours Admirals who fought great sea battles – the only monument of its kind erected to the English Navy in the whole of the country.
They stopped for lunch in front of the Roundhouse, from where it is claimed that on a clear day, nine counties can be seen. Their downhill journey was compromised by a cross-country race where runners were racing downhill at speed, whilst others were plodding up. The walkers eventually reached the banks of the Wye and still in one piece, followed the fast-flowing river back to their start.
You can follow the group’s exploits here or Facebook
Joy Strangward
#GlamorganStar #TrustedNews #Free #ValeOfGlamorgan
• | Twelve miles in the glorious Vale of Glamorgan
• | Muddy and wet conditions doesn’t dampen Ramblers walk
