Gloomy skies and rainfall do not deter the local Ramblers
By Joy Strangward
Unfortunately, November brought with it a change of weather with overcast gloomy skies and plenty of rainfall, but this did not deter the group of five walkers who joined David M on his first walk as a leader for Penarth and District Ramblers.
Meeting at Paget Road in Penarth as a heavy shower engulfed them, the group set off downhill to reach the Old Custom House, erected in 1865 to cater for the flourishing shipping trade following the opening of Penarth Dock in the same year. Replacing the Penarth Head Inn where the pirate and smuggler Edward Edwards was renowned in the 1700’s, at this time brandy, cigars and tobacco were being secretly smuggled in and hidden to avoid the need to pay taxes. So, papers were checked for goods both entering and leaving the country in order to try and prevent illegally traded goods.
Standing next door in a rather dilapidated state is the old Marine Building, built in the same year of yellow brick which was a former hotel with its history relating to the Victorian era when people flocked to Penarth to enjoy seaside holidays.
After gazing across the rather gloomy Cardiff Bay and the Cardiff Barrage shrouded in dark clouds, a narrow track led them onto the foreshore below the steep cliffs of Penarth Head with rivers of water running down them following previous heavy rainfall.
Above them on the edge of the cliff the remains of part of a house named Northcliff built for Ernest Plisson, head of a firm that traded in coal exports and whose ship the Sainte Adresse traded between Penarth and Le Havre in the early 1900’s.
Sliding over wet pebbles and seaweed with the rather eerie outline of Penarth Pier etched on the skyline ahead of them they climbed up to Bridgeman Road and into Windsor Gardens as traces of blue sky were beginning to peep out from behind the dark clouds. The cliff top path between hedges was flooded and paddling through they made an escape into nearby fields to pause for morning break.
Boots soon became embedded with the mud of a ploughed field on the journey to reach the old disused railway line before a short tramp down Fort Road and across Lavernock Road to enter Cosmeston Lakes Country Park near the medieval village.
Following a lush grassy pathway to the orchard, then into the rough, muddy pathway through Cogan Wood with its collection of busy squirrels seeking out food, the track led them through a delightful copse and out onto Mile Road. Reaching Old Cogan Hall Farm with its rather murky pond containing bulrushes, they made a detour into the churchyard of St Peter’s, the oldest building in Penarth for lunch in bright warm sunshine.
Passing through the site of the former deserted village of Old Cogan and then through woodland and across the Sully Brook to St Cyres Park before pounding pavements and crossing green spaces in Penarth Town eventually led to the Dingle footbridge over the railway lines.
Crossing Windsor Road and making their way to Plassey Square they learned the northern part of Penarth was known as ‘Dagger Town’ relating to the days when it was totally a very poor working-class area frequented also by the Irish navvies who came to build Penarth Dock, when prostitution, opium dens and gambling was rife, what a difference from the neat houses nowadays. Then descending via Steep Street, the spectacular views across Cardiff Bay and beyond opened out, this time lit up with sunshine which was a magical change from the start of the walk.
You can follow the group’s exploits here or via Facebook
