Long linear walk enjoyed by ramblers
By Joy Strangward
On a beautiful sunny spring morning a group of six walkers met up with William from Penarth and District Ramblers at Barry Railway Station to take part in a linear walk from Barry to the Plough and Harrow Inn at Monknash with a return journey on public transport.
They set off with a short steep climb up Canon Hill to St Nicholas Road passing what had been the first grocery shop in Barry built in 1860, before descending into Old Village Road where terraced cottages with thatched roofs were the homes of labourers working on the Romilly Estate. The oldest cottage is Rose Cottage which was originally a farm built around 1600 and called Greenhouse Farm.
Passing the remnants of Barry Castle once the seat of the de Barri family they skirted the edge of Porthkerry Country Park and along a narrow track at the southern edge of Cliffwood to descend the Golden Stairs.
Following the Wales Coast Path whilst gazing towards the 110 foot stone built Porthkerry Viaduct, a steep path through Viaduct Wood brought them uphill and across a field which contains the remnants of the Bulwarks, an Iron Age hillfort. On through the Porthkerry Caravan Park to descend into what is left of the southern end of Happy Valley and clambering up steep steps and along the clifftop they paused at a memorial to Barbara Palmer who helped create Valeways Millennium Heritage Trail, a 65-mile journey through the stunning and historic Vale of Glamorgan as well as being a founder member of Penarth and District Ramblers.
On through Fontygary Caravan Park to descend the lovely refurbished cliff steps leading down to the salt flats, lagoons and dunes at East Aberthaw and over the protective sea defence wall to pass through Pleasant harbour, where the remains of Aberthaw Limeworks stand guard over the delightful lake. Along the track above The Leys to reach the River Thaw estuary and a stop for their mid-morning refreshment break before continuing along the concrete path in front of the now closed Aberthaw Power Station.
Reaching Gileston and following the coast above Limpert Bay passing the cubed concrete WW2 tank traps to cross pebbles further on for the short walk through woodland to reach Summerhouse Point, the trilling birds, warm sunshine and light winds made their journey very pleasant. Following the edges of fields above the tall cliffs they moved on past Stout Point and the ancient fort of Castle Ditches to descend to Cwm Col-huw above Llantwit Major beach, where a stop was made for an ice-cream before tramping uphill and along the cliff for a most welcome stop for lunch above Tresilian Bay.
Descending to cross the beach and continuing along the coast path another descent led them on past St Donat’s Castle and onward to the impressive 37m tall lighthouse at Nash Point. The notorious Nash Sandbank in the Bristol Channel over the years claimed many sea going vessels and plenty of lives and following the shipwreck of the Frolic in March 1831 with the loss of 78 lives, it took only eleven months for two lighthouses to be erected at Nash Point, that shone their first light on 1st September 1832. The smaller of the two towers was not required so it was shut down in the 1950’s and on the 5th August 1998 the station was de-manned. The grounds are classed as an SSSI because the rare Tuberous Thistle grows there.
With the North Devon coastline coated in mist they moved down through Cwm Marcross, climbing from the valley to journey on to Cwm Nash where a zig zag a path led them down to the rough track through woodland beside the Nash Brook. On past the old ruined corn mill to pass Blaen-y-cwm tramping through pretty meadows, before crossing the stones over the brook into fields containing the remnants of the monastic Monknash Grange.
Finally the weary walkers after completing their 16.5mile trek arrived by road at the Plough and Harrow Inn for a well-earned drink and a rest in the garden whilst being bathed in warm sunshine, before boarding a bus which brought them back to Barry.
You can follow the group’s exploits here or Facebook.
| Scroll down to comment on this article
• | Ramblers enjoy the delights of the Vale
Former Barry office building transformed into vital new homes
Prolific thief banned from entering shops in Barry
I’m proud that all parties agreed on children in care plan
WHEN you elected me in May, I said I had come to listen and to…
Royal Welsh highlights the role of the rural economy
Parent may have to lose job for school run
Double victory for Pencoed cricketers
| Scroll down to comment on this article
