Muddy and wet conditions doesn’t dampen Ramblers walk
⁘ By Joy Strangward
Following lots of rainfall, underfoot conditions are really muddy and wet but a group of 13 walkers joined Joy from Penarth and District Ramblers at Dinas Powys village square for a Shortish Strides walk.
In overcast but dry weather they set off across Dinas Powys golf course descending a sunken lane to pass through the beautiful beech wood and the muddy track through the steep-sided Cwm George to cross the Cadoxton River bridge and join a road.
A narrow path on the Cwrt yr Ala Estate led them to the stunning salmon leaps with its lakes and weirs where they spotted a grey heron, before a slippery path through the woods beside the Wrinstone Brook led them uphill to a field near Wrinstone House.
A quiet country lane led them to Cwm Slade and a stop for morning refreshment including seasonal home-made warm mince pies from Josie, before they passed through more woodland into the Michaelston valley at The Lawns. Fields once part of a decoy site to lure German bombers into dropping their load in the valley rather than on Cardiff with its munitions factories during WW2, brought them across the Bullcroft Brook and uphill to the ruined ice house for the journey by field to Michaelston-le-Pit.
Heading through the churchyard of the 14th century St Michael and All Angels, a descent brought them back into fields to walk the riverbank to the very muddy Millfields, out onto Mill Road for the tramp back to their start via Heol y Cawl.
– ⁘ –
Despite a night of heavy rainfall and wind a group of 13 walkers plus Bruno the dog joined Joy for a post- Christmas 6.5 mile Shortish Strides walk beginning from the Gorsedd Stones at the rear of Romilly Park and as if by magic the rain stopped at the start of the walk. They went downhill through a deserted Romilly Park to enter the Knap Gardens where the wind had whipped up the water in the lake, before they tramped across the site of the old Knap Lido to overlook waves crashing into the Old Harbour. Pavements led to the Parade Gardens and along the causeway to the main car park at Barry Island where the strong gusty wind hit them full on, before a deviation by path to the beach at Whitmore Bay.
Up steps onto the eastern end of the promenade and past the colourful beach huts following the Clement Colley Walk around Nell’s Point where they were splattered by spray from waves crashing onto the rocks below.
Reaching the calmness of Jackson’s Bay there was a pause for refreshments in glorious sunshine, whilst watching several people sea swimming before heading steeply uphill to Redbrink Crescent. On past the remains of the chapel dedicated to St Baruc who gave his name to Barry Island and along Breaksea Drive to cross the railway bridge and join Ffordd y Mileniwm through the old docklands. From Broad Street, a climb up to Jenner Road and following Pontypridd Road a narrow path from Nant Talwg Way led them to the Millwood. Climbing steeply through the woods and crossing part of the Four Fields, their one and only stile brought them back onto pavements for the short trip back to their start point.
You can follow the group’s exploits here or on Facebook
