Walkers wend their way around Wetlands and Wenvoe

Penarth and District Ramblers

Glamorgan Star news 15/02/2023

2 minutes read

The Gang at the Wetlands. Photo: Joy Strangward

Fifteen walkers plus dogs Bruno and Florence joined leaders Jan and John from Penarth and District Ramblers on a jaunt around Cardiff Bay.

Pavements led them down to cross the River Ely via Pont y Werin and, after gazing at the variety of moored boats, they continued along the boardwalk to pass below the A4232 and across Clarence Road Bridge over the River Taff, to pause overlooking the Hamadryad Hospital.

**Across the Bay to Penarth.** *Photo: Joy Strangward.*

Back in 1866, the Royal Navy lent a 46-gun man-of-war to Cardiff after concerns were raised about seamen bringing in diseases such as cholera and smallpox which could easily spread, and it was used as a floating hospital until a purpose built hospital was constructed and opened in 1905.

From Hamadryad Park they passed below the A4232 again and, entering the Wetland Reserve, moved on past St David’s Hotel to reach the Mount Stewart.

Dispersing to find places for morning break they reassembled by the distinctive terracotta built Pierhead building with its clock tower that replaced the original headquarters of the Bute Dock, which burnt down. They went on past the Senedd, the Scott memorial which shows Scott forging his way towards the ill-fated South Pole expedition and then across the Cardiff Bay Barrage before arriving at the Old Custom House. Built in 1865 when the coal trade was flourishing, it catered for Penarth’s shipping trade and processed ships entering and leaving, along with taxes paid, to clamp down on the illegally traded goods that were smuggled.

Crossing the lock gates at the entrance to Penarth Marina they entered the residential area before heading back uphill at Marconi Avenue to return to their start.

**Cardiff Bay wetlands**. *Glamorgan Star staff photos*.

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Ramblers start off in thick fog from Wenvoe village

Seventeen walkers gathered in thick fog at the Church of St Mary in Wenvoe village before setting off with Joy to enter a huge field leading them uphill into woodland and the Wenvoe orchid field. A narrow path between boundary hedges and trees dripping with pretty catkins led them to Twyn-yr-Odyn, where they stopped to examine the lovely etched toposcope which marks the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

By now, the fog was making its way north towards Cardiff and, heading along the path behind the St Lythans television transmitter mast, they exited onto The Downs following paths in the bracken to The Lane between residential houses.

Crossing the A48 by footbridge and following the wide grassed verge back into fields, they entered the stunning peace and solitude, together with its fantastic views, of the Cardiff Natural Burial Meadow. Open meadows, where a fox was spotted, led them to a rough farm track for the gentle uphill to the Church of St Nicholas and a stop for refreshments in lovely warm sunshine.

After hearing the history of the Battle of St Fagans in 1648, when the Roundheads thrashed the Cavaliers, they continued across the A48 and re-entering ploughed and seeded fields, made their way to the pretty Coed Nant-bran. A muddy path led them past the remains of old lime kilns for the return by fields to a farm track, then down through Wenvoe Wood, past Poundfield Farm to follow pavements back to the start.