Solva to Newgale (Pembs Coast Path)

Monday again.  Both parties had early evening plans and it was decided to keep the walk reasonably short.

The weather when I left my home was misty/foggy and remained so almost to Newgale, when lo and behold it cleared.  Our plan was to leave the car in Newgale and catch the bus (three cheers for bus passes) to Solva.  On the camping ground in Newgale we saw a flock of oyster catchers performing what seemed to be a dance on the wet grass. The considered opinion was that they were trying to attract worms to come to the surface.

At Solva we climbed out of the harbour and up onto the headland known as the Gribbin.  I have had many a family holiday based in Solva and it was here quite some years ago my interest in canoeing started.

It was a bit early for elevenses and so we walked on to the next headland at Penrhyn. We walked on admiring all the sea views and rock formations which abound on this coast. We deviated from the path proper to walk on the headland known as Dinas Fawr.  What a lovely place, almost arete like and any slip would have resulted in the activity known as coasteering!

We had lunch between Dinas Fawr and Dinas Fach.  The latter looked interesting to explore but it would have to wait for another day.

As we approached the northern end of Newgale beach we looked down into a small bay and spotted a sheep lying down on the sand. Two of her friends were looking down from a precarious ledge.  It was difficult to see how the sheep had got to the beach and as it had not moved we assumed it was injured.

A friend of mine is an inspector with the RSPCA and I called him for advice.  he could not help as he was on his way to rescue a dolphin!  However he gave me a phone number to call at HQ. To cut a long phone call short the RSPCA do not have the facility to accept grid references but need a post code!  The person I spoke to was also unable to locate Newgale or Haverfordwest and seemed uncertain as to where Pembrokeshire was!  I was now low on credit.  When I arrived home the RSPCA had contacted the local animal health people in the council, they had been to the scene only to find no stranded sheep but one making its way back up the rocks!

How can a national rescue service not have access to grid references - hopefully dear reader you will ensure that your next walk will include all relevant postal codes.  I feel a letter coming on.

Our walk continued on the beach at Newgale with the cliffs showing the power of nature and the possible lair of the Welsh dragon.

Back at the car and the rain started how lucky were we?

Cwm Mawr to Pontiets Railway Walk

Although this walk is close to home I had not walked it before and was reminded about it by Terry.

I walked the first part from Cwm Mawr  (link to history) near Drefach to Pontyberem on the 19th Feb.  As this is a linear walk I also walked back!

My companions were Ollie and Finn from Many Tears Rescue Centre.

The walk is easy and in good condition and mainly stays in the countryside passing a few farms. The route would be OK for bike riding but not road bikes as it is a little rough in some places.

I continued the walkon 26th Feb from Pontyberem to Pontiets and back.  Again an easy walk in quiet countryside.  Today I had another dog, Hurley, my friend's son's springer spaniel.

You can see from the above picture the path is very straight in places.

Part way along the line there was obvious signs of old industry which I assume related to mining and at one spot a lonely signal.

From Pontiets there is a Mining heritage Trail which will be the next bit to be walked.

 Copyright Rose and Trev Clough and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

DISCOVERING NEATH

I had a choice during my Sunday conversation with our navigator- in- chief on where I wished to go on Monday.


1/ A local walk near my home.
2/ Another Afon Clydach walk to add to my tally
3/ "An adventure" in the Neath area


I chose the latter - an adventure means that Terry has not done this before and paths may not be where the OS says they are.


We parked in Tonna next to the Tennant Canal.  From here there is a complicated array of bridges, new and old.

Finding ones way through the urban area can be a problem but we found the path which leads past the Ivy Tower 776984 the ruin of a former two-storey castellated tower built (circa 1780) by the architect John Johnson for the Mackworth family of the Gnoll Estate, Neath.  

© Copyright Cedwyn Davies and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

We found our way into the Gnoll Country Park voted as the Best Picnic Spot in Wales in 2010 in the Warburtons National Picnic Awards, and which is surrounded by a beautiful 18th century landscaped garden which retains many of its original features, including the impressive Gnoll Cascades. We had a coffee break here although not enough to qualify as a picnic.  

From here we re-entered suburban life and walked into Cimla and found an unkempt footpath leading to Crythan Brook.  Another footpath then led down this brook again leading to civilization. 


We came to the cemetery at 747950 and had lunch just outside Jersey Park.  Near here we spotted an incline which used to contain a railway and now known as Rhodfa Clark, named after the wife of the engineer who designed Jersey Park.  We met a local who told us that the old line used to be used for storing armaments in the second world war.


From here we walked into the woodland and then down into Britton Ferry and onto the towpath of the Neath Canal.

This was to be our companion all the way back to our starting point.  It is a surprisingly peaceful and attractive canal, apart from its short course through the town of Neath.  However once through the built up area it again becomes a pleasant walk.

Just outside the town you will come across a canal side church,St Illtytds (click the link for the history)

Close to Tonna the canal is joined by the Tennant canal.   From the basin there is still a well preserved aqueduct which takes the canal over the Afon Nedd although this is closed to the public.  More information about both canals can be found by clicking the link.

You may well pass by this area when travelling on the M4  or the A466 and not realize there is much to be seen but you would be wrong.

Day 7 (Clydach Gorge)

Welsh weather! Little point in wandering uphill today and our venue was going to be the Clydach Gorge and the industrial history it supported some time ago.

Plan A was to park in Llanfoist, catch a bus to Brynmawr and walk back.  Unfortunately the local bus service did not understand our plan.  In the absence of any up valley buses we changed to plan B.  Walk up the valley and hope that there were  buses back from Brynmawr.

We took the converted old railway line and eventually looked down on a frozen Mon and Breck Canal.

The canal footpath was joined and we stayed on this until Gilwern.  Here we left the canal and followed a path up the Afon Clydach (my third Afon Clydach since starting this blog in January 2012).

We crossed the old Smarts Bridge and came across the old furnaces.  This must have been a hive of industry way back when but all was quiet today.

Our route led us back onto the old railway bed for lunch. After food we kept on this path which led us close to the Clydach Nature Reserve and all the way into Brynmawr.

Thankfully Plan B was achieved as we caught a bus back although it did take a very roundabout route.  Not much income for them today as we were the only two passengers and both claiming free travel!

Although the forecast for tomorrow, our last day, was looking good it was decided we would head home.  A good week of walking in a variety of weather and venues.  Must now start thinking about our October trip.

Day 6 (The Sugar Loaf)

Another day forecast as worth getting up higher. The target today was the Sugar Loaf a 'proper" looking mountain as a child may draw.

We parked at the car park near spot height 234 and then walked uphill and then took a path leading south east into the woods  above the Afon Cibi.

At Sunny Hill we turned uphill heading onto the ridge of Deri.  There were fine views of the Sugar loaf and surroundings.

A lovely wide grass path led us to a northern route up onto the top of Sugar Loaf.  Part of the route was icy but once in the sun the grass reappeared.

We soon reached the top and took in the views.

The trig point has a plaque mentioning the local mountain rescue team and its members who have passed on.

It was too cold to have lunch on the top but a short drop down found us a sheltered spot. After the break we headed down the south east side towards High Beeches and back to the car.

Day 5 (Black Hill)

Today the forecast was more promising and so we headed uphill onto Black Hill and headed towards Hay Bluff and a return down the Olchon Valley.  Once again the Microspikes made an appearance.

We parked at the car park at the foot of the south end of the Black Hill and Crib Y Garth. Not much chance of awalk in hill, but straight up.  Once the climb is over and you step onto the level ground the view is well worth the effort.  The ridge before you is just as you would imagine a ridge with falls either side albeit not direct.

The air was very cold and the grass and the sparse trees carried interesting ice work.

 We had the usual photographs at the top.

We followed the obvious path which, I imagine in a wet spring and summer would be very muddy.  However today we crunched our way forward passing solid ice filled pools and snow fields.

We had a quick lunch sat on the snow and decided that we would leave the trig at Hay Bluff and head back.

 In the distance we saw a large group of children presumably on a field trip all dressed in red kit.  Hopefully the cold weather will not put them off to returning when they are older.

We found the junction of paths and headed towards the Olchon Valley.  This was, at the start, a steep way down not helped by it being covered in thick ice.

It eventually eased and the ice less.  In fact the sun came out and we stopped for a coffee and a quick doze.  Refreshed and the warmest we had been all day, we continued back down the valley and back to the car.