Day 10: Ogmore to Newton Beach
Miles: 7 (RT: 28)
Falafel: 0
A short but very sweet leg of the coastal path and one that I will definitely be revisiting.
We headed inland from Ogmore Beach, one of the nicest beaches in South Wales with an interesting anomaly in the way the rocks are formed to suggest a gap of about 140 million years in the site's geological timeline. In cases such as these, it's probably aliens!
Past the remains of Ogmore castle, which during the 13th century was built along with two sister castles in Coity and Bridgend which protected Norman settlers in this strategic area from attack from natives. Bloody cheek.
We head across the river into the Merthyr Mawr nature reserve.
I got very excited by this sign. Particulary as it kinda suggests that the wild boar just spontaneously appeared in the reserve and weren't actually deliberately reintroduced (aliens again). Sadly, the boar were feeling a bit shy today.
At Merthyr Mawr, sand meets forest.
The woodland opens out to an impressive dune system that apparently used to stretch all the way to the Gower Peninsula.
Not really what I was expecting from an expanse of sand dune as it's so lush and green. The vegetation is like a springy blanket under foot and it is a place of special scientific interest for it's diverse plant life.
Now this is more like it. Hey there baldy! Is this the Big Dipper? Merthyr Mawr (and Wales's biggest sand dune?)
Lets say yes.
Look out for caterpillars! Soldiers and Welsh International Rugby stars have all been put to their paces in running across the dunes to build up their fitness. Or so this handsome fellow tells me.
We climbed him and it was hard. I can see why the soldiers and rugby players do it.
I also tried to slide down Big Dipper on my bum thinking I would just glide majestically down the side, it didn't work and sometimes I don't think my brain works.
Looking in one direction gives you a verdant splendour, and in the other direction a sandy landscape like something off star wars. The internet tells me that this is because the sand dunes provide a useful barrier against storms from the sea which gives the plant life a chance to thrive. Big dipper, you the real MVP!
"The sand people are skittish, but they'll be back, and in greater numbers."
And we are out on to Merthyr Mawr beach. There are people swimming and some horses running up and down the surf. Lovely.
Before we know it, we are back at Newton Beach. A the most easterly beach of Porthcawl and a really lovely find.
Signage tells us that this area and the nearby Trecco Bay were popular choices during Miner's Fortnight, The last week in July and first week in August where the mines would close to give the colliers two week's holiday. What absolute carnage that must have been! Here are some pictures: click here
Signage also tells me that my instincts about this being a good film set were not wrong, only it's not star wars it's the 60's epic historical drama, Lawrence of Arabia! I can't find any good quotes from that film, so here's another Star Wars one: "Live Long and Prosper".
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