Day 9: Llantwit Major to Ogmore


Miles: 10 (RT: 89)
Falafel: 5 (RT: 21)
Gorgeous weather again today for Llantwit Major to Ogmore. Today's walking buddy is my sibling who loves a Blue Steel pose.

Just outside of Llantwit we find another world war two look out. 

Alright Bess? How's it going alright? The livestock graze right up close to the cliffs on this stretch. 

The cliffs themselves look man made but really it's down to the sedimentary nature of the limestone rock. 

Rounding the cliffs, we head into St. Donats Bay. The site of St. Donats Castle, a site over looking the cliffs that has been occupied since the Iron Age.

The traditional home of Celtic Chieftain Caradog, who fought the Roman conquest. I wonder what Caradog would make of this absolute lad prancing about his fort?
Then we head towards Nash Point Lighthouse. A site of social and maritime historical interest. Built in the 19th century using stone quarried and winched up from the beach below.
They reckon it was built as a result of a ship being wrecked at Nash Point in 1831.
And also that the lighthouse's success at keeping mariner's safe is the reason that it is not very well known (no grizzly incidents to attract attention).
 This fog horn is pretty impressive. It hasn't been used since the 90s to aid mariners but I wonder if the attendant ever gets tempted to link up his Spotify and blast his tunes. Bluetooth? Maybe best not to as my brother is partial to a bit of thrash metal and it might distrupt migrating birds. Source of info: click here

Some lovely cliffs and hidden beaches as we pass Monknash.
All of this forms part of the Glamorgan Heritage site of special scientific interest. Special because of it's geology and the presence of fossils but also because of the various plant species that call it home.
It's quite hazy out to sea today and absolutely boiling. Every little cove and beach inviting me in for a swim.
We then face some treacherous scrambling down and up a valley. A quick look at the CP tells me that this is Cwm Bach which means small valley and Cwm Mawr which means big valley is just around the corner.
Before we face Cwm Mawr there's just time to visit with this old fellow looking out into the Bristol Channel and keeping himself to himself. On a very misty day you'd definitely mistake him for a watchful giant.
 
Luckily the path past Cwm Mawr takes us through a beautiful shaded wood which gives us a chance to cool off. Some cooler than others.
More beautiful limestone cliffs lead us towards Dunraven Estate and Park.
A manor house dating back to the middle ages which has been the home to various landed gentry through the centuries.
It was then a deer park and hunting lodge for a while. Hiss, boo!
Now it's just a lovely spot for a falafel or two with a public beach adjacent.
And guard sheep on duty...

We aren't far from Ogmore now and are enjoying the last gorgeous bits of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.

The sea at ogmore is calling me name...

Well, it would be rude not to!

As we are heading out of Ogmore we are treated to the site of a pony trekking club heading out for adventure, making it feel like a frontier being explored by, well, colonisers I suppose! 
This bit of the coastal path has been stunning and I've found loads of little places that I intend to revisit for closer look and possibly a dip.

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