Day 11: Newton Beach to Sker Point

Day 11: Newton Beach to Sker Point (with a bit of Kenfig Resevoir thrown in)

Miles: Not sure as the Interactive Coastal Path map measuring device is down!)

Falafel: 4 (RT 25)



It's good to be in the great outdoors. It's been around seven months since my last excursion along the path and i've bee particularly looking forward to this stretch. 


Our path begins at Newton Beach and covers Trecco Bay, Sandy Bay and Rest Bay. 


The beaches, two of which are Blue Flag winners, make up the Porthcawl holiday resort. 


Originally built as a port town to support services the coal and iron industries. 


As other industrial towns such as Barry grew and took over, Porthcawl developed into a tourist destination. 

We join the handful of determined pint drinkers who are braving the wind to socialise over a beer in the sunshine this weekend. Five pounds for a pint mind! 


The resort was particularly popular with Miners and their families during Miners Fortnight, the main summer holiday period for the colliers around South Wales https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/miners-fortnight-barry-porthcawl-pictures-7492554


As we move away from the sandy beaches, the familiar rugged and diverse coastal scenery comes into view. 


This part of the coastal path has been made very accessible and safe for those ramblers who are less steady on their feet with a boardwalk. 


Some young beasts of the path enjoying the grass and the fresh weather. 


This little friend is so cute you'd want to cuddle him, not eat him. 


As move further away from the beaches, we approach Kenfig Nature Reserve.


It's one of the most important sites in Britain for nature conservations and is definitely worth a visit. 


Many animals call this part of the path home, and some very interesting plants including orchids, which I thought only thrived in tropical climes. It's definitely not tropical on the dunes today! 


Parts of the path are quite boggy today, but the mud is definitely worth it. The combination of the grasses, the trees, the sand dunes and the various bodies of water provides some stunning scenery. 


It's enough to make we want to come over all artistic.


These waterways make Kenfig an attractive site to various water birds such as Canada Geese, Coots and Moorhens 


We didn't see any rare birds today, but we did see a rabbit scuttling across the path. 








Easy! He's after my falafels! 


 I'm so happy to have made a start on the Coastal Path in 2021. What a stunning start!


The weather wasn't great at times; it makes me realise that it's definitely still early in the year and maybe I  should invest in a better coat. 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 8: Porthkerry to Llantwit Major

Image
Miles: 11 (RT: 79) Falafel: 0 It's a beautiful day in the Vale of Glamorgan as we say goodbye to Porthkerry. I like gnarly old trees like this which look like they have a story or two to tell. Between Porthkerry snd Rhoose Point, we came across this little secret beach. It made me wish I'd brought my bathers for a dip.  ideal coastal path scenery.  We are now approaching Rhoose Point, the most southern point in Wales. No wonder it's scorching here! Rhoose Point is designated as a site of importance for biodiversity with its marshes and cliffs.   The site is near an old cement works There are lots of these breaks in the sea wall where you can see right out into the ocean. You could almost be on a Greek Island. The weather is absolutely stunning and so is the scenery. I can't believe how many beautiful places are so close to where I live.
Read more

Day 4: Newport to Rumney

Image
Miles: 12.4 ( RT: 41.4) Falafel: 0 :( Blue skies over City Bridge in Newport to start us off today.  I have another walking buddy for this leg, which cheers up this familiar (I work just down the road from here) urban scenery.  It's an urban start, again dominated by the Transporter bridge but there are pockets of green here and there. Loved these popping plants as a kid. I knew a Great Dane who would pop the seed pods with his nose. Near Duffryn, we cross the railway and things get decidedly more rural... There's even cows. They are sitting down though which means it's going to rain according to my nan. It doesn't rain though, so the cow version of Derick the Walking Weatherman needs to check her instruments. One last glance at the Transporter Bridge, and we are out onto the foreshore.  This is Usk West Lighthouse, the sister of the Lighthouse fro
Read more

Day 3: Goldcliff to Newport

Image
Miles: 10.5 (RT:29) Falafels: 5 (RT: 14) I am an extra happy rambler today as I have my very favourite bird watcher to accompany me. Sadly, we didn't see any bearded tits (snicker) but a kestrel did stop by just as we were leaving Goldcliff Wetlands. Walking solo has it's benefits like keeping to your own pace and being alone with your thoughts but it's great to share the journey and the falafel. The tide is in and the skies are blue for a while.  We get a tiny drip of rain but it doesn't come to anything and once again the weather is on my side. The wetlands are another important site for birds and wildlife.  Is it green fingers reaching out or grey fingers reaching in? Today's only proper glimpse of Flatholm and Steepholm haunts the horizon. Another perk of having a walking buddy is that I can be in some of the pics and my extra fly M
Read more