The Next Walks:
Meet: Wick Village Hall at 9.50 for 10.00 start, unless otherwise stated
Walk Details: Members are notified by email.
Dates: Confirmed walk dates/time, leader and anticipated walk distance are shown below:
Walk Schedule:
The Previous Walk:
Garth and Llangynwyd, 16 May
6 Wanderers travelled north from Bridgend through the Llynfi Valley to Garth, near Maesteg where we parked and got ready to commence our walk.
We crossed a bridge over the Llynfi River, passing Garth Railway Station, though the advertised public toilets do not exist!! Following a gradual incline along Maiden Street, a terrace of houses originally built to house workers from local coal mines, we soon arrived at Bridgend Road and began a gentle ascent passing a variety of individually built homes and eventually the Lamb and Flag Pub, which has been a private residence since 1970s.
Here we left the road and descended into woodland and a footpath now managed by the Woodland Trust and through a pretty valley where bluebells were coming to the end of their season, but continued to provide colour.
The path was well maintained, The Trust having added a non-slip board-walk for part of the trail. Craig made an amazing King of the Castle pose on a small if rather high stone stile. Further on we carefully forded a stream via a wooden ‘plank’ which, it must be said, now provided a more stable crossing since the first recce Moira and myself undertook a few weeks earlier!
On leaving the woods we crossed fields and come across a small-holding where, what!!, at a distance we could see a zebra, but on closer inspection it was a horse with a striped winter coat! and soon after a gaggle of geese came by, accompanied by a persistent crowing of a nearby cockerel.
We then stopped to enquire the whereabouts of Llangynwyd Castle, unfortunately not on our trail today, but could be a future walk, and soon we arrived at Llangynwyd village where we picnicked in the church yard.
The village is also the location of a monument to Will Hopkins and Ann Thomas, the two lovers whose relationship was thwarted by her family, because Will was a poor thatcher, while Ann was the daughter of wealthy farmers. Will and Ann’s story is titled ‘The Maid of Cefn Ydfa’ and provided a good backdrop for our photo, followed by hot drinks at The Old House, the oldest public house in Wales.
We left the village and followed a country road and joined a wooded path leading to Bridgend Road, crossing this busy main road we made our way parallel to the valleys railway line, arriving at a beautiful community parkland, which provided information relating to flora, birds and bees. Leaving the park, we walked on through a housing development to return to our waiting cars. Although we experienced some light rain showers at times, we were mostly afforded dry weather.
Wick Wanderers 20th Anniversary
Wick Wanderers celebrated their 20th anniversary on Sunday 22nd February.
Nearly 30 members took part in an anniversary walk to mark the occasion, which retraced the inaugural walk from 2006. Several members of the original walking group are still members some 20 years later and took part in the event, as well as others who were unable to take part in the walk, but joined as special guests later on.
Before setting off on the walk, a photo was taken outside Wick Village Hall, which has been the traditional starting point of all walks and this replicated the photo taken on the original walk. The walk was approximately 3 miles, mostly on road due to the weather conditions, however the group did have to contend with some flooded areas en-route.
The enjoyable walk was followed by well-deserved refreshments of coffee/tea and cakes hosted at Wick’s own coffee house – The Nook. Delicious anniversary cupcakes were supplied by Chrissie’s Cakes & Bakes based in Porthcawl.
The event also collected funds for the Wales Air Ambulance by member donations, as well as a raffle, where a total of just under £225 was raised.
Wick Wanderers currently have 50 members from Wick and the surrounding areas of St Brides Major, Ogmore by Sea, Llantwit Major and Bridgend and walk around 3 times a month in local areas and sometimes further afield.
More details can be found on www.wickwanderers.com.
wickwanderers.com 