Lead: Liz
A change of plan owing to unforeseen circumstances led us to Bryngarw. Originally Merthyr Mawr sandunes to Newton and back inland had been the plan but we were turned back as we left the main road towards the dunes car park. A quick chat in the potteries car park and we decided upon Bryngarw park instead, the location for our last walk. Only a few of us had done that earlier walk and few had done the walk we actually did.
Now 6 in number, as 3 had had to pull out, we set off alongside the old Garw valley railway line, still intact but unused since about mid 1960s. This was a good tarmacked path for about 3 miles up the valley, surrounded by some lovely moss covered trees, the river running swiftly alongside and a general feeling of being a little warmer and more spring like than forecasts had led us to expect. A coffee stop on an old bridge enabled us to watch a dipper in the stream nearby, then we had another gentle pull up to the road, which we crossed, now alongside the village of Llangeinor and past the parachute factory.
We then retraced our steps for a mile, clambered up steps onto a quiet road, leading to a steepish uphill track and soon reached the entry back into the park. Hunger was setting in, but we aimed for the Japanese tea house by the lake, so we could eat without getting too wet, as by now it was raining. Two young people were there chatting and sketching the Japanese bridge, and friendly chat was engaged, then they asked to be in one of our photos, which they duly were and said photo has been emailed to them.
Given the unexpected location of our walk, we were pleased that we had very suitable and interesting walk- to repeat when summer arrives.
Wick Wanderers 