Lead: Graham
Exiting our cars at Colwinston we were greeted by a light shower which soon ceased as the seven of us set off, via a vertiginous stile, into a field of sheep numbering in the hundreds. Heading south across the fields and over several more stiles we gained the road near Stembridge Pumping Station where a colourful bank of blue and yellow flowers attracted our attention. The familiar tufted vetch provided the blue while the yellow was later identified as melilot. Skirting the pumping station which was almost hidden in vegetation we crossed more fields to enter Llandow and stop briefly for refreshments in a brief, light shower, the last of the day.
After passing Ty Fry Farm we turned left off the road out of the village, crossed one field and entered another with standing barley right up to the bordering hedges with no sign of any footpath. Making our way initially and with some difficulty around the edge until there was no alternative but to cross directly over in order to reach the stile giving access to the road. A plus side to this adventure was the presence of numerous pea plants, probably the remnants of the previous year’s crop, the product of which found its way into numerous pockets. Easier walking followed along a track, to one side of which we savoured magnificent vistas over the rural Vale, until we reached Llysworney where, in the warm and humid conditions, we were glad to remove waterproofs and stop for a well-earned picnic lunch.
After the team photograph, we headed through Worney Wood into open fields where we attracted close attention from a herd of Holstein Friesian cattle – or were they cows? An indistinct and overgrown serpentine path through woodland brought us onto a clear track and, resisting the call of the close-by nudist colony, we turned left to head past Pwllywrach Farm and on back to Colwinston and our waiting cars. The weather was overcast and damp at first but brightened up and became sunny with an exhilarating breeze. All appeared to enjoy the day and the company and good humour.
Wick Wanderers 