Lead: Liz
The day had promised drizzle and mugginess when we set off and this certainly was the case until coffee time, but thereafter the seven of us who set off from Hensol villas, just south of Llanerch vineyard, enjoyed some lovely sun later in the day.
Initially we walked past the villas, some rather attractive houses, presumably built for workers when Hensol Castle was in its heyday. We then hopped over a stile and past the back of a very grand house and into a wooded area, leading to, a bit of a contrast, the dump section of The Vale golf course. Quickly through this, we walked through the golf course, past a clubhouse with tempting signs for coffee and then down a little lane to the rear of, where a pleasant path led us past golfers and to a little bridge spanning a stream leading into a lake. Although real rain was upon us by now, we stopped for a quick drink, before leaving the golf course behind. A pleasant spot in drier weather!
After a bit of field, wood and road walking, we soon found ourselves on a good broad track with views towards the hills and Talygarn estate. As the lake there made an attractive spot, we decided upon an early lunch, sitting around an old decorative bridge, over the two linked lakes. Chatting to a local, we found out that the path down the other side of the lake was clear and passable so instead of retracing our steps, we strode down this, with lovely views of the lake and its wildlife. From here we entered a jungly bit, where a spot of hammering in of way mark signs was indulged in- a shame we ran out of yellow arrows just before the end! One member did however, scramble up a bank, attack the ivy and managed to find a hidden way marker! From there, it was a short road walk back to Llanerch vineyard, where we all enjoyed a coffee in the sunshine on the terrace- a good end to a pleasant four-and-a-half-mile walk.
Wick Wanderers 