8 of us on the 303 bus from Ogmore by Sea and Wick, to King George’s Field, St. Donat’s where Helen and Andrew were waiting for us. Welcome to Linda Cox on her first outing with us.
The weather was perfect – Autumn sunshine, gentle breeze, along the Coastal path. Steep steps down to Tresilian Bay and it’s boulders needed due care, but we stopped to investigate a WW2 pillbox, perfectly camouflaged by the surrounding stone cliffs. On such a day, it was difficult to imagine the soldiers on guard within, without a sense of claustrophobia.
We caught up with the ones who preferred to get ahead up the next steps. Next stop, a 2nd pillbox for a photoshoot, and who should we ‘spy’ but Moira heading our way, relieved to join us after her Tai Chi class in CF61, and we were also delighted to see her. We made our way carefully down a gravel path to another beautiful, smaller bay where we turned inland and up a fairly steep grassy path and series of steps; here, a marker with arrows shows to turn sharply right and almost immediately right again to join the inland paths along the hedge and open fields, with Sheeplays barn not far.
Eventually the grassy footpath becomes a well-trodden soil-and-pebble track bordered by twin hedges, with limited views. There are several scattered stiles off the track so it’s a useful route to access them and also would provide shelter from stronger offshore breezes, perhaps more welcome in colder weather. We were all looking forward to liquid refreshment by this time, I believe.
The end of the track becomes a short paved lane, after passing an optional steep stile into Dovecot Field to the right. Either way brings you to The Gatehouse, Tewkesbury Abbey Grange, 14c. For us, it was downhill to St. Iltyd’s Church, and one last push up the steps for the White Hart Pub & beer garden. The bus stops right outside, but some of us were given lifts by Moira and also Ann Price, who it was lovely to see, joined us there for coffee. Thanks to Claire and Phil (lookouts) and his excellent bus tracker app (spot on time, both ways). And thank you for all making this a very enjoyable day out.
2 hours, 3 miles
Iechyd da…
