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We're off for a brief visit to Swansea, to see our son Gareth and daughter-in-law Rhian and also to view their new house.

We'll be away four nights, giving us three full days in the area,

to spend time with grandson Luke, the Owen family and the many friends we have in the area.

As can be seen from the map, to avoid the repetitive nature of the motorways, we turned south of Warrington and headed down through central Wales.

After a five and a half hours driving, all the local signs and information boards are now written in two languages !

This one was alongside the parking and picnic area on the Black Mountains, some twenty miles before Swansea.

The dogs needed a good run around, having been in the car all day, and we needed to stretch our legs too.

This was a well known and favourite stopping place when we used to live in Swansea and were driving on holiday to mid-Wales.

The weather on the way down had been fine but overcast, good for driving but not good for long distance views.

Our short stop up here on the hills to the west of the Brecon Beacons was closer to that cloud so views and temperatures were down.

The area is known as the Black Mountain because all the high ground opposite was once a major limestone quarry

and the area would have been full of noise, dust, mud and smoke from the quarrying and subsequent lime production.

The lime was needed for agriculture and also to fuel steel production in the blast furnaces of South Wales.

For a short dog walk we strolled over to the quarries and back (sorry no photos).

As Gareth and Rhian's new house is in Ammanford rather than Swansea, we took a minor road west

along the northern side of the mountain, rather than cross over the top towards the big city.

On this last stage of the journey we passed Carreg Cennen Castle, impressively built on a limestone rocky outcrop close to our route.

Their new home is a nicely renovated older property in a mixed estate of newer houses.

It is convenient for the shops, is close to Rhian's family and offers a short commute over the local hills to work for both of them.

The new house also gives them extra bedrooms so our grandson now has his own large room.

Bath time . . . " Say hello to Nana and Pop "



After his bath it was time for bed . . .	. . . and it looks like time to make supper for the dogs too.

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With Gareth and Rhian working and Luke in nursery, we arranged to meet up with friends for lunch followed by a beach walk.

The tide was out so Caswell Bay would be good . . . this is a view along the way of Swansea Bay and Mumbles Head.

Our companions today . . . Sandra (left) and Jackie (right).

Many years ago the old pre-war concrete building were removed

and in 1987 the area modernised and landscaped to provide upgraded beach-side shops and a café here at Caswell.

	- - - o o o - - - Caswell is very popular as a beach because the bay has a large car park and can be reached by bus from town. On high days and holidays it is very popular and this adaptation of the Welsh Flag motif is encouraging visitors to protect themselves from the sun. That won't be necessary for us today I think ! - - - o o o - - -

A rather bland 1960's set of apartments grace the back of the Redcliffe end of the beach,

but that doesn't worry Dougal on what is his first visit to a big sandy bay.



Both dogs both race round and round . . .	. . . in what could be expressed as a frenzy of enjoyment.

By the time we walk down to the tide line they have calmed down a little.

Sandra finds a rare stick to throw for the dogs.



They both chased out into the sea after it . . .	. . . but Dougal met his first ocean wave, turned tail and headed back in.

Jackie and I putting the world to right, as Dougal shakes to get rid of excess sea water.

The scouring action of the winter sea has exposed slightly more of this rock outcrop.

The first barnacles only appear at least a foot above the current sand level.

I take a wide panorama of the bay from near the water's edge.

In the photo are Sandra, Ann, Jackie behind the rocks, two of the three dogs . . . and Sandra again . . . no I haven't photo-shopped her in !

Click here or on the photo above for a larger Loweswatercam annotated panorama.



Paddle boarders enjoying the calm sea . . .	. . . and a horse rider getting her exercise a different way.

The old Caswell Bay Hotel was demolished in 1990

and was replaced by three pleasantly designed apartment blocks seen here at the back of the beach

In the foreground are the honeycombed limestone rocks that feature in my childhood memories of the bay.



The action of the sea water and spray . . .	. . . has carved rivulets in the rock.

If, as a child, you splashed a bucket of sea water on the upper part of the rock,

it would channel delightfully down in the gullies to the sand below . . . hours of simple childhood pleasure on the beach.

Today the rocks allow us a little shelter from the breeze as we stop for a few moments to enjoy the view.



Back at the top of the beach, a small driftwood sculpture . . .	. . . and 'Tea and Welsh Cakes' await.

One last view of the western sea cliffs through the panoramic windows of the Surfside Café.

Afterwards we said goodbye to Sandra and Jackie and made our way back home via Bracelet Bay, past the iconic Mumbles Lighthouse.

- - - o o o - - -

Friday evening Gareth and Rhian had planned a family get together at a local restaurant, the Mountain Gate

Grandad Dennis, Ffion (crouched down) Abi, Gareth (Rhian's brother) and Rhian's dad Rob.

Rhian's Mum Viv, Grandma Pam and our daughter-in-law Rhian.

Our Gareth encouraging Luke to eat his meal.



I don't know if I want to !	Mmm I think it tastes all right.



In fact I'll have some more.	Don't need to bother with knife and forks do I ?

We had a lovely meal and enjoyed an evening of conversation whilst meeting the extended Owen family.

Tomorrow . . . well that's another day.

- - - o o o - - -