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" West Wales - 2019 - Abercastle "
Date & start time: Wednesday 16th October 2019. Stayed at : Doves Cottage, Abercastle, Pembrokeshire, UK. ( SM 852 338 ) Location of Start : Doves Cottage, Abercastle, Pembrokeshire, UK. ( SM 852 338 ) Places visited : Ynys y Castell, Aber Yw, Pwllstrodur headland and back. Walk details : A two mile or so walk out and back on the coast path. With : Gill , Ann and our dogs, Dylan and Dougal. Weather : Fine weather, lovely blue skies again. |
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Another fine morning and we seem to be bucking the national weather trend this week. We have a visitor arriving for lunch so we have the opportunity for a lazy morning. The tide is in and the causeway covered but in the shelter of the cottage the morning tea hardly cools in the gentle breeze. The sheep that we saw earlier up on the headland have all walked down to the bottom path in line, one behind the other. They walked along the coast path towards the harbour. Soon afterwards they changed their minds . . . and all processed back again . . . there's no accounting for sheep !
Mum was keeping watch but didn't seem at all flustered by our presence above. At the entrance to the cottage is a lovely wild plant growing out of the crevice. It turns out to be a red valerian flower. Our guest has arrived at the car park by the beach so we climb the steps to meet her. Gill was a colleague of Ann's when they worked in Gowerton School. She arrived, as planned, in time for lunch. - - - o o o - - - Afterwards we decide on a walk along the coast path starting from the cottage. The coast path starts from the top of the garden and climbs up and around the farmer's fields. Our first major view was back towards Ynys y Castell island that we see from the cottage. Gill in in charge of the camera for this one.
A wider view of the coast path as we round the corner before the stony cove, called on the map Aber Yw. The stream falling over the cliff was extremely small so the Yw must be one of the shortest rivers in Wales. A rugged coastline ahead. The length of the coast between St Davids and Fishguard claimed over sixty ships before the lighthouses were built. Anyone driven ashore here would have little chance of survival. Unusual Pembrokeshire walls . . . cement topped with raised stone to discourage animals from jumping over. Walls are no problem for the birds. A flock of mixed gulls in the adjacent field suddenly took to the air. Like a murmuration of starlings only bigger birds.
Further on we see classic red campion mixed with the bramble of the hedgerow.
The coast path runs along the top of the cliff, so close at times that a diversion has to take it into the field alongside. Here we've regained our view of Strumble Head, where we walked yesterday, as we pass a hawthorn bush in full fruit. Blackthorn . . . more usually known as sloe bushes . . . goes well as a flavouring for gin ! Late season blackberries, still red and immature. A mixed bunch . . . a black sloe but the red berries of hawthorn. A slight diversion twenty yards down from the path, onto the minor headland before Pwllstrodur Bay. The view ahead to Pwllstrodur and Porth Glastwr. The headland to the left is Trwyn Llwynog . . . gate of the fox or nose of the fox depending on your context. Around the next corner we met the Giant of Pwllstrodur . . . But she was altogether a different person when you get up close and introduce yourself !
A really nice afternoon and we enjoyed the catch up in a way you just can't do over the phone. - - - o o o - - - |
Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Panasonic Lumix Tz60 Compact, or my Panasonic Gx8 mid-range System Camera. Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder. This site best viewed with . . . a friend with a slightly better skill at identifying flowers than us. Go to Top . . . © RmH . . . Email me here Previous walk - 15th October - West Wales - Strumble Head A previous time in the area - 7th April 2017 - Swansea Visit - Three Cliifs Next walk - 17th October - West Wales - Gareth and Rhian
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