Walking the Coast of Britain: 2013

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Walk 14 - 18th February 2013 - Barry Island (Glamorgan, Wales) to Cardiff (Glamorgan, Wales)

Our first walk of the new year and we were blessed with blue skies and fabulous sunshine. We drove from Gloucester to Cardiff and caught a train to Barry Island the start of our walk.

Above left, Andrea at Barry Island train station.

Left, Julie at Barry Island train station.

Looking towards Whitmore Bay.

Looking towards Whitmore Bay.

Our walk took us back across the road/rail bridge, over which we had traveled on the train, just a short while earlier.

Looking across Barry Harbour, to Watch House Bay in the far distance.

The old sign welcoming travelers to Barry island.

Patterns in the sand of Barry Harbour.

Barry Waterfront.

The brand new Premier Inn, at The Innovation Quarter, Barry Water front. The building is one of the greenest and most energy efficient in South Wales.

Our walk continued past Barry power station.

Left, Julie walking along a short section of footpath, at the end of which we emerged on to the banks of the mouth of the River Severn.

The rocky foreshore of the river.

The symbol of the Wales Coast Path, which will be our constant companion and guide over many more walks in Wales.

Looking along the shore to Sully Bay and Sully
Island. It's causeway submerged by the river.

Looking back towards the factory chimneys of Barry, from Sully.

The Captian's Wife Inn at Swanbridge.

Looking along the coast from Lavernock Point.

From our lunch time resting place, Lavernock Point, looking towards the Marconi Holiday Village.

Lunch at Lavernock Point's Gun Battery.

Beautiful primroses growing on the side of our path.

St Lawrence Church at Lavernock. Possibly 12th century in origin.

A plaque on the wall of St Lawrence Church commemorating the work of Italian born and British based Guglielmo Marconi. Assisted by George Kemp (who was a Cardiff based post office engineer), Marconi transmitted and received the first wireless signals over open sea between Lavernock Point and Flat Holm Island on 13th May 1897.

Approaching Penarth.

The pier at Penarth.

The old custom house - now a swanky restaurant by Cardiff Bay Barrage.

A peice of artwork (a mermaid we think) on a roundabout on the approach to Cardiff Bay Barrage.

Cardiff Bay from the barrage.

The Norwegian Church across the water. Now a cafe, the writer Roald Dahl was baptized here.

A close up of this lovely church.

Looking towards the Wales Millennium Centre and the red brick Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay.

Part of the Wales Millennium Centre.

Columns at the front of the Millennium marking the end of our walk. A short stroll to the car park and a drive back to Gloucester.

Saturday 26 January 2013

Walk 13 - 3rd December 2012 - Bullo Pill (Glos) to Newnham-on-Severn (Glos) and Gloucester Quays (Glos) to Over (Glos)

Two linking walks today. The first part of our walk completing the missing link between Walk 6 - Lydney to Bullo Pill and Walk 5 - Newnham-on-Severn to Over. So a short walk from Bullo Pill to Newnham-on-Severn.

Julie at the start of our pre-Christmas walk at Bullo Pill.

Walking into Newnham-on-Severn.

The view of the swollen River Severn from Newnham-on-Severn churchyard.

The main street through Newnham-on-Severn.

A very swollen River Severn after recent rains.

Julie outside the Silver Fox Cafe.

Walk two linking Walk 5 Newnham-on-Severn to Over and Walk 1 Gloucester Peel Centre to Framilode. So another short walk from Sudmeadow Road to Over Farm Market.

Beautiful trees in the flooded banks of the River Severn.

Our Destination Over Farm Market

Walk 12 - 12th November 2012 - Newport (Gwent, Wales) to Cardiff (Glamorgan, Wales)

This day was a catalogue of disaster. The pouring rain made our journey from England to Wales, along motorways full of spray and congestion, take much longer than it should have done. We parked in Cardiff and caught three buses to Newport. Then we misread our maps and we walked the wrong way! Despite seeing plenty of signs telling us quite clearly we were going in the wrong direction, we still felt we going the right way! And so foolishly and blindly we continued in this way. We only admitted defeat when we came 'face to face' so to speak, with the Newport Transporter Bridge. Which was a very clear confirmation of the error of our ways.

Julie at the start of our walk in The Sports Ground on the opposite side of the A48 from The Tredegar House Country Park.

Andrea at the start.

Julie standing, looking somewhat encouraged, by the signs for The Wales Coast Path. Unfortunately the section of the Wales Coast Path that we wanted was a few hundred yards further on up the road.

Andrea looking similarly encouraged!

When we reached the Transporter Bridge it was 2pm. Light was fading and we stood no chance of reaching Cardiff in daylight and at a reasonable time. We decided to catch buses back to Cardiff and then drive home to Gloucester.

Lessons learned. Once again, never trust a local to give you directions!! And use a compass.

This walk to be attempted again in a few months time.

The one highlight of the day - spotting a beautiful kingfisher flying along the banks of the River Usk.

Walk 11 (Day 2) - 7th October 2012 - Robin Hood's Bay (North Yorkshire) to Whitby (North Yorkshire)

Up early for a look around Robin Hood's Bay before breakfast at our lodgings The Bramblewick.

The quaint houses of Robin Hood's Bay.

Our lodgings The Bramblewick, which we would very much recommend.

After a delicious breakfast we started our walk to Whitby.

Leaving Robin Hood's Bay behind.

A peice of Millennium artwork erected by the people of Robin Hood's Bay.

Leaving Robin Hood's Bay behind.

The field named Rocket Post Field is the spot where shipwrecked, marooned sailors were rescued by an ingenious pulley system. Ropes were attached to a rocket and fed through a pulley system secured to a post. The rocket was fired towards the hapless sailors and with a bit of luck they were winched to safety.

A replica of the post used in the rescues.

Robin Hood's Bay in the far distance.