Walking the Coast of Britain: 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.