Next day, I’m back at Rhossili Beach. The sun is shining and the air is clear. It’s a perfect day for walking and a perfect day for photography.
Despite its popularity, this beautiful beach is virtually unspoiled by development. It’s only from higher ground that I get a glimpse of caravan roofs at the far end of the sands. Shame.
I set off full of energy for the climb up to Port-Eynon Point. I need it – the energy – because the path is steep and leads up along a rough track and through a maze of disused quarry workings. It could have been a harsh landscape, but the path is softened by the glowing beauty of gorse bushes in full bloom.
The morning is drizzly-dull, and the BBC predicts a rainy afternoon. I try to avoid walking in pouring rain if I can, so I decide to park in Oxwich and walk the short distance to Port-Eynon, from where I hope to catch a bus back to my car.
The walk starts from the beach, following a wooded slope and rising slowly towards Oxwich Point. I soon come across St. Illtyd’s Church. What a beautiful setting! 
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After lunch in West Cliff, my walk continues along open land above the sea. The sun is shining, the gorse is golden, and I’m filled with joy. This is turning into a wonderful day’s walking – one of the best I’ve ever experienced.
It’s 9am. That’s early for me – I’m not a morning person. But I have a long walk planned today, from The Mumbles to Oxwich Bay, a distance of around 16 miles I believe, and I need to get going.
The morning light is too low and too bright for a decent photograph of Mumbles Pier. So here is one I took yesterday:
It’s early afternoon by the time I arrive at Swansea bus station. Heading for Swansea Marina, I begin my walk through the Swansea Maritime Quarter. This area has been redeveloped and I tramp past rows of modern apartment houses. The ships in the water are pretty enough, but the development has a soulless look about it.
Today there is hazy sunshine and unusually good weather for Easter Monday. I am only planning a half-day of walking, in anticipation of a long drive home. But I’m determined to reach Swansea.
We are staying in a B&B perched high up on a hillside. The access road is bumpy and rough, but gives us stunning views across Port Talbot and Swansea Bay.
After lunch (a rather uninspiring prawn-cocktail) I head across the bay, turning to look back at the far side and to take a photograph of the area I’ve just left. This is probably the least scenic part of Porthcawl, with a fun fair and amusements lining the beach.
But I soon come to a pretty marina – well, ships on water are always pretty, even if the marina is simply a great concrete basin. Continue reading
Ogmore-by-Sea is calm today. The wind has dropped and the forecast promises sunshine. I head up the river valley, heading for the nearest crossing point. The gorse is flowering and the smell is mouth-watering – sweet coconut.
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Incident No: 1319Date: 14.08.26Site: 51.6221725, -2.5476959 Near Thornbury, South Gloucestershire1 cow, 1 walker, no dogDescription: “I was going to walk across the field, it was open with no warning signs. A cow was staring at me, I didn’t think much about it and just kept my distance. It took a few steps towards me so […]
ncident No: 1318Date: 13.10.26Site: Timberscombe Common, Timberscombe near Minehead, Somerset1 horse, 1 pony and rider. Group of cows. Sophie’s Report : “I was hacking my horse back along the bridleway across the centre of the common towards the village, when the cows saw me and charged at me. My horse and the pony I was […]
Report Number: 1315Date: 29/09/26Location: South Mundham at the bottom of Fisher Lane, West SussexGroup of black and white cattle, single walker with dog on lead Alice’s Report: “As I was walking on the path towards the exit of the field the cows were a fair distance from me. I have walked this route many times […]
