It’s another dull day. My rules say I don’t have to walk around islands, but today I’ve decided to walk around Barry Island before heading up the coast.
On my right are parked cars and terraced houses. On my left, between the road and the water’s edge is a broad strip of waste land, strewn with litter and rubble. Across the water is the new development, where I sat to eat a snack yesterday.
I walk along the Cardiff Bay Barrage. This is a narrow band of land that stretches for 1 kilometre across the entrance to Cardiff Bay. I’m following a smooth cycle track, which doubles as the Wales Coast Path.
The weather remains murky. Shame, because it is impossible to take any decent photos across the bay. I can only photograph objects that are close to me, including sail structures on the barrage – but even these photos require enhancement when I get back home.
After a dispiriting end to yesterday’s walk, I start today with no great expectations.
And today doesn’t seem promising either. The weather is dull. My hotel is on the edge of a huge car park that feeds a new shopping centre. All I can see are parking bays, busy roads, and fast food outlets. It takes me a few minutes to orient myself. Continue reading
I park my car in the Welsh village of Peterstone Wentlooge. A footpath leads down to the bank of the Severn Estuary, where I stand and take a photograph looking back towards the village.
It is sunny, but cold, with no wind. A perfect February day. My main concern is to keep up a good walking speed. I travelled down from Lincolnshire this morning and it is already 2:30pm. The sun sets at 5:00. Continue reading
I spent most of this morning walking along urban roads, and so it comes as a jolt of surprise to meet a tractor and realise I am now in a rural area.
Today the sun is shining. The ground is still muddy but I start my walk on the firm surface of proper pavements and roadways, passing through an industrial estate.
I try to look cheerful when my husband drops me off on the road through Goldcliff. It rained all night and it’s still raining this morning. I don’t normally walk in bad weather, but the BBC weather forecast promises it will stop later.
The Wales Coast Path is clearly signed – and leaves the road to detour around a piece of land. This might be a field, or a marsh, or a series of ponds, or a lake. Anyway, it’s full of water.
It’s 12:30pm. We’ve just driven down from Lincolnshire and my husband drops me off on the Wales Coast Path, at the car park near the Severn Tunnel Junction station.
It looks like the middle of nowhere and I am feeling unusually anxious. It will be dark in 4 hours time and I have 8 or 9 miles to cover. I’m such a slow walker! Continue reading
[Continued from this morning…]
I leave the pub in Mathern and return to St Tewdric’s church. My face is still pink from the embarrassment of being chased down the street for not paying my bill.
The Wales Coast Path ducks behind the churchyard. An old stone archway hints at the long history of this place.
Today I am following the Wales Coast Path from where it starts, at the beautiful Old Wye Bridge in Chepstow.
I walk eastward along the southern bank of the River Wye following its route as it heads to join the River Severn. Continue reading
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Incident number 1305Date: 30.08.26Site: Public footpath alongside of Egglestone Abbey near Barnard Castle. County Durham.Bull with cows and calves (Comment: very large brown cattle with small horns.)2 walkers with dog on a lead. Miley’s Report: “We were walking from woods towards grasslands alongside Egglestone Abbey. This was the only route back to the gate onto […]
Incident number 1303Date: 31.5.26Site: Between Lewes and Hamsey on the river footpath BN7I dog, on a lead, 2 walkers Description: “Chased by cows on footpath, not for the first time here but very scary. Our dog froze in panic making getting away from cows near impossible.We reported it to the council who have replied saying […]
Incident number 1301Date: 24.05.26Site: Roughly this: What3words:Punctuate.Otter.Fronted. Near Over Alderley, Hare Hill permissive path. 1 dog on lead, 3 walkers. RH’s report: “We were just walking and suddenly a group of cattle burst out of a field (from nowhere) and moved around us, not charging but getting quite close, agitated and shifting around restlessly with […]
