Another even earlier start today – Millets Farm for 06.00 – I’m very rarely up and driving for this time of the morning!
Off to. Rhossili in South Wales today, setting off in the dark. Annie has brought her husband along and there are two new faces for our group today. Bit of a doze on the way and we are ready to set off quite early. Timing is imperative for this walk as there is only a window of about two hours either side of low tide to be able to walk out onto Worm’s head.
This is to be part one of the walk today for Steve and myself – Jane our driver and the other four are going for lunch – really didn’t see the point in getting up that early for half a day’s walking and the offer was there to do the Rhossili Hills as well !
We are setting off at about 9.45 and the end of Worm’s head can just be seen jutting out into the sea.
In contrast to the previous walk I’m already feeling much more excited about the venue and the day ahead. Looking back a wonderful beach can be seen and the hills I will walk on later. Animals perch wherever and usually don’t fall off. The sea seems quite calm and the tide is still going out.
A warning sign tells us about the restricted crossing times for the day and as we descend I decide one of my walking poles could be quite useful going across the damp rocks and exposed shoreline.
After crossing some areas of rock we were for a short while back on a grassy area. The arch would need to be crossed and was not very wide – best not thought about!
Some tricky footwork and traversing of rocks which were multilayered and on their sides. Concentration was to the fore and very careful foot placement – very easy to get your foot stuck in this type of terrain but none the less exhilarating, walking poles are no help at all at this point but hands are very useful !
We do get almost to the end and Tom who is younger by far than the rest of us does climb up the stack at the end. We wait for his return and set off back without quite reaching the end as the tide seems to be coming in quite ferociously and a little quicker than expected. We really didn’t wish to be cut off. Small matter of the ragged rocks again – slightly easier this time – perhaps it’s knowing what to expect. Finding I can bend and flex into more situations just can’t quite manoeuvre if I bend my left leg too far underneath myself – it will come I’m sure. This time last year I was on crutches and had only had the first hip replaced.
There is a slight sense of urgency coming from Steve as we complete this difficult section but still have the flatter area to cross with the sea noticeably encroaching from both directions.
Back up to safety just under the coastguard look out room and it is 12.47 and as we look back we can see that the sea has almost covered where we had been not that long before. All adds to the excitement, that and a sea breeze what more could you want?
After a quick lunch break we set off for part two which was to be about another 7.5 kilometres – managed to fail in recording this on either device but the route can more or less be discerned from the map at the beginning of this blog.
A steep climb up through the village, looking down on a very small but solid little church and out to sea. We are climbing up to reach the ridge and a trig point. A well marked path makes this quite an easy climb but not ideal straight after lunch! We are able to see our morning’s destination from this view point.
Great views down to the right and over towards Oxwich bay – this is the Gower peninsular and there are probably many good walks to be had. Not as spectacular as to our left though. We can see clearly over to Worm’s Head and down to the beach way below. Today we are walking along the ridge and before too long come to some strange concrete slabs – a little out of character. A plaque explains that this was a World War 2 radar post – quite a lonely but beautiful place to be stationed.
After climbing up a bit further we start a descent down towards a caravan site but decide not to go through it and down through sand dunes to the beach. Our path will take us along the foothills of where we have just walked and then hopefully down to the beach. I should have known there would be scrambling down a steep grassy slope at some point!
The sky is giving signs of a great sunset and it was easy to take many photos once down on the beach and just soak in the splendour.
The only downside of being on the beach was that the village and car park were back up a hill. Oh well worth it for the views.
So glad I resisted a pub lunch and made the most of being driven to such an exciting and beautiful place.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 