A Grand Day Out

For once the weather delivered what the forecast promised: sunny and 70F. So we strolled and swam (well a few brave souls) and stepping-stoned our way from Oxwich through to Three Cliffs Bay. Not one ruined castle but two, a pub lunch outdoors overlooking the bay, splendid sandy beaches and Welsh cheesy nibbles for the train journey home, this was strolling at its most expansive. Many thanks to David and Di for organising a truly memorable Grand Day Out.

An Update on the Sunday October 10th Rail Awayday to the Gower

21 people have signed up to go to the Gower by train and bus.
Maximum numbers are 21 so please let us know very soon if you want to cancel your ticket – someone else m a y be able to take it. If you have not booked, plese contact David Bruce in case of cancellations.
If you have booked but not yet paid please put a cheque though the door in St Helena Rd.

We shall meet at Bristol Parkway Station at 10 am

and get back at 8.30 pm.

In Gower there is a pub/hotel at Oxwich Bay for lunch and good options for non-walkers, who will be dropped off at the lunch place.If you are NOT proposing to have lunch at hotel (bar food, vegetarian and/ or more substantial food all available), please let us know so that we can confirm numbers with hotel.

The walk itself will start for a short appetizer before lunch and afterwards we shall go along the beach to Three Cliffs Bay. There is expected to be a low spring tide in the afternoon so we should not have to climb headlands at all (but wait and see). Non-walkers will be picked up by the bus at Oxwich hotel at 5.40 pm, walkers at Parkmill fifteen minutes later, all to catch train home at Swansea station at 6.51 pm.

This was a brilliant September day and Strollers both on foot and on bike(can you stroll by bike?)converged on this deeply rural privately owned coal mine for a guided tour (above) and tea and cakes. Pictured left is the deep mine shaft, once bricked up at the request of the police to deter use as a convenient dropping off point for disposing of bodies, we learned,and now reopened and the subject of a strangely hypnotic video.

UPDATE Rail Awayday to the Gower Sunday 10th October 2010

18-Aug UPDATE
ALL PLACES ARE NOW TAKEN (desite Weather in October not being guaranteed).
Anyone still wishing to come should contact David Bruce to discuss options.
Now is the time to book up for the October Rail Awayday early bird tickets - 8 senior rail card and 6 standard are available. Local bus cost to Gower is higher (no Senior discounts except for Wales residents!) than rail Bristol Parkway to Swansea so total cost per person at early bird rail fare is £15 each return (Senior) and £20 each return standard.

Maximum numbers will be 21 so please let me, David Bruce know very soon if you can make it.
In Gower there is a pub/hotel at Oxwich Bay for lunch and good options for non-walkers; Walk itself will be mainly after lunch and along beach and over headlands to Three Cliffs Bay.


We shall meet at Bristol Parkway Station at 10 am and get back at 8.30 pm

Sunday 7th February

Meet at the National Trust Car Park at Middle Hope
at 10am. Maps and start grid ref: OS Landranger 182gr ST330659, Explorer 153

It will take you about 50mins to an hour to get there. The adventure should take about three hours.

You will need strong footwear; dress according to the weather forecast for the day; there is no shelter away from the car park and toilets (clean Gents with paper and soap – no I didn’t go into the Ladies). There are various routes that can be taken according to your fitness and ability. Most of the land is in pasture, which makes easy walking but is a lot of mud in places. There are steep steps or a steep stony path to the top of the ridge. I counted only one stile, to the steps, and that can be missed out with a longer walk. There are steep steps over some high walls.
See
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-coastal_walk-sand_point.pdf
for details of the area.

In addition to the history and ecology as detailed on the website above, the geology is fascinating but involves getting down on to the beaches and the tide will be coming in. There is evidence of volcanic activity in a tropical climate and of glaciation – separated by over 300 million years. There are lots of fossils, mainly corals and sea lilies, to be found, amongst the beach pebbles or photographed in the rocks for those who are interested - no hammers allowed. For those interested in bird watching I identified redshank, oyster catcher, heron, buzzard, and a much bigger raptor but I hesitate to say marsh harrier, mute swan, canada goose, wheatear, stonechat, pipits, curlew, black headed gull, magpie and crow. You may have noted that I have been back since my last ‘essay’.

Dogs need to be kept on a lead in most areas as there are sheep in lamb in the fields.

We will go on to Woodspring Priory on foot but with the option to go by car for those who would prefer to.

I can take four people with me. Please let me know a) if you are coming, with contact details, b) if you are prepared to drive and have spare seats, c) if you would like a lift. I will organise a pub for lunch on the way back. I am told that The George at Backwell is worth visiting (any other suggestions will be welcome). Let me know if you are going to want lunch so that I can try to sort something out.

Contact 9734955 Mobile 07740 469 408 Jeff.Hurran@blueyonder.co.uk