A Top Level Walk
| Wennol Photography | www.wennol.co.uk | |||||||||
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A Top Level Walk |
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| Yesterday's walk was a linear walk and both the start and end point was served by the railway so we decided to let the train take the strain, as they used to say. We started from Gowerton because it is easy to get to and has a free car park. Mike, our member with brains, had ordered the tickets online and managed to get them to emerge from the machine on the platform. |
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Anyway, here comes the train
so we boarded and much to my surprise we had seats! |
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We got off the train at Ferryside where the walk was to begin but first ambled down to the beach to admire the views. The village of Llansteffan is on the other side of the Towy estuary and to the left we see the castle basking in sunshine in is eyrie high above the beach. |
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A bit to the
right we see the village of Llansteffan. Unfortunately the ferry which
gave Ferryside its name no longer exists and the nearest bridge is in
Carmarthen, some 10 miles away. Having just reached Ferryside by train
I am thinking how convenient it would be to have a ferry to take us over
the water and have a walk on the other side. |
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Or perhaps the owner of this dredger would agree to provide a casual ferry service as and when required. |
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We start our walk along a wooded path just above the lower houses of the village and are soon walking up a seemingly unending flight of steps to reach a kissing gate which we went through with no feelings of temptation whatsoever. We were now in a field bravely trying to hold its position on the side of a steep hill. As we walked higher we had this aerial view of Ferryside and I give it to you freely to enjoy without the distraction of uncontrollably trembling knees. |
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We lose our way for a short while owing to a paucity of signage but after a bit of a search we are back on the track. We reach a farm which has this distinclive barn ...
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...and are reminded
that it is nearly time for lunch, not that the reminder was necessary.
There is a little hilltop village in the near distance and, according
to the book, it has a tavern. |
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The means to ring this bell has been removed, not surprising really, I'm sure it could be quite awakening. |
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We reach the
aforementioned hilltop village and find the tavern with no difficulty
at all. |
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At the highest point of the village sits this compact church. With its old red telephone box you could think you had gone back 50 years. |
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Just to give you an idea
of how high we were, here we see the islands of Worms Head and Burry
Holms in the distance.
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We find a quiet spot just inside of a field gate to tuck into our sandwiches which I do with a little concern. Why? Well that shadow in the bottom righthand corner is not a shadow. It is where the farmer has got to with his slurry sprayer. I don't think he has been working on it today but that is where he left off so if we hear a heavily laden tractor approaching we are ready to leg it away from here! |
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By now we have walked down a quiet lane to its terminus where we continue on a grassy track which develops into a river bed. We emerge safely and onto a lane which leads us to the walking/cycle track and here we are approaching Kidwelly, our destination. As the photograph shows we are still proceeding with a spring in our step. |
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There is time before our train arrives to have a look at Kidwelly castle and, because every walk has to have a point here are Mike and Richard doing the honours |
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There are standards that have to be adhered to when you are given the responsibility of pointing but Richard missed the training sessions because of a visit to Sicily. He does this every now and then - I think he has a Godfather there so I have to be very tactful when I explain to him that it is necessary to look and point in the same direction. I'm sure he'll improve. |
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