Sunday, 16 March 2014

Bosherton/Castle Martin Circular

I have a Sustrans leaflet describing a route alongside the Pembrokeshire Coast and it was an itch which needed to be scratched.

Route

As the route crosses MOD land where tanks etc practice their art you have to check that they are not active on your chosen day.  Usually it is OK at weekends and holiday periods but check the website.




I parked the car in the National Trust car park in Bosherton and set off south on the lane which leads directly to the coast and the shared path west.

Bosherton Church


Who said mint sauce?




The track is stony and not suitable for road bikes but hybrids and mountain bikes are fine. Walkers of course can of course walk alongside the cliff edges.

There was a strong headwind and I hoped this would not change on the way back.  There were a number of cyclists on the route as well as walkers and a number of climbers heading for the cliffs.

I stopped to look at St Govans Chapel a small building built into the cliffs and also stopped to look at Huntsmans Leap and the Elegug Stacks.




Stackpole Head


Elegug Stacks

Elegug Stacks
At the end of the path near Flimston I headed inland and road the lanes to overlook Freshwater West Bay.

Church with flock



Freshwater West

It was here a long time ago I experienced a rip tide.  I had capsized my kayak and instead of being pushed ashore in the surf I found myself heading out to sea. Thankfully I was seen and towed back to safety. I soon learned what to look for and to swim horizontally to the current if it happened again.

Following lunch I headed east along quiet lanes back through Castle Martin, Warren, St Twynnels and back to Bosherton.

St Twynnels

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

Taff Trail and Cardiff Bay

As pay back for my away days, my wife and close friend flew off to Tenerife, not a walking boot or bike between them.

It was my job to transport them to the impressively named Cardiff International Airport and so as not to waste the day, I took my bike with the plan to cycle part of the Taff Trail and around Cardiff Bay

Route

Parking was on my mind but there was free parking in a large car park adjacent to the International Swimming Pool and the Whitewater Centre in the Sports Village.

The Taff Trail was signposted but because of various street works it was not that obvious to start with but I was soon cycling alongside the Taff passing the Millennium Stadium (no Six Nations Cup this year), into Bute Park, Pontcanna Fields and past the The Swalec Cricket Stadium.

Millennium Stadium





Melingriffith Water Pump
My goal was Castell Coch and after a flat ride it was a struggle up the steep hill to view the castle.

Castell Coch




Photos taken I retraced my steps to the Bay but then went clockwise to circumnavigate the Bay passing the Millennium Concert Centre, impressive sculptures, the Norwegian Church and  crossing the Barrage back to the car via Pont Y Werin.

More modern accommodation

Penarth Head in the distance

Millennium Centre


Norwegian Church

Commemorating Scott


Pilot Boat exiting the barrage

The whole of the Taff Trail is on my tick list and hopefully I can delete this later on this year.