Port Enyon to Southgate Pennard Cliffs – 10th July 2024
A bit of a bus slog which saw me guided by the company’s app to get off in the middle of nowhere, cross the road and wait for another to take me down to Port Enyon. Who are these programmers? I firmly believe they do shit for giggles, for I waited for 15 mins and then the same bus turned up going the other direction with the driver giving me major smirk.
Port Enyon bay and I’ve to head round that point. Grey start but a lot of glare.The end of the strand. Firm damp sand for 1K to start, lovely.I wonder if this is like the bit before security in the airports where all the bits of drink are abandoned. Though in this case it’s – you may not take a painted stone of more than 100mg off the beach.Damn. A part of me always wants to go on and see what all the fuss is about. In this case I wish that I had. I ended up in a tunnel of bramble, nettle and maythorn that tore me to pieces only to find, when I re-emerged onto the coastal path, an old couple dandering along who’d obviously ignored the signs.A wee climb down to the beach anyone?How the hell did you not notice that you’d lost a sandal, Betty. Feet of stone, heart of stone, I say.The dangerous? bit is passed.I do love a short grass track. Heading along this raised beach under the cliffs to round the point.Last look back before rounding the headland.The smudge of smoke across the channel at Port Talbot still going strong. Someone should get wee Greta involved.In the lee of the headland and a very different micro-climate. Warm and windless and an Oak forest has sprung up.The tide is going out. Hopefully it will have retreated enough to let me get round those heads without climbing up and down. Oxwich bay.Going to be close.No go. Perhaps I could climb over the rocks. Got half way and nearly stuck before being denied by a vertical wall.The rather marvellous Oxwich bay.I’ve climbed out and avoided a walking group by going up much too fast. Now I’m panting like a steam train. Best rest here for a min until my vision returns to normal.Down into three cliffs bay and this time the tide is far enough out.The three cliffs though they look more like stacks or needles to me.Pennard Castle.A Snap the magic dragon cave. All may enter – none may leave.Final climb out and I can stay high until the finish.Back at three cliffs.The end in sight.At the bws stop. No, not an error. At the three cliffs café in Southgate.
Enjoying Wales. Lovely walks and very surprising beaches and of course everyone speaks English. If only there where no English here. The multitude of different bus companies doesn’t help. My week long rover ticket doesn’t work for this one I discover. Ah well, onwards.
