It’s a bracing pre-dawn walk along the promenade from Swansea to Mumbles Pier, but I’m snug in four layers, with the bobbing headlights of keen joggers for company.
The Gower Coast Path starts from Mumbles, and runs for 39 miles, to Crofty. I’m looking forward to the three days ahead, with the promise of decent weather for at least another 24 hours. The path is busy for the first few miles, and everyone stops to chat. It winds through several lovely bays, some with low tide routes across the sand.
Three Cliffs Bay is a gorgeous expanse of sand, backed by limestone cliffs, with Pennard Pill meandering across the wide valley floor. An idyllic spot for lunch on the clifftop, before descending to the sand, and crossing the stream via huge stepping stones.
The path is wonderfully varied, taking me through pretty woods, and across rolling dunes. It’s also tougher now, and muddier, with fewer fellow walkers.
Approaching Horton, there is another narrow track, deep with mud. I skirt along the right edge, with both poles down the slope, until my feet slip, my poles slide away, and I gracefully pitch down on my side, into the mud. Oh well, the sun will dry me off.
After Overton, I am most definitely on my own; a rocky landscape of quarries and cliffs.
The sun is setting, so time to cut inland to my campsite for the next two nights, at Pitton Cross, which is just short of Worms Head.
The path is hard to follow in the gloom, and I’m relying solely on the beam from my head torch, when I reach West Pilton farm. The path has vanished into a quagmire of squelching mud, and I struggle to find a way through the locked gates. Skirting the outhouses, a dog appears, barking loudly. I’m struggling with my OS App, the path seeming to head through the farmyard, with the dog right behind me, barking away. I choose an easier, if longer route, up to the main road. The dog follows, his mission accomplished; the intruder vanquished.
The camp site owner is very friendly and takes me to my pitch. There are about a dozen camper vans, but no other tents. Time to rustle up dinner and test out my new sleeping bag. A tough, but beautiful walk. I will sleep soundly tonight, with a full day to explore Worms Head tomorrow.
Walk distance: 24 miles.
Total distance: 1,290 miles.
Brilliant photos & great mileage too…a bit too far for us to do in a day……..unless by accident ! Looking forward to your next posts
Thanks Mike. A bit too far really, but sometimes I’m constrained by campsite locations, and I really wanted to spend a full day exploring Worms Head and Rhossili Downs. It was worth it. 🙂
You are in one of my very favourite places in the world though I haven’t been there for a very long time. The Gower Peninsula is very beautiful, I love Three Cliffs Bay and Rhossili Bay is spectacular. Gorgeous photos and I’m looking forward to seeing the next post.
Thanks Karen. I can understand why you love it so much. I had one of those “wow” moments, that take your breath away, later in the walk.