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WalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay

May 2023 - April 2024
An open-ended adventure by RickSails Read more
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  • TravelerWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
    Day 1

    Start of walk around Wales

    May 29, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    This blog is to record my planned walk around Wales. Proposed route is from my home in Cardiff to Chepstow on the Wales coast path; Chepstow to Prestatyn on Offa's Dyke Path; Prestatyn to Conwy on Wales coast path; Conwy to Cardiff on the Cambrian Way.Read more

  • TravelerWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
    Day 1

    Cardiff Castle

    May 29, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Walk took me through Bute park, passed these beautiful flowers beside the dock's feeder. Then onto Cardiff Castle, the south end of the Cambrian way.

    Next section will be through the city centre to join the Wales Coast path on Tyndall Street.Read more

  • TravelerWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
    Day 1

    Wales coast path to the sea

    May 29, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Through Cardiff much of the Wales Coast path is forced inland by the docks. The docks feeder canal supplies water to the docks to maintain its level, compensating for water lost when the locks are opened.

    The path winds through an industrial estate before it regains the sea. Ever enterprising, Greggs have a branch in the estate. I was not expecting it to be open on Bank holiday Monday but there was a lot of business while I was drinking my Tea so they were clearly wise to open.    Read more

  • TravelerWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
    Day 1

    Cardiff to Rumney great wharf

    May 29, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Where I gained the coast at Splott Beach there was a lot of industrial detritus - oil, scrap metal, tyres, bricks and concrete blocks. This is the first of the 4 left turns I will make on my odyssey, this time eastwards. At this point the path is 30-40 feet above the sea. Met a cyclist who suggested taking care where the Wales Coast path passes through a Gypsy camp a mile north east. A little further on was a slope down to the rocky beach. I took this hoping to avoid the Gypsy camp. Going became slow over boulders, bricks and lumps of concrete but I did suceed in passing below the Gypsy camp.

    Route then turned west, alongside the river Rhymney, along a path a short distance from the busy Rover Way road. Passed Rhymney River boat club, then joined the road to continue on pavement before a bridge over the river Rhumney.    Read more

  • TravelerWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
    Day 1

    End of day 1 at Ty Coch farm campsite

    May 29, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    200 yards after crossing the river Rhymney wales coast path makes a right turn directly to the coast. After 1000 yards it slopes up onto Rumney great wharf. This is the west most point of a 22 mile / 35 kilometre sea wall/dyke that protects the Gwent levels. It is an awe inspiring piece of civil engineering. I later discovered it was first started by the Romans and continued by various others since. The remainder of my first day was to walk atop this sea defence for 3 miles to Petestone Wentlooge Golf club. I passed a number of dog walkers on the way. At one point, when passing grazing bullocks, one decided to lollup off the salt levels up the slope of the sea defence, and stomped in front of me. My friend Greg who has done some farming had said cattle struggle to run down hill so I walked briskly down the landward side of the dyke. This had no effect, the bullock was able to frolic towards me down the slope, then veer off at the last minute. The lady of a dog walking couple bravely rushed along the top of the dyke waving her arms and shouting at another bullock. It seems they were up for sport! My bullock veered off after a couple of demonstrative charges. By this time I was at the bottom of the dyke on the landward side, where I remined for half a mile until well clear of the herd.

    At the edge of Peterstone Golf Club I turned left/NNW inland to walk through the course grounds to the B4239. The OS map appears to suggest that there is a route through the golf course that would shorten the walk on the road. I discovered there is not. The only route is passed the clubhouse.

    Once on the road a right turn and few hundred yards took me to the entrance to Ty Coch (red house) farm campsite. One of the nicest sites I have been on. Attractively laid out, smart kitchen with kettle, toaster & microwave, WiFi on the pitch and excellent showers. All for £16. Very friendly welcome from proprietor Nigel. I highly recommend it.

    12.5 miles from home to Ty Coch completed at end of day of walking.
    Weather sunshine, glorious with a strong breeze.
    Number of people passed : Hundreds    Read more

  • TravelerWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
    1
    Day 2

    Day 2 on my way again

    May 30, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Up at 07:30 this morning but had a lazy start eventually leaving camp at 11:00. Retraced yesterday's route back to Golf club, through their grounds and onto the sea defence dyke. Fewer dog walkers than yesterday, presumably because further from main population areas.Read more

  • TravelerWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
    Day 2

    End of day 2 at Tredegar Park campsite

    May 30, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Some distance after Peterstone Gout, where the foreshore was deeper, the concrete sea defence ended and a dyke resumed. Further along at Lighthouse Park was a sculpture of a Roman soldier and information boards (see attached photographs). These suggest the Romans were the first to attempt to defend the Gwent levels from the sea. Further on, I arrived at the Newport west (of the river Usk) lighthouse. I understand this is now a holiday let. The coast path passes on the north side of the lighthouse. There were lots of cattle sitting on the path so, wary of my cattle encounter yesterday, I retraced to the south west of the lighthouse to see if I could see the cattle around it and await their inevitable move. Once there, I realised there was a narrow beach at the foot of the sea defence before the acres of mud that stretched out to sea. At this point, the sea defence was huge rocks which I climbed down to the narrow sandy beach. Walking a few hundred yards along the sand I managed to completely curcumvent the cattle before walking back up on to the Dyke - success!

    Half a mile further the coast path drops off the dyke and onto a farm lane where I meant a couple of BT Openreach chaps trying to find a manhole that appeared to have been covered under the road gravel. They were tasked with running a cable to the nearby farm. I had a chat with one chap who I discovered was still working at 69.

    The final part of my route as off the coast path, on residential roads to Tredegar House camping and caravan park. I received a friendly welcome from warden Simon who showed me to my pitch. I was the only one booked into the camping field. Nice shower block although without the smart kitchen with kettle, toaster, microwave and importantly washing up liquid, sponge and brush I had yesterday. Also no charging points so after pitching my tent I walked to the nearby Dragonfly pub for cider, food and to charge my device then back to site for shower and early bed.

    7 miles from Ty Coch farm to Tredegar House completed at end of day 2 of walking.
    Total miles so far : 19.5
    Weather sunshine, glorious with a strong breeze from midday that I later learned had been too strong for Tuesday evening yacht race in Cardiff Bay.
    Number of people passed : a few dozen    Read more

  • TravelerWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
    Day 3

    Tredegar park to Newport centre

    May 31, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Up at 06:30 away at 08:30, I am getting better at this! Overcast cool start requiring fleece and trousers instead of shorts of first two days.

    Followed Google Maps' suggested route back to the coast path. Avoided walking along dual carriage way so a better route. Passed gorgeous blue blossom tree in the photograph. Anyone know what it is?

    Coast path followed suburban roads for next couple of miles to the magnificent transporter bridge. It was closed but there was a team up high performing maintenance and a new visitor centre under construction. Looks well worth a visit in the future.

    My Boots sunglass broke yesterday so I left the Coastal path to walk into town for a replacement. Boots lady said her husband is always breaking his. I said it because they are designed by women to make we men look bad! This got a giggle.    Read more

  • TravelerWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
    Day 3

    End of day 3 Waterloo Inn, Nash

    May 31, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Back on the coastal path approached the modern A48 bridge over the river Usk. Just before the bridge, on the south side happened upon a park built around a disused graving dock. Amazed to see it was completely silted up which perfectly illustrates how much silt is in the river Usk.

    Over the bridge then right / south for a mile along Corporation Road. A very industrial part of the city with countless companies and almost continual heavy vehicles.

    At the end of the road, the Wales coast path turns onto a lane between factories, through some woodland, then onto Great Traston meadows nature reserve. A delightful area of a few fields all in grass and buttercups. Chatted to a mother here who was walking the Wales coast path with her new baby while on maternity leave.

    A few fields further arrived at Waterloo Inn, Nash where I had arranged to camp the night in their garden.

    From Nash the Wales coast path takes a loop west and south through an RSPB bird sanctuary. After a Cider at the pub, arranged to leave my pack and walk this 4 mile circuit then back to the pub to reduce the length of tomorrow's walk. As I approached a reen bridge a herd of bullocks decided I was interesting so bounded across their field to block my exit. I found another way out of the field. It cost me 3 sides of a square but it was worth it, I don't trust cows!

    Great craic back at the Waterloo Inn where I was made very welcome by Antony, Jade, Andrea and many of the regulars. Steady trade all through the evening. They are selling up later in June. I wish the new owners success. Set up camp in the pub garden later in the evening retiring 22:30.

    12.5 miles from Tredegar park to Nash completed at end of 3rd day of walking.
    Total miles so far : 32
    Weather overcast and cool at first, very light amount of rain late morning, the sunshine and glorious from 1pm.
    Number of people passed : hundreds ... in Newport    Read more

  • TravelerWalesOffasDykeCoastCambrianWay
    Day 4

    Nash to Goldcliff

    June 1, 2023 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Good nights sleep, up lateish and used pub benches to make tea and cook porridge. Short distance planned today so late start this morning, after packing away at 10:30. Retraced last nights walk through 3-4 fields back to Wales coast path. Last field contained a large herd that wasn't there yesterday evening so reversed direction onto road to walk 3 sides of a square to successfully avoid them.

    Back on the Wales Coast path 1000 yards/1 km from the coast walked straight into Newport nature reserve of pleasent meadow fields. Visited a bird hide midway through. Tried my binoculars but no birds spotted ... only cows!

    Out of the reserve the Wales Coast path returned to the coast. Rather than atop the dyke it continued along the foot of dyke on the landward side to avoid disturbing birds. Another herd of cattle lying down along this path. Fortunately I was able to avoid them by giving them a wide birth. This time I wasn't interesting enough for them to bother to move.

    Wales Coast path rejoined the road in village of Goldcliff where I stopped for Cider and to recharge device at the very smart and busy Farmers Arms.    Read more

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