24th October 2017 Daily Blog from Porthcawl - Going Home (Sad face emoji)

Alas after three days of drizzle, today the weather decided it had been average for long enough and turned to heavy rain instead. So nothing to report today I'm afraid. Unless you'd like to here about Lidl in Bridgend? I thought not.

Pooped!

It has been a great couple of days despite the weather. I can only imagine how beautiful The Gower peninsular is in the summer. Hopefully we've inspired you to plan a little AirBnB getaway of your own. All our post holiday admin is done and Chuck is fast asleep after three days of constant go. Hope you enjoyed the extra posts? Normal weekend service should resume next week. Weather dependant. 

23rd October 2017 Daily Blog from Porthcawl - Day 4

Day 4 of our travels today and the last one before we go home tomorrow. It didn’t quite go according to plan and sadly neither did the weather about which the Met Office lied. Having said that, it wasn’t a bad day overall. We started off from the National Trust car park in Rhossili. Top tip, take lots of change. A days parking requires £5 in coins. Who carries that around with them? As I didn’t have £5 in coins…sorry National Trust. We left hoping not to be clamped when we returned.

The views weren't long distance but they had a magical quality.

We set off across Rhossili Down. We took the lower path as visibility was poor and as it was meant to clear up later we thought we could get the views on the way back. There were a few sheep dotted about here and there so Chuck was on the lead for a lot of the time. It was very grey and damp but every now and again we caught a glimpse of the coastline. The beach down below us was gigantic and after walking for nearly an hour we were just half way along it.

The rocks at Llangennith Burrows. Make sure you're off before high tide.

We passed through Hillend Caravan Park down onto the beach. Chuck was finally free and super excited. He spent the next half an hour chasing seagulls having the time of his life splashing in the sea. Just be aware that the water here can be dangerous. Chuck is scared of the waves however and generally just likes splashing around in the shallows. At the end of the beach is large round rock formation. We didn’t go onto it as we were unsure if the tide was coming in or going out. It looked as though you could easily become stranded on there.

A giant jellyfish washed ashore. Sadly we had no ice cream.

The path rose up onto some cliffs which were very wild and jagged. The rough weather made for a powerful vista with the waves crashing against the cliff. It was odd as the dunes from the beach seemed to reach up to the cliff edge but we hadn’t really climbed much from the beach. It was as if the sea had dropped down to reveal the cliffs. Before long we had dropped down onto another beach.

Jaggedy cliffs at Broughton Burrows. Still raining.

Broughton Bay was again a huge beach. We stayed low so Chuck could stay off the lead instead of going up across the cliffs. However, the footpath back to the top was not obvious and I think the path we went up was not the footpath but just another path made by people getting off the beach. This confused the navigation somewhat and after about half an hour we ended up back where we would have initially come off the beach. Very frustrating. As we had lost so much time and the weather was refusing to clear up, we decided to cut it short.

Chuck doing a spot of beach combing.

We plotted the most direct route to our intended pub stop in Llangennith. This took us through a caravan site with lots of ‘Private Keep Out’ signs. All well and good but as I pointed out a few weeks ago, it is illegal to conceal or block a public footpath. As there were no directional aids we ended up on the far side of the caravan sight unable to find the correct route of the path. We found the footpath that the one we had lost lead to but getting to it involved jumping over a barbed wire fence. As this was the only option we clambered carefully over and returned to the path.

The footpath that wasn't a footpath. Either way it was steep and sandy.

It’s a real bug bear of mine when people try to conceal a Public Footpath across their land. If they just put a couple of arrows we’d have been through in no time. As it was we ended up climbing over their fences and probably going into places they really didn’t want us to go. It would be better for both parties if they directed instead of obstructed. The alternative route was about two miles further. I’m sorry but a Public Footpath is a Right of Way and we will find a way through. Rant over.

Come on Mummy and Daddy. Nearly at the pub.

We arrived at the King’s Head in LLangennith quite soaked and annoyed at our scrambling through bushes and barbed wire. However the welcome we received made up for it. The drink selection is fantastic. It’s not cheap but they have an incredible array of whisky and gin. I tried three different Whiskies, all very different and we had a bowl of rather delicious chips. The final part of the journey was back across Rhossili Down. The promised break in the weather never materialised so we took the low path again.

The King's Arms at Llangennith. A spirit drinkers paradise.

We got back to our car and fortunately it wasn’t clamped. Again, sorry National Trust, put a card reader in your brand new shiny parking meters and I’d have paid. You can’t get blood out of a stone. So there you go. Not quite what we planned but a nice day nonetheless. Tomorrow we’re off back home but we’d like to maybe get a small walk in or visit something depending on the weather. Hopefully it’s something worth writing about. I’m sure it will be. See you tomorrow. 

22nd October 2017 Daily Blog from Porthcawl - Day 3

The view across Onwich Bay fron Penrice.

Welcome to Day 3 of our holiday on the South Wales coast. Our destination for today was the Gower Peninsula just west of Swansea. This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) features cliffs, hills and sandy beaches. Today we covered all three. We set out from Millwood car park, which is free, just north of Oxwich. It’s in a deep valley so there was an initial climb to warm us up, which was good as it was quite cold despite the improvement in the weather. We skirted around Oxwich village and headed straight for the castle. We didn’t go in but you can see the majority of it from the footpath and then read the history on Wikipedia.

The walk across the fields to Onwich Castle.

The next leg of the journey was around Oxwich point. This affords magnificent views of the whole coastline and probably the Devon coastline too on a clear day. There were unfortunately some rather angry cows on top but we fought our way through and the view from the cliffs was worth the risk to life. The path then drops right down to just 50ft or so from the sea before climbing back up through some woods and then back down onto the beach.

Walking down to Onwich Point after surviving a cow attack.

Oxwich beach is one of those beaches that you can walk along for half an hour without seeming to get anywhere. Chuck didn’t mind however as he was busy making friends with Cody the Malamute. Much more fun was had chasing seagulls as well. The beach was littered with large shellfish, some of which were still very much alive. However they were being massacred by the seagulls and the shellfish weren’t very good at fighting back as they were mostly made of slime.

Chuck has spotted the water already.

There is a stream that runs down the beach to the sea about half way along. There was a bridge and everyone seemed to be heading for it. Although the stream didn’t look big we had visions of sinking into quicksand and thought better of jumping it. The path let into a hinterland of scrub grass and then up a steep hill through some woods following the Welsh Costal Path. We ditched the costal path here to head towards Cefn Bryn, a giant ridgeline feature that runs for several miles across the Gower.

The ponies resident on top of Cefn Bryn.

Despite the wind and now occasional rain, it was definitely the right choice. The views offered were of the entire peninsular and further towards Llanelli and the Llanrhidian Sands. We could see our entire walk. Populating the top were wild ponies who mostly seemed quite oblivious to us being there, although one or two followed us for a little while. After being spoiled by the views for nearly an hour we dropped down into Reynoldston with view of going into the pub there. A sign on the door that said ‘No Dogs Allowed’ put paid to that. We could have sat outside but such blatant racism does not garner our custom.

Chuck checking out how far home is.

We followed the main road back down to Little Reynoldston and down a track into Millwood. We didn’t really explore Millwood as we’d been out a while and wanted to get back for tea but it looked like there was some interesting stuff there. Thankfully today the winds had dropped so were able to get home without any difficulty. Whilst we didn’t stop in Swansea I can report it looks rather nice when the sun is out. All in all a much better day than yesterday. This is a great walk for such a wide and varied rosta of environments. Not sure what we’re doing tomorrow yet but make sure you come back to find out. See you then.

21st October 2017 Daily Blog from Porthcawl - Day 2

Welcome back to the South Wales coast around Porthcawl. Today’s plan was to go to Kenfig Nature Reserve to quickly wear Chuck out and then head to Swansea. Things didn’t quite go according to plan. We knew it was going to be a poor weather day as the brilliantly named Storm Brian was closing in. The rain never really came but the wind definitely had designs to ruin our own plans.

Comedy wind inflated clothing.

Kenfig nature reserve is a landscape of dunes and grass. It’s very much like The Braunton Burrows from our old stomping ground North Devon. Chuck got incredibly excited as the Burrows was his favourite place to go. He howled with delight, singing the song of his people as he ran up and down the path, despite the gale force winds and rain.

Chuck was blown away by the view.

The path passed a lake which obviously Chuck spotted from about half a mile away. He was in in no time. Thankfully the terrific winds soon dried him out. The walk continued across dunes of increasing size. The higher we got, the windier it was. As we approached the shore a gap in the sea bank was funnelling the winds to a very high speed. It was almost impossible to look out over the sea. The waves were crashing with some vigour. Being out in this weather gives a tremendous sense of the kinetic power of nature. The wind howling past your ears. You really feel it. Dressed accordingly I could happily stay out there all day.

A bit of comedic light relief from the weather.

We followed the Wales Costal Path towards the steel works at Port Talbot. The track passes some old railway sidings here. Top tip, route at the correct path, don’t just follow the service road. We ended up having to squeeze under a barbed wire fence to get back on our track. Just before you get to the M5 are the ruins of Kenfig Castle. And very ruinous they are. Not that much to make out really but an interesting 5 minutes can be had looking around if the weather is nice, or 30 seconds if not.

The kings of the castle. Odd cactus shaped plant photo-bombing. 

We made a beeline for a pub marked on the map between Kenfig village and Maudlam. When we got there we found The Prince of Wales. Dogs were only allowed in the snug but this was no problem. It was a constant coming and going of canine fun. The highlight was a highly timid Newfoundland who had to be dragged past Chuck. It was so sweet to see such a big dog that was so meek. Just shows you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Chuck educating himself on the local wildlife.

We headed back down the road to the car. Our quick walk had turned into over three hours. But we aren’t big fans of cities usually so we wouldn’t need long in Swansea. Good job as we never got there. We ended up stuck on the M4 for 90 minutes and turning around and coming back to Porthcawl. The high winds had shut the bridge over The Neath River. We’re intending on going to The Gower past Swansea tomorrow so hopefully it has reopened. Tomorrow’s post will very much depend on the bridge being open. Make sure you come back tomorrow to see how we get on.

Looking a tad windswept in The Prince of Wales.

20th October 2017 Daily Blog from Porthcawl - Day 1

A rocky coastline with a rugged hinterland.

After the success of blogging on location from our little get away to Cornwall last year we thought we should do the same again this year. We’ve taken a few days staying in an AirBnB in Porthcawl South Wales. We’ve wanted to go to Swansea for some time but looking on AirBnB website we discovered it was half the price in Porthcawl and as most our time will be spent walking the surrounding area it made sense. We are proper AirBnB virgins but we would like to start our own AirBnB so we thought it made sense to stay in one first before just letting out our own. As this is ‘live’ blogging each day we can let you know how things are progressing.

The weather was initially 'bracing' to put it kindly.

We only live about 90 minutes away but it’s a bit too far to come for a day so it made sense to stay. We set off around 1100 and didn’t really hit too much in the way of traffic. Top tip for supplies, there is only a small Co-Op in Porthcawl so stop in Bridgend on your way in if you’re coming from the east, which 98.372% of you will be. There is a Lidl, a Tesco and a Pets At Home all right next to each other. Saves lugging lots of food from home.

The sea wall with a brooding sky behind it.

The place we’re staying in is great. Really nicely done and cosy. I’ll do a full review at the end of the week. I was warned by someone who lives nearby that Porthcawl is a dump but I think it’s actually quite charming. It is slightly run down in places, especially by the amusements but we came here to be outside, not playing 2p slot machines. The beaches are dog friendly at this time of year, October – April, so Chuck has been in the sea already.

This is just as the tide was beginning to turn.

There’s a great new bar and restaurant building by the sea wall, next to the lifeboat station. It’s quite posh but didn’t seem ridiculously expensive. I paid £7 for a double Jura and a soda water. The tide was coming in and the waves really start to crash against the rocks when it does. It has been a bracing day but I love that. The beaches are rocky and the hinterland is wild and moor like. We walked all the way out up to the Royal Porthcawl golf club with a not so fetching view of Port Talbot steel works. But it was far away enough not to spoil the view. Devon and Somerset could made out across the Severn and The Mumbles bay next to Swansea was also visible.

The restaurant and bar next to the lifeboat station.

Porthcawl is so far proving to be a wonderful little place to come and stay. The weather for the next few days looks pretty terrible to be honest but we’ll do our best to make some mini adventures for you to enjoy reading about. Hopefully we can inspire you to make your own little weekend getaway. It only requires two days off work and is far better than a week in Los Del Thompson Package Holiday. So have a look along the coast for somewhere off the beaten path to stay and get booking. We’ll be back tomorrow, as long as we don’t get washed away.

The far end of Porthcawl. The dog walking area is just around the corner.

Gloucestershire Walk - Long distance walking tips

As I promised in the blog about our little walk to Gloucester I would give a few lessons on what we learned. Although we had talked about it for some months it was actually decided quite last minute that we would go the weekend we did. I had done a little research but not much as there is actually very little available about the route online. Hopefully this will seek to clarify a few things and impart some knowledge I wish I had known before we set out.

Make sure you can erect your tent blindfolded in a force 10 gale.

The most important thing about the Gloucestershire Way, at least the bit we did, is that there is no opportunity for supplies. No pubs. No shops. If you stick religiously to the track you will need to carry everything. Even if you are prepared to wonder several miles of the path there is very little available. The places we ate were out of necessity not choice, although on the whole they were very good. The last day we were seriously dehydrated by the time we arrived in Gloucester. If it had been a very sunny day we could have got into serious trouble. 

Make sure you refuel on essentials. One of our 5 a day from Parkend post office.

Fill your water bottle at every opportunity. Yes water is heavy but it is essential for life. If you are taking a dog this is doubly important. Chuck loves to run around and he gets himself very hot. We had to reserve some water just for him. Your dog can overheat and get seriously ill much quicker than you can. If you are following our route I would recommend leaving May Hill a bit later to hit the petrol station in Huntley once it is open. Or if it’s not a Sunday get a breakfast in The Red Lion, although I cannot vouch for its quality.

A wonderful jacket potato and salad bar in The Fern Ticket Cinderford.

The biggest threat to life apart from dehydration is animal attack. Seriously. I have been told mixed things about the boar. They mostly appeared to be interested in our tent and the fighting going on outside was certainly a little nerve-wracking but they never directly threatened us. If you are bothered by this I suggest you book into an official camp site. At least you can sue them if boar kill you. A bigger problem was cattle. If you go in the summer, which makes sense, there will be bullocks. They are like half ton puppies. They probably want to play with you but they are hyper-charged with testosterone and will trample you to death if you give them a chance. Make yourself big and loud. DO NOT RUN AWAY! They are faster than you and will just run over the top of you. Remember you have the right to self-defence. If you feel threatened wave a stick or throw something. The advice I was told is if you have a dog let go of the lead. I love my boy too much to use him as a human shield though. He was also far too distracted by the stick I was waving at the cows. And they say a German Shepherd would die for you. If you are scared of cows, stay at home or walk somewhere else. There are no ways around on this walk.

The first glimpse of Gloucester. Don't get too excited at this point. It's miles away.

Know your equipment. Don’t take anything you haven’t used before on a long trip. Thankfully we tested our tent before we left home as it took a bit of practice before we got it up correctly. If it’s cold and dark and starting to rain, putting up your tent should be second nature. Also it’s definitely worth spending an extra five minutes ensuring the ground you are pitching on is flat and all objects that may poke in you have been removed. A small roll mat will make your night much more comfortable. Finally, if you are camping in the woods check above you for deadfall. This is old branches which may fall off a tree in the night. They have to go sometime. Make sure you aren’t under them when they do. Don’t take anything you don’t need. Your clothes will smell and so will you, there is no escaping this fact. There is little point taking too much to combat this. Changing your socks and pants is essential but outer garments treated with silver should last a couple of days before you really honk. I will put a recommended packing list at the end.

Remember to take a tent warmer. Any breed will do. The bigger the better.

Pack a variety of food sources. Protein will fill you up but won’t give you the power to get up steep hills. Carbs will fuel you but won’t satisfy you. Plus they rot your teeth. A good mix is best. We had meat and cheese for sustenance and bought choccy and ice cream on the way round and indulged in some fudge in Parkend. Top tip, they have Apple Cider lollies there which I haven’t seen since I was a kid. I survived mostly on almonds as I love them and they are easy to carry. Any good trail mix will do though. 

Calypo cheers. More of our 5 a day.

As I said earlier the route is fully ‘in the wilds’. Ensure you have a map and compass and you know how to use them. You will have to refold your map several times to get to Gloucester. Make sure it is waterproof and secured to you. Without it you will be lost. There are limited signs marking the way but you could not rely upon them. I used the OL14 Explorer map from Ordnance Survey. This does not cover the last little bit to Gloucester. You can just follow the river but as we found out later this isn’t actually the correct way. We would have arrived much sooner if I hadn’t been tight and just bought the last map. You will not regret the extra £8 you spend on this purchase, trust me.

Try and time it so that you get to May Hill at sunset.

In summary, this walk is quite arduous. Especially if you are taking a tent with you. If you have not done a long distance path before I would not recommend starting out with this one. Maybe go somewhere you know, camp the night and return home. Going out and doing two nights on our first time was a bit too much. But we survived and it was certainly a positive experience if not always pleasant at the time. One last thing. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions that I can answer if you too are planning this walk.

Recommended kit:

• Tent, waterproof and lightweight. (That you can put up in the dark in your sleep).
• Comfortable rucksack moulded to your back. Not brand new.
• Broken in walking boots.
• Socks and pants for every day.
• A complete change of clothes in case you get wet.
• Map that is waterproofed and attached to you. Explorer OL14 and 179 Gloucester.
• Compass. Ensure you know how to use it. If you don’t check this link. It's the least cheesy video I could find.
• Food. A good mix of high calorie lightweight stuff. Carbs, protein and fat. Non-perishable things that won't go manky no matter how hot it gets.
• Water. At least a litre with easy access and another two for storage in your bag, this is per person. Refill at every opportunity.
• A first aid kit. Mostly stuff for blisters. A pin for bursting, a lighter to sterilise it (the pin, not the blister!) and some zinc oxide tape as a minimum.
• An appropriate sleeping bag for the weather. Two people and a dog will make a tent surprisingly warm. But be aware it gets colder as the night goes on. Scrimp on this at your peril.
• A roll mat. Try and get an inflatable one. If you get a foam one you will look a bit of a spoon carrying it around strapped to the side of your rucksack.
• A mobile phone. Preferably put in flight mode to save battery when not in use. Or buy a Nokia brick that stays charged for a month.
• Take a bag for your rubbish and your dirty underwear. ALWAYS take your rubbish away.
• A camera. Photos or it never happened.

Top Tips:

• Don’t go without letting anyone know. Make sure someone can collect you in case of an emergency.
• Put your house keys somewhere safe. You will cry if you get home and you’ve lost them.
• Check how much water and food you have every time you stop. Replenish often.
• Check the trains well in advance. Make sure you plan to get there long before the last one.
• Erecting your tent will make you warm but the temperature will drop throughout the night. Ensure you have a way of warming yourself up. You cannot sleep if you are too cold.
• Book your meals early. The pubs on the route are popular and fill up quickly at weekends. Make sure the pub actually serves food and their advertising isn't a filthy lie.
• Ensure you have studied the route on a map from beginning to end. Make note of every available opportunity to replenish. 
• However long you think it'll take, it'll probably take longer. Don't be overoptimistic with your timings and distances. You may miss a meal or worse, your train home.

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25th September - Wentwood with added landowner confrontation.

Today’s walk ending up being quite a learning experience of the legal kind. We don’t ramble or do any of that right to roam stuff but I am a firm believer in Public Rights of Way and their sanctity. All of our walks are along Public Rights of Way and I never plan a walk which would cross privately owned ground that doesn’t contain one. This walk was no exception but a certain land owner decided he knew better.

Walking down the freshly trimmed road.

Our walk started from a car park we have used before, Wentwood main car park just north of Newport. As the leaves are starting to turn, woodland walks become all the more spectacular. We set off North out of the car park down the hill. After a few minutes we came across a lady who informed us that her Labrador, which was wagging its tail and barking in high pitched excitement whilst pulling on her lead in the direction of Chuck, was in fact scared of German Shepherds and that was why she was being held back. It really makes me sad when dogs aren’t allowed to play because their owners have no common sense or understanding of their dog’s behaviour. I’m sure they would have had a blast together.

It was a dark brooding day but still very beautiful.

We dropped out of the woods and continued along a small road towards Barn Farm. It always pays to look behind you as well as ahead. In this instance it was because we saw a field full of alpaca. They announced our presence with some fantastic calls which can be heard in this video. Chuck was fascinated and continued to watch them from the gate as we picked berries just down the road. We headed past the farm on a byway. These are usually ancient roads rather than footpaths which cross between fields. They are often wider than footpaths and are a great way of getting about. Each usually has its own set of local bylaws so check with you local authority what you can and can’t drive or ride down them.

A bit of foraging for hedge food.

In a field next to the byway two rather charming donkeys came trotting over to us. They were very affectionate and playful. Chuck was play barking at them and they seemed very interested in each other. I’m sure they’d have happily spent hours chasing each other around if they weren’t separated by a gate. The donkeys loved a good nose rub and watched us walk off until we were out of sight.

Chuck demonstrating his right to use a public byway.

Our next byway took us into a large estate and it was here that our trouble started. The landowner drove out and informed us we were not allowed to bring a dog onto their land. I retorted that we were on a public footpath. A second person informed us that the law allowed us onto the path but not to bring a dog regardless of whether or not he was on a lead. He said it was illegal to take a dog onto any farmland at all. As we had Chuck with us and his safety is our number one priority we left despite being sure we were in the right. The incident had somewhat spoiled what up to now had been a delightful autumn stroll.

Chuck is super happy meeting the big grey doggies.

We have reported the landowner to the local authority and they have informed us we were very much within our rights to be there regardless of whether or not we had a dog with us and they have reported the landowner to the highways enforcement officer. I would recommend if the same happens to you to warn the landowner you will do the same if they insist upon you leaving and see if they back down. It is quite a serious offence to prohibit someone from using a path. Has this or anything similar ever happened to you? Let us know in the comments below.