Penarth rambling group enjoy bank holiday summer walk

Celebrating the end of summer on Bank Holiday Monday they set off in lovely warm sunshine through the churchyard, before passing through an urban area and along a lovely path in Newton Burrows, which led them uphill through woodland then down a narrow sandy pathway to Cwm y Gaer. Shaded paths in coppiced woodland brought them out onto the quiet lane leading to Candleston Farm and heading uphill through a large meadow populated by dozens of sheep, then over an old stone stile, a descent led to Ton Farm.

Passing fields containing tents and camper vans they tramped on by road to reach Merthyr Mawr village pausing to enter the churchyard of St Teilo’s to view the collection of ancient carved memorial stones that were uncovered when this church was rebuilt in the mid-1800’s, the oldest relating to the 5th century. After morning break in the shelter of some trees they moved on past the village green surrounded by lovely thatched cottages and across the River Ogmore by means of the white bridge, known locally as the ‘swing bridge’ presumably because it moves underfoot as you cross. When Sir John Nicholl purchased the Merthyr Mawr Estate in1864, he built a new mansion and claimed the original road to the village as his private drive, so a new one was created which required a new bridge across the river.

Crossing Ogmore Moor with its docile horses and their first view of the ruined Ogmore Castle, a footbridge led them across the River Ewenny and out onto Ogmore Road for a short distance, until a rough path beside a waterworks led them uphill through a narrow lane where the stone walls were coated with soft green moss. A short steep climb brought them up onto Ogmore Down beside the Southerndown golf course where the wide track led them on past Pant Quarry as they turned to cross Beacons Down enjoying the cooling easterly breeze as the temperature rose.

A descent through the sand dunes at Pant Mari Flanders led them to the old stone well that used to supply water to nearby Heol y Mynydd and Norton, where one walker went down the steps into the well and declared the well was - not surprisingly dry! Continuing through Pant y Cwteri and arriving beside the Ogmore Road once again, a narrow sandy undulating track on the lower bracken covered slopes of Ogmore Down led them to the rear of The Pelican, which has been refurbished and reopened as a gastro pub and it was packed.

Ogmore Castle was the intended lunch spot, but arriving at its gates which were firmly padlocked, they learned that the bridge that crosses the outer moat is in need of repairs, so making their way through the packed car park with its busy ice cream man doling out cooling ices and lollipops; they arrived at the stepping stones. Originally there were 52 in total but there are a lot less now and carefully crossing the crystal clear Ewenny River where people had removed shoes and were wading across, brought them onto a path leading back to the white bridge and in turn back to St Teilo’s for lunch.

Then on by busy road to another packed car park at Merthyr Mawr and heading through woodland then out onto the dunes brought them to the River Ogmore as it made its way to the sea. A sandy bridleway led to the stunning beach of Traeth yr Afon where they gazed across the river to another packed car park and beach at Ogmore-by-Sea before heading west across the open sand, rocks and pebbles to reach Newton and another packed car park. Despite packed car parks and lots of people out enjoying the late summer sunshine, the group had managed during their 12.7 mile walk to avoid the crowds for most of the day and making their way up Beach Road, they even managed to avoid then inevitable traffic jams on the way home.

You can follow the group at www.penarthramblers.wordpress.com or on Facebook.