PHOTOS-Wales Coast Path around Llantwit Major

A miserable start to 2013 and a chance to blow away the cobwebs with a brisk walk along the Wales Coastal Path beginning at Llantwit Major.
Dull, grey skies were matched with fierce waves crashing into the rugged coastline as we made our way around the bleak landscape. This wasn’t going to be a day for fantastic photography!

A World War II look out bunker had been preserved and stood proud on the clifftop – and then a short walk to reveal the small inlet of Tresilian Bay.


The rough weather had washed up a lot of driftwood and other debris onto the pebbled beach but on further inspection there was one fine specimen – we think a cormoran!
The timid creature just stood there and allowed us to get fairly close to take some snaps of it. Was it injured or ill? We are not sure – there was no evidence of any injury but it seemed more than content just standing their and posing for us. We did message the RSPCA about this lone bird just incase there was some other underlying issue we couldn’t detect.




The walk continued around the ever increasing muddy path with the weather conditions not improving at all -complete with a few minor slips and falls!


Onwards towards Welsh St Donats and the area housing Atlantic College and St Donat’s Castle. We didn’t realise it was all private land so weren’t allowed in at all so continued our muddy path to Macross.




In the distance a tall structure kept appearing between the clouds and mist which we discovered was a lighthouse at Nash Point (not the chimney from the power station at Aberthawe!)
Built in 1832 this great structure ensured safe transit of vessels around the Nash Sands, which extend some 7 miles west of this headland. The lighthouse was electrified in 1968 before becoming the last manned lighthouse in Wales being automated in 1998.



There was a whole host of other buildings related to the lighthouse for power, living quarters and a huge horn for the fog warnings! Twas great peaking inside to see all the machinery in one of them. #geekalert

A quick refuel in the local pub and a warm by the fire it was time to venture back. We decided to take the path further inline hoping to miss all that mud on the way up. Boy were we wrong to think it would be any less muddy!
The designated path took us via many a farm and grazing land which was incredibly boggy but proved a great work out for the thighs!





The main purpose of the day was to blow away the Christmas and New Year cobwebs and to stretch those legs and appreciate our surroundings a bit more. Even though it looks fairly bleak on the photos it was really suitable for walking with only the muddy paths being a bit problematic in parts – but this all added to the fun of it.
Was great to visit these places again after only seeing them previously (and briefly) as a child.
Will definately take a return trip in the Summer…hopefully with some better weather and less mud on my boots!