Saturday: a very good walk

We set off from the hotel and had to scramble up a hill through brambles and holly and cross some barbed-wire fences to get to the path proper. Then down to Three Cliffs Bay.

Path to Three Cliffs Bay

From there along the cliff path to Oxwich Bay and then inland a bit through Nicholaston Woods.

Cliff path
Oxwich Bay

It was hard-going for a bit here, the rocky path steep and slippery with wet Sycamore and Beech leaves.

Slippery path
In the woods
Spindle berries

Then it levelled off and once out of the woods we went up the road a bit and then into the Penrice Estate. There was a grand Manor House and a ruined castle.

Penrice estate

The house looked down onto well-kept grounds with a long lake sweeping out towards the sea. Out in the estate we followed a track through Mill Wood and then took the lane up the hill into Reynoldston. There were lots of Ravens and some Stonechats. We had a good lunch in the King Arthur Hotel. There was a wedding on, but they didn’t mind us with our muddy boots in the bar.

Leaving the King Arthur Hotel

After lunch we climbed up to the top of the ridge, heading for Arthur’s Stone. The path we were on dissolved after a bit and R ended up knee-deep in the bog, so we had to retrace our steps to find a drier route, squelching.

At the stone a woman was sat in quiet contemplation. She was originally from here and said she had a photo of herself aged three at this stone, but she now lived in Scotland. She reckoned it was a magical place.

Arthur’s Stone

Beyond the stone was a cairn, with cows.

Cairn,cows
Cow, cairn

There were ponies, too.

Ponies

We followed the long line of the ridge, called Cefn Bryn, back towards the hotel. Great panoramic views of the Gower all round.

On the ridge
Trig point

Dropped down off the ridge and then through wet woods again to the hotel. 14.2 miles.

Pint in the lounge, nice dinner.