Last updated  30.3.10

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If you are walking the Gower Coast Path please keep a look-out for Roger - a brown and white medium-sized dog who went missing on 5th June between Overton and Rhossili. If you find or see him please contact Kevin Child on 01792 281543 or e-mail k.g.child@swansea.ac.uk (8.6.10) NEWS JUST IN - ROGER HAS BEEN FOUND AFTER 14 DAYS BUT ALIVE AND WELL (28.6.10)

Details of 2010 Challenge Walks now available here. (18.2.10). Added on 18.3.10 are dates for the Gower Macmarathon and details of the Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival in its first ever year.

It has been reported that the footbridge near Vaynor on the Gateway to the Beacons walk is closed following a landslip. Without knowing how long it will be closed, there are a couple of options. When you reach the road at SO 04521/09635 turn left down the road instead of right, turn right at the next road junction and then pick up the route again after the Italianate villa. Alternatively follow the route up Morlais but retrace your steps and then follow the road route just described. Watch this space for updates. (16.2.10)

A led circular walk of 12 miles around the hills of Pontypridd on Saturday 27th February. Starts 9.30am at Barry Sidings Countryside Park, Trehafod. Strong footwear recommended and bring a packed lunch. Contact 01443 400563 to book a place. (25.1.10)

A couple of problems have been reported on some of the walks listed. If you are doing Variation1 on the Nash Point walk, look out for path diversions because of building works. The main route is unaffected. And the Trelai/Wenvoe walk is affected by an outbreak of 'gating' making walking though the residential area of Caerau a bit of a problem. After passing Glyn Derw school the original route, referred to in the text as 'the alleyway', is now blocked by a metal gate. There is a new route near the school which cuts straight through to Trelai Park but this is closed at week-ends! The alternative is to work your way through the housing beyond the alleyway and then turn right back towards Trelai Park. If anyone knows a nice simple, safe and legal route from Heol Trelai to Trelai Park that is permanently open, please let us know. (16.07.09)

Look here for an artist's impression of what the proposed footbridge across the River Ely in Cardiff Bay will look like. When completed, it will not only make it possible to walk all round the bay but will open up many new walking opportunities between Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. (2.2.09)

Two walking festivals have published their dates for 2009. The Crickhowell festival runs from 28th February to 8th March and offers a wide variety of events including one for wheelchair users and those with walking difficulties. The Gower walking festival runs between 6th and 21st June. More details here.

An entry for your nice, new 2009 diary. 9th May sees a challenge walk based on the popular Raven Walk and starting from Cwmcarn Forest Drive with a choice of 12 or 6.5 miles. This replaces the previous Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk. (2.12.08).

The long-awaited route through Cardiff docks is now open allowing you to walk from Cardiff Bay to Penarth and vice-versa. Currently it is open from 7am to 8pm - the gates are locked outside these times. Complete circumnavigation of the Bay will only become possible when the footbridge over the River Ely is completed - probably not until 2010. In the meantime the restrictions on walking over the road bridge from Cardiff Bay to Penarth appear to have gone. (2510.08). BUT ARE NOW BACK!! (7.11.08)

Another new walks leaflet, this time around St Fagans and covering the site of the Battle of St Fagans in 1648. It is possible to link to the Ely Trail which will ultimately take you all the way to Cardiff Bay. Available in Cardiff TIC. (25.10.08)

A number of new walks leaflets have appeared recently. For the Cardiff area we have a small pack of laminated walks based around the Taff Trail, entitled 'Taff Trail Circular Walks' and covering the following areas: Channel View, Llandaff cathedral, Llandaff bridge, Hailey Park, Forest Farm and Morganstown to Tongwynlais. The sheets are in both Welsh and English and have been produced by the Countryside Team within the Strategic Planning section of Cardiff County Council.They are not for sale in shops. For further information contact the team on 029 2087 3186. Walks around Cosmeston country park can now be followed in a leaflet entitled Two Walks around Cosmeston, available at the park and free. Next, a leaflet describing a route around Cornelly entitled Cornelly Walk, Route 1. There is a reference to Route 2 which presumably is to come. Finally Llynfi Valley, Walk 5, again implying Walks 1 to 4 are in the pipeline. Both of these appear to be linked to Bridgend County Borough Council and are available at TICs including the McArthur Glen one at Bridgend. (27.8.08)

A forum for discussing all aspects of country walking can be found here. (20.8.08)

As we move into Summer (what summer?) you may find that some of the paths can become overgrown with brambles, nettles or general vegetation. This has already been noted on the Cosmeston Long Walk. In these cases please contact the Rights of Way officer in the relevant Council with details of the problem and location. (20.8.08)

The 'missing' bit of the Vale of Glamorgan Heritage coast path is now open to the public. Previously there was no right of way along the top of the cliffs between SS 897/718, below Cwm Mawr and SS 905/700, Cwm Nash. The Heritage Coast wardens have now confirmed that it is open, but not yet signposted although this will follow. (29.4.08)

Kenfig walks now showing under Guided Walks along with a challenge walk not previously featured here, a 14 mile walk in the Brecon Beacons in aid of the British Heart Foundation. More details here (10.4.08).

Dates for three more Challenge Walks; Walk In Caerphilly - Saturday, 10th May; Across Wales Walk - 6th September; Macmillans Gower Cliff Walk - 13th September. More details here. (13.3.08)

Whilst the current weather is unlikely to entice you out, you can still plan some expeditions for next year. Dates and details of several 2008 Challenge Walks are now available and a Walking Festival at Crickhowell has appeared which is only 3 months away. See Guided Walks for details. (4.12.07).

The farmer has taken his maize crop so the blockage referred to in the following note of the 25th August has disappeared. (27.10.07)

The longer Llantwit Major circular walk (6.5 miles) is virtually impassable for the second year running, this time with a crop of sweet corn which has made it very difficult physically to walk through and tricky to navigate. This is the stretch just after Belvedere House. The matter has been referred to the Rights of Way officer and Town Council, as it was last year, but unless you really enjoy a challenge it is suggested that you take the lane to the right when you get to Boverton Place which is the same lane that you would have reached had you gone through the fields. (25.8.07)

This picture is called the Huntsman and is by Septimus Dawson who lived from 1851 to 1914 in the North East - Sunderland, West Hartlepool and Scarborough. It is uncertain whether the scene showing a clapper bridge is real or imaginary but if anyone recognises the scenery or the bridge, please send us an e-mail - bruce7@btinternet.com. Landscape detectives who know their dry-stone walling might also be able to identify the region by the style of the walling. More on clapper bridges here.(12.8.07)

Good news on the Heritage Coast front. The missing bit of coast path between Cwm Bach and Cwm Nash, south east of Dunraven Bay could be in place later this year. Funding has been allocated for the installation of fencing and agreement reached with the farmer. Note that in the meantime there is no legal right of access along this stretch of coast and the choices are either going along the beach having ensured you know the tide times or detouring inland and walking along the road that runs north west of Monknash. (30.4.07). Still waiting!!! (4.12.07)

The native daffodils at Coed-y-Bwl are at their best at the moment and these can be seen on the Wick or Ewenny long walks. It is open day on the reserve on the 18th March. (18.3.07).

New walks around Cosmeston Lakes country park near Penarth from a short stroll up to a 12 miler. (29.1.07)

New walks, this time from Merthyr Tydfil. Three walks from 2 to 12 miles and they're amongst the best you'll find on the website. (26.8.06)

Bi-lingual leaflets entitled 'Walking by Bus' cover 4 short (2 miles) walks on Gower which are linked to a bus route. Available from local TICs. (26.7.06)

The National Trust website has 5 walks on Gower which can be downloaded. For further details go to Walk Routes - bottom of page. (12.6.06)

A 5 mile extension to the Aberdare Long Walk gets you to the highest point in Glamorgan. (7.9.05).

The 'Iron Mountain Trail', a new walk though the heart of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, was launched in May. The route takes in the landscape from Blaenavon to Llanfoist and links many of the World Heritage Site's attractions. This route and other walks are available to download from here and then go to 'Visitor Information', 'Outdoor activities' and 'Walks'. A new pack of six walks leaflets for routes in and around Blaenavon can be obtained from the Torfaen Borough Council's Countryside Team - call 01633 640066. (13.7.05).

If you like walking in the Brecon Beacons consider joining the Brecon Beacons Park Society who have a full programme of guided walks throughout the year. For more details click here. Although usually covering the Beacons there is a walk around Oxwich Bay on 25th June looking at wild flowers. Also, details of the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team (25.5.05).

Bluebells by Hen Eglwys

With the bluebells at their best, why not try the Margam walks? Also, you can take a look at the Monks' Bath House restored by the Woodland Trust and CADW. To get to it follow the road to Cwm-Maelwg farm - see first paragraph of Walk 2 - and after 50 yards, just before the road bends right, you will see it on the right of the road by three circular concrete structures. (11.5.05)

The Monks' Bath House

A new book on Geological Walks on the Glamorgan Coast - Walking the Rocks. A short variation added to the Nash Point walk takes you past Sir Harry Stradling's watchtower - note the Horseshoe Inn is now the Lighthouse Inn. (10.10.04).

Those who have enjoyed the Wenvoe Short walk might wish to know that a planning application for a superquarry has been submitted which will have a significant impact on the route from Wenvoe towards Michaelston. If you wish to register your concern, visit this website. (3.5.04)

Arizona? Gobi Desert? Nope - Whiteford Burrows on the end of Gower and not far away is the Victorian Lighthouse accessible at low tide. Either do the long walk to pass both these points or park at Cwm Ivy and walk there and back in about 90 minutes. (7.1.04)

Victorian lighthouse

New permissive paths now allow access to Dunraven Castle gatehouse - see details below

New paths at Dunraven!! As part of the Tir Gofal farming scheme, new paths have been opened at Dunraven Bay, Southerndown. Take the stile opposite the entrance to the Dunraven Walled Garden. The track takes you to the old gatehouse. Turn right to follow the wall and then right again to come out at the other end of the walled garden. The route is well waymarked and no more than a mile. Access for people and dogs may be restricted at some times of year because of lambing. You can add this to the Wick, Ogmore or Ewenny long walks. (24.2.03)

COMING SHORTLY

Planning continues on the Glamorgan Coast path, this time the section from Mumbles to Kenfig. The route is clear from Mumbles to Port Talbot and then from Kenfig to Porthcawl - the current issue is how best to get through Port Talbot. It was intended to include some walks around Glyncorrwg but these have been abandoned for the time being because of blocked footpaths, closed paths and a bridleway that when you get there turns out to be a wide road with heavy lorries and huge levels of dust.

TIDE TIMETABLE

For many of the coastal walks it is useful to know when high or low tide is due. Low tide gives the option of walking along the beach rather than the coast path which can get muddy. Also there is a stretch of the Glamorgan Heritage path between Cwm Bach ref:897718 and Cwm Nash ref:905700 where there is no right of way along the cliff-top necessitating a tedious detour inland. At low tide the beach is a much better option. However, get the tides wrong and you could find yourself in serious difficulties.  Arrowsmith's Bristol Channel Tide Table 2001 can be ordered from bookshops or contact them direct; TEL: 0117 966 7545 or e-mail jw@arrowsmith.co.uk. 

The weather forecast can be found here