Ogmore By Sea to Porthcawl Point
Ogmore By Sea is my starting point today and as yet I don’t know its going to be a long long walk up the estuary and down the other side before I am on the beach heading to Porthcawl!
As I walk the estuary I note it looks very soggy and soft in places which makes me wary of sinking and getting stuck. This shot shows the lush ‘flats’ which I think are deceptively dangerous , so I keep close to the rock face.
A mile or two in and there is loads of wildlife and the constant coming and going of what I think are Canada Geese. The banks still look dodgy but I do take a short clip of a ‘flight coming into land’
‘Landing Approach 🙂
I observe a rather large sand dune the other side as I leave the geese and other wildlife behind. I am heading for a bridge which I think is my crossing point. WRONG its a roadway to the local water works. Having corrected my mistake I am approaching Ogmore village and see some very fine looking horses.
I chat to an eledely slightly ‘deaf’ gent who is obvoiusly the farm owner and ask him about the castle nearby. The official path takes you beyond the village but he tells me there are stepping stones by the castle to cross the river. I want to see the castle anyway.
I walk down to the river and the castle is on my right. The flow is fast and being elderly I am a little nervous of the stones (not all are flat) with a heavy rucksack on my back. I cross with relief and its raining a little now. I sit on a damp wooden seat viewing the castle and eating lunch before I move on to Merthy Mawr.
Leaving my lunchtime seat and crossing a white metal footbridge I enter the village/hamlet of Merthyr Mawr. Proceeding along roadway for about a mile I enter Merthyr Mawr Warren.
So I am across the estuary river and have left Merthy Mawr behind and having entered the warren am now heading back to the shore. Considering I have been walking a couple of hours now I know it will be about the same getting back to the beach. The territory is gravelly , sandy path ways and dunes until I reach the beach.
It’s now another couple of miles to reach Porthcawl Point and finish for the day. Its long flat and easy going which is good news as I am quite tired after all the dunes. As I enter the beach leading to Porthcawl for the first time I come across a group of five people (mixed) and being me say Hello and ask them what they are up to ? An interesting 10 Minute conversation ensues. They are all ‘Network Rail’ folk doing voluntary work for the day clearing up the beaches. Now I understand the mounds of rubbish srategically placed which I have noticed on my way down to the beach. Barmouth Bridge re-engineering was a topic and I was very interested to hear the Chief Engineer’s views on the work. I am hoping to be there in June 2023.
I have left the volunteers behind and Porthcawl is in sight. So ends a lengthy estuary walk which means I haven’t travelled West very far this time!
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