And here is Part 2

Yeees, I did say there would be another part to this. Behold!

Basically, as I did the walk, this part is where I decided to walk up the cliffs and try to reach a beach far, far away. Further than it seemed actually and by the time I saw it in the distance, I was tired and it was getting pretty close to when I’d have to go home, so I turned around and came back.

Remember the image last post of the cliff? Well, this picture is from the top just along the way and shows how popular the beach is, even in winter, judging by all the footprints and dog tracks.

Foot prints, although annoyingly ruining a smooth surface, are quite artistic in a way

Moving along the cliff in the direction of Barafundle Beach, you see a very nice close up of Church Rock. Still doesn’t look like a church to me but there we go. From some angles (obviously not this one), it apparently looks like a Scotty dog, but I guess its how you are wired up as to what you see isn’t it? Alas at low tide it pretty much looks like a rock to me…

I can only presume that this rock looks like a dog from offshore, as I can’t see it from here

Along this track, there a quite a few hidden bays and lovely sandy beaches. There seems to be no way to get to them apart from abseiling, so they are pretty much undisturbed which makes them very photogenic. Lucky me! Apparently, this one is called Box Beach. No idea why but maybe it’s a reference to the fact there are lots of caves just up the cliffs that acted as boxes for storage in times gone by? Talking of caves, there are some quite deep depressions in the cliff top just up from here too, but they are so wide that I couldn’t fit them in the picture! If I had a scale it would have been more impressive, but maybe next time I will find a way.

Box Beach, with a returning boat from the islands in the distance

The next large beach is more of a cove and was (if you have seen the video, please refer to the archive) full of birds making quite a racket to be honest. However, it’s nice to see them acting naturally and they fact they have a roost where they can relax. The rock in the middle to the left is named Pinnacle Rock and it’s pretty obvious why to be honest! In the distance, the cliffs are Stackpole Head where I headed next…

Pinnacle Rock and Stakpole Head in the distance…long way down I assure you

The wind was really picking up but the sun was still out which I was glad of, as it brought out the positively alien colours in the lichen on the head. Nothing else really grows here apart from scrubby grass so I guess it has all the chance it needs to flourish…all I did to extract the real colour from it was to use a polariser on the lens.

I admit I checked the settings when I saw this picture, but this is how it really appeared…go look!

I had pretty good timing in all, because as I headed back, the cirrus had built up to a fairly solid layer of haze/cloud on the horizon and things were getting milky and the sun was being covered. So, as this began to happen, got a quick snap out to sea with some lovely curves on the gathering cloud in the distance before it all collapsed into plain white. I do know a follower who will particularly enjoy this picture 🙂

A view out to sea, the Bristol Channel, next stop is the island of Lundy

Well that was that walk..hope you enjoyed the piccies and if you are nearby, why not borrow someones dog and drag it around?! I think you’ll find it worthwhile but bear in mind, you will need some pretty good boots and head for heights.

Should have some weather pictures coming up soon, so the next subject may change from the land to the sky, hope to see you there. Thanks for dropping by again.

Broad Haven South – Part 1

Hello!

Yes, this title would suggest that there is going to be another post at some point. I have lined up the next set of pictures already, so I am committed now! Anyhow, no excuses for the length of time since posting this week, let’s just get on with it.

As you may see from the title, this was a walk I took in the area of Broad Haven south beach…or is it Broadhaven? Maps disagree. I took it upon myself to go out as it was a lovely winters day at this point (it was a while back) so this situation lends itself more to taking pictures as there are fewer people about to get in the way.

To get to the beach, you have to go through the Bosherton Lily Ponds, owned by the National Trust and the main reason you have to pay to abandon your vehicle, although I don’t begrudge £1 for a days parking, unlike some who line the road outside!

Fairly uneventful walk down to the start and I apologise in advance for the very beige pictures throughout the post, as the trees hadn’t started to bud significantly at this point. The scenery was still very nice and if you took a side path up a hill, you got a pretty good view almost at the very start…

The view down the currently empty Lily Pond to the beach

Also, I was greeted by a few “interesting” bridges that traversed shallow water (you could see the dead reeds at the bottom) made of a mix of concrete, wood and bolts. I sure these were pretty original and repaired as and when needed but they didn’t seem all that stable and I was thankful there weren’t lines of people passing each other as I am sure there are in the Summer.

I suggest a sign here that says “Single-file or Swim” but I suspect I may be ignored

From these bridges, you get a lovely view down towards the beach along the reed beds. Yes, it’s not very photogenic if I’m to be honest, but stop complaining, there’s a blue sky, cirrus and contrast; this is a thing to be celebrated!

A view along the extensive reed bed; those of you with eagle eyes will see a cairn of sorts on the hill. Not sure what that signifies, as it was unmarked

Around the corner, I almost bumped into a couple who had stopped in the middle of the path. I wasn’t exactly sure why to be honest, so I mentally tutted and walked around them to be confronted by a man hand-feeding little Robins. Bless! Now, that’s something that you don’t see every day….alas, they wouldn’t pose on him, but I did manage to catch a picture of this cheeky chap daring me to get closer!

“You going to just stand there, or is there bread?!”

Come to the end of the track past the reeds and you are afforded a lovely view, complete with bench for those of us of a lower fitness level, of the well used path to the lovely sandy beach and in the distance, Church Rock. In terms of distance, this is very close to shore, only 150 yards or so and is quite dramatic close up.

The “drain” from the Ponds out towards the beach with Church Rock in the distance. Mmmm, I know, I haven’t seen a church like that either!

As a beach, it’s way up on the list in Pembrokeshire apparently; it has very high water quality and its south-facing location and dramatic cliff views backed by sand dunes and expansive National Trust woodland and Lily Ponds which are located behind the beach make it quite a draw. I wandered a little further on to take a picture of the contrast in rocks and sand to illustrate the “microcosm”…

The varied landscape in such a small area that draws so many people to this beach

I confess I have only been a few times but I’d go there if I had a dog or a family to drag along! Does this look a touch familiar? It should do, as I posted a video of this spot not so long ago to encourage you to absorb the natural beauty…if you can’t recall, have a look through the archives, I’m sure you will find it.

Anyway, that’s the first part of my loop and the landscape I saw, the next set of pictures are from the top of the cliffs to be added shortly…thanks for stopping by.

Remember, if you like a picture, please feel free to ask for a print, don’t just pinch them for free!

Happy Fathers Day!

Hello All,

A special mention to all the Dads out there on Fathers Day (in the UK anyhow…not sure if I have any foreign visitors at the moment). Went out last night, as it’s notoriously busy on the Sunday if you want a meal or anything, to The Shed in Porthgain (http://www.theshedporthgain.co.uk/). Possibly the best fish and chips (they do serve other food for anyone who hates this) not only in Pembrokeshire but in Wales. Such a light batter and chips that are second to none I have ever eaten.

It comes neck and neck with the blue cod fish and chips I ate in New Zealand some years back but, if you live nearby, go! Now! Tell your friends! Google the website and book! Do it! Seriously, they have received shining review in national newspapers. Anyway, that’s enough of a plug for them. But you should try and go if you are near…

Today is proper Fathering Sunday and Dad also has a sticky ginger and lime cake to consume (egg-free as he can’t eat them) made by a colleague at work who dabbles in baking which is also lovely, so it’s been a touch of a culinary weekend this weekend.

Just as well, as the weather has been shocking. The wind of the past few days has been in the words of the BBC “unseasonably strong”…in other words, stay in and watch the trees lose all their leaves and stick them to the side of my car, which is what I have been doing in the evenings after work. I went for a bike ride quickly recently but with the gusts nearly blowing me over through hidden gateways and fighting the wind head on, it was quite short!

Anyway, onto the pictures. Enough of the rambling….unles we are talking walking rambling which leads me onto my pictures this post. These were all taken on a walk I took from Port Lion along the estuary towards Lawrenny. A nice path, if it wasnt at 45 degrees most of the time…man, did that ache when I got back. Anyway, it was very pleasant so I decided to follow the path as far as I could go. When I arrived there, there was a hell of a racket and a splash as I had disturbed a basking seal! He was too quick to get a picture of, but he did pop his head up to swear at me….

“Oi! I was just minding my own business on the beach. Get lost!”….the poor seal I unwittingly displaced near Lawrenny

Once I’d argued with him about disturbing his sunbathing and moved on, I discovered that I had arrived at low tide and this showed up the trees that grow right to the edge of the estuary very well with their old bent branches which are pretty darn photogenic. However, it will take more fancy equipment and better light to show that up I suspect. In the meantime, this will have to do….

It’s amazing how close these tress are to the high tide, look carefully and you can see seaweed hanging off the branches

Further along the shore, there was small pond which looked as though it was being used to grow plants or something and you could clearly see the entrance to the local marina (I use the term loosely, it’s more a boat park with a few houses around) where a few boats were putting in and out. No zoom lens, so I just opted for a long view of the shore and trees.

A longer view of the shore to give an impression of where the water gets to

I then wandered back on myself as it was clouding over for an explore along the shore, mainly to see if there was any flotsam and/or jetsam I could pick and hoard. There was a lovely piece of split rock which exposed a gorgeous vein of sparkly quartz crystals, so I picked that up and it currently graces my desk.

For anyone interested in geology, this might be an interesting feasture…made a nice frame for my image in my case

Further down, I did find a random feature. I have no idea what is it, bar a hole in the face of the rock shore. As you can see, there was a rope running up alongside it as well, so it’s either used or has been used of late for something. I don’t know whether someone stashes gear in there to keep it out of harms way (pesky seals) or even sleeps in there themselves…some fisherman go to extremes for their sport after all and it was about that size. Let me know what you think.

That mystery cavern just above head height. What’s it for? Looks like it took some considerable work to make so it’s got to be pretty important…

Anyway, that’s about the size of it this week, hope you enjoy the rest of the day and thanks again for dropping by. Whilst I have been typing, it has once again started raining and I was due to go out for a spin in my car. I’d just washed the wheels yesterday too. Grrr…..

A zip along to Fishguard in the new car!

Hello All!

How are we? Enjoying the warm weather? This only really applies in the area I live and to a couple of followers, so sorry about that. Hope everything is well where you are based.

Been another busy couple of weeks here but I have a day off today and decided to sit with a cuppa and post another blog for y’all. This time, I decided that the legs of the new turbocharged pocket rocket (it is a bit frightening still but I am now a little more confident) I call my car a stretch to Fishguard and Goodwick. On a nice sunny day, it is a very pleasant place to sit, have a coffee and watch the people go by from or to the Rosslare ferry or the kids play on the big slides (dare I suggest such a thing in this day and age?!).

Luckily, I had my camera with me and the light was very good..quite low and pretty orange so everything around was bathed in very nice light. First was a wander along the breakwater where the visibilty afforded a pleasant view across the water towards Dinas Head and one of my favourite spots (my secret waterfall).

View from Goodwick towards Old Town and Dinas (North Pembrokeshire)

From here, it is possible to spot a myriad of birds when the feeding situation is right for them. On this occasion as I walked along, I got buzzed by a Curlew. I know because I looked it up on the RSPB website in the cafe! It was way to fast for me to get a snap of it, so I am afraid that you will have to settle for this long view of the breakwater once I had returned to the car park.

A longer view of the Goodwick Breakwater

On the beach, the light was even better. I had a gent walk up to me (cameras are great icebreakers it appears) and just launched into a conversation about what I took photos of and the equipment I used. He was very nice though, although his son was less patient than most. I got a nice sun bathed picture of a groyne and the rocks beside following that chat…another nice view towards the Old Harbour and Dinas from there.

Pretty much anything will look better once it has the sun on it…

As an explanation for not being on the blog all that often of late, I am now going to post a picture and a couple of videos of the sheer toil I have been undertaking crewing the boat owned by my friend, John. Oh the stress!!

A quick snap of the racing yacht (Ellloco) taken when we made a toilet stop in Milford

Mind you, he let me steer the other evening and that was frightening.. it’s not althogether a natural feeling steering a something side on when the seat you are sat on is leaning at 45 degrees. That may take a bit of getting used to.

Anyway, a couple of videos here http://youtu.be/vDiJWWl-5n8 and here http://youtu.be/eGFT_LigO-g of a level jaunt we took out yesterday down towards Angle and Dale. A few ham rolls, a touch of coffee and some strawberries and a maximum speed of 5 knots made it a very pleasant day all in. However, it’s not all like this, during a race we do have to work, I assure you, I still have the bruises, rope burns and cuts to prove it.

Thanks for stopping by…see you soon!