Ogmore 18th April, 2015

With our youngest daughter getting married quite soon now, there have been quite a few visits by the soon to be bride and groom to various “suppliers” for the wedding celebrations and one of the suppliers is based in Bridgend. So as that is suitably close to Ogmore, we decided to re-visit the coastal path once more once the meeting was over. An exciting prospect to be walking in our own footsteps along the scenic Glamorgan Heritage coast. This time we headed in a southerly direction, with the sea on our right – different feeling!

It was a really windy morning but bright and sunny too as we headed down to the beach at Ogmore-on-sea. At the other side of the estuary, a group of riders were headed over the dunes – those dunes where some of Lawrence of Arabia was filmed…

Helicopters passed overhead as we looked across the sea to Porthcawl…

..and down the beach towards Dunraven – and across the Bristol Channel to England! The light glistening on the sea was terrific..

And as with every walk, there is always something new to see! Today we came across these apparent geysers – well springs anyway, bubbling away in the sand..

The carboniferous limestone rocks along the sea here are so huge and exciting to walk along – if in places a bit scarey too! Here was Richard atop a cliff.

…and looking across to England you can see the massive size of the "pavement" of rock…

We soon rounded a corner where we had to go higher to get round the next cliffs of Southerndown with Dunraven headland and Nash Point beyond just peeping through…

We crossed Southerndown cliffs with magnificent views on such a clear, if windy, day. Ahead we were now dropping down into Dunraven Bay…

After a bite to eat and a lovely coffee at the little cafe, we explored the old gardens of Dunraven. All that is left of the 17th century home of the Vaughan family. This site is an ancient one having been settled in the Iron Age followed by the Romans and still lived in until 1963 when the castle was demolished due to safety reasons – probably linked to unaffordable death duties no doubt.

The gardens had been obviously substantial. Here in the walled garden which is now looked after by volunteers, there were lots of families picnicking today. Very sheltered out of the wind. And there is a small wood beyond – full of shadows today and of course wild flowers..

It is a beautiful site without doubt. Ogmore beach on the one side of its headland and the stunning Glamorgan heritage coast on the other as you’ll see.. and maybe remember from 2013? Have you been to visit yet?

As above, looking across to Traeth Mawr – just beautiful. We tried to get lower here and passed some spring squill in full flower – sadly my picture of it was a bit blurred. Failing to reach the beach, we headed back up and visited the headland where there are just a few remains of the castle of the Vaughan’s.

There are some good information boards there too giving a good picture of what it must have been like. And as we started to descend, there is quite a clear impression of the gateway to the Iron Age fort….

….well I thought so anyway! And out at sea you can just see Tusker Rock.

We made our way back along the coast path towards Ogmore once more. The wind had died down a lot thankfully! The gorse on the hillside looked brilliant especially against the blue sky..

…and the light over the sea was just lovely.

We decided to head down to the shore although the tide was now coming in….

…and it came in fast! Before we headed up the rocky beach, Julia spotted a starfish hiding in a rock pool..

So it was then goodbye once more to the Coast Path…

…until next time!

Only about 5 miles but it was lovely to be back on the coast. As we drove home, the evening was so lovely, not a cloud in the sky; we passed Pen-y-Fan – it has to be the scene of a walk before too long….