Previously

A Seaside Ramble


For those of you who have accompanied me over the past series of seaside walks we now have walked much of the Vale of Glamorgan coastline from Llantwit Major to Port Talbot.  It’s a stunning area. The secret is to visit when the tide is low.  This enables you to have the choice of walking one direction on the cliffs and return on the beach.

However, this walk was different. The club agreed to fund the use of a coach supplied by Ridgeways, so we parked at the Eastern Parade in Porthcawl and were driven to the start at Kenfig Nature Reserve. I had considered starting at the sand engulfed village of Kenfig but unfortunately it was just that and I didn’t think the club would want to re-enact a scene from “Lawrence of Arabia”

The nature reserve was a great starting point, with its information boards and proximity to Kenfig Pool and coffee. I was hoping to spot the rare fen orchid and had been assured by a couple of people they were to be found. However, as they are small and being yellowish green, blend in with the vegetation, they take some perseverance to spot them. I aim to go back next year for another attempt so let me know if you are interested in joining me.

The rare Fen Orchid

The nature reserve runs out to the coast and we were lucky to find a natural windbreak created out of pebbles by wave action. Here we enjoyed our lunch and even some sunbathing.

With windsurfers, paragliders and surfers on our right and golfers on our left we made our way towards Porthcawl.  It was lovely to meet up with Sonia and Terrence who had modified their trip by returning from the nature reserve by taxi enabling them to walk towards us.

In Porthcawl it was time for tea, ice-cream, paddling, whatever suited us, before setting off for our booked meal at Pantruthryn Farm, Bridgend. And here we hit a snag. An unrepairable boiler meant that dinner was “off”. An alternative plan led some of us to the Spice Mahal Indian Restaurant, Rangeworthy.  At very short notice the restaurant produced a lovely meal for twelve.

It was lovely to see so many on the walk - Helen and Howard, Vicky, Andy, Jan, Jan and Ray, Ian, Sue and Pete, Sonia, Terrance, David, Angela, Patsy and Reg, Tony A, and Alan V.  Disappointingly Jackie and Alan were unable to walk as was Mo. I would like to thank her for all her help on the pre-walk. 

Helen Willoughby

Seaside Ramble June 26th 2022

Thornbury Ramblers Go Foraging


In a change to our normal rambles, a group of us asked a local expert to introduce us to wild food.  Robin Judson, a local GP (we were in safe hands) met 13 of us at the Fox Inn at Old Down on the morning of Friday 29th April for a 3 mile grazing amble.

His introduction made it very clear – You can have Old Foragers or Bold Foragers but rarely have Old Bold Foragers.  He also gave us the 4 Fs Country Code of Foraging – restrict your gathering to Foliage, Flowers, Fruits, and Fungi.

During our walk we were treated to elderflower champagne, hogweed and nettle soup and wild garlic pesto plus a wealth of knowledge.   Not only can you benefit from free seasonal edibles, but it also gets you out into the open air and gives you a treasure hunt at the same time.

“The Pocket Guide to Foraging” produced by Wildfooduk has excellent pictures and advice on what is safe to eat.

Here is a list of what we saw:

Edibles –

Common hogweed. Stinging nettle, Cowslips, St George's mushroom, Jack by the hedge, Elder tree, Jelly ear mushroom, Ladies smock, Common sorrel, Wild garlic, White dead nettle, Hops, Old man's beard, Common vetch. Burdock, Flowering currant.

 

And things to avoid:

Giant hogweed - dangerously phytophototoxic i.e. makes your skin burn in sunlight.

Wild chervil aka cow parsley - edible but looks too much like hemlock and other deadly umbellifers, Hemlock  deadly poisonous, Lords and ladies - severe irritant, Tufted vetch  - mildly toxic, Black bryony, White bryony and Woody nightshade - 3 poisonous creepers, Meadow bindweed -mildly toxic lookalike for common sorrel, Yew tree - deadly poisonous except for the flesh of the berries (but the pips are poisonous!) 

 

And here are links to our recipes

https://www.wildfooduk.com/wild-food-recipes/elderflower-champagne/

 

https://www.wildfooduk.com/wild-food-recipes/hogweed-and-wild-garlic-soup/

 

https://www.wildfooduk.com/wild-food-recipes/wild-garlic-pesto/

 

Thanks to Angela for making the introduction to Rob.  We really enjoyed our time with him and he sent us the following message “ Hope to meet you again in some capacity but ideally out of the GP consultation room :-) “


Helen Willoughby

 

We're fenced off with this!


We were almost coming to the end of a long walk based around the beautiful Monnow Valley near Skenfrith, Grosmont and Kentchurch, when in the last field, we found the right of way blocked by a tightly strung barbed wire fence. This wouldn't have been so bad if it had not been aggravated by a lively herd of young bullocks milling around our group. It might have been quite scary if we had been lone walkers. Fortunately it was possible to cross the fence whilst others in the group fended off the cattle. On returning home, I immediately set about the process of getting the fence removed. County councils have a duty to investigate obstructions to Public Rights Of Way (PROWs). This obstruction was in Herefordshire so I visited their website to set the process in motion. Herefordshire CC has an interactive footpaths map on its website from which it is possible to lay down a marker and describe the nature of the footpath problem [not all county councils have this facility]. I set out my case and was soon contacted by Richard Pearce Herefordshire CC Footpaths Officer and a string of emails ensued. The landowner was found to have obstructed the path and has 14 days to remove the fence. It's a bit far away to nip back and check, but I hope other walkers will enjoy the results of our endeavours.

Bob Prince 

TRC first? Walk without a leader…  Alpaca steps in during Covid crisis!


Of course, responsible journalism will try to weave in a few facts to an improbable story, so here goes. I had devised a walk to give those of us not involved in heavy family commitments over Easter, a chance for a shorter walk this Easter Sunday. Unfortunately, I caught Covid and knew I was not going to be clear of infection by that Sunday. In case you ask, I have had worst colds and so I’m fine. Anyway, I’d done my homework and worked out a route and sent a map in so that if nothing else someone could take over and they did. Jackie Robertson took over as walk leader. Just as well she did, because 10 people turned up. Over to Jackie…  

 

“Well obviously I got the time wrong - assumed it was 9.30, but got there at 9.10 as I’d walked from home for starters. We saw donkeys, scarecrows... 10 in all but probably only Helen saw all 10, I saw 6 and I bet no one else saw any…. Some beautiful bluebells as well. As you know we finished up at Wolfridge Alpaca (I’ve never lived so close to a coffee shop!) and some of us will try and do a craft course in early June!! Probably variable results.”  

 

Is that something in wool I ask myself? Well, I can only say that I’m jealous (about the walking obviously) because it was a beautiful spring morning and there I was twiddling my thumbs and not even a nice hat to show for it. Hasta La Vista as they say in the Andes….


Bob Prince


Proof that what3words is actually useful.

On the Daffodil walk led by Frances Bover, Sun 20/03/22 I embarrassed myself by going to the wrong start location near Dymock Gloucestershire. Despite Frances’ very clear and concise email instruction, which I had read and from which I had located the start point before setting out, I entered the wrong location onto my phone. I arrived at what I thought was the meeting place (it seemed exactly like her description) and waited. When no one turned up I phoned Frances to find that everyone except me had arrived. To cut a long story short, I switched on what3words and discovered I was 736 meters away. I used the app to guide me to the real start point. Sorry to everyone for the delay! See article below.

Bob Prince.

what3words

 

What3words is an increasingly used and promoted system for identifying and sharing a location using just three words. It is designed to help users precisely identify any location within 3 metres. The system has divided the whole world into 3 metre squares and allocated each square a unique combination of three words. Sometimes a postcode or a description of a location is not clear enough to direct someone to exactly where they want to go, so it can be useful to identify a location to within 3 metres. For example, the ‘what3words’ location for the area of the Rock Street Car Park in Thornbury where we meet to share cars is ‘hound.surface.staring’.

 

While ‘what3words’ can be used on a desktop computer, its main uses for Ramblers will be from its free to download mobile phone-based App.

 

Thornbury Rambling Club encourages its members to download the App onto their smartphones and to familiarise themselves in using it. It has two particular uses for ramblers, firstly to identify the location of the start point of a walk, which is not necessarily easy to find. Secondly, in the event of an emergency, the ‘what3words’ location can direct the emergency services to your precise location, which can be very useful if you are in the countryside.

 

How to use it: On a smartphone, enter the ‘what3words’ address into the app, then tap ‘Navigate’ and select ‘Google Maps’ to open the location in Google Maps. One can then use the ‘satnav’ capability of Google Maps to navigate to the 3-metre square. To give your location to an emergency service, read out the current 3-word location from the App.

 

One weakness of ‘what3words’ is that some words are incorrectly provided to the emergency services, particularly over the phone. It is important therefore to be clear with the three words, perhaps spelling them out and supplementing the location with a general location e.g. ‘just east of Stroud’, or ‘close to the A38 near Falfield’.


Ian Gross.

Time for tea!


Mo’s recce for the Langstone and Penhow circular walk on Sunday October the 9th (see newsletter) obviously worked, because we found our way flawlessly around the South Monmouthshire countryside taking in a detour to see a `Grand Designs` development of Kemeys Folly, nr Wentwood Forest. The weather was kind and nobody fell over. The highlight of the day was a visit to Mo’s daughter’s house in Llandevaud where tea and cakes proved a welcome treat. Thanks, from all to the bakers Mo and Frances and to Anna for her generous hospitality.

Bob Prince.

A Tick On My Bucket List


The first time I saw the Severn Bore was a truly memorable occasion.  I went to Stonebench and as the bore came roaring up the Severn, a woman was pushed over the 8-foot embankment by the forward press of the crowd.  Fortunately, she was rescued by a quick-thinking onlooker who reached a branch down to her and pulled her away from the tide of water just in time.  However, the chances of her seeing her shoes again were nil!

So why is the Severn Bore still on my bucket list?  I’d heard the sound which had caused the crowd to lean forward at Stonebench in daylight, but someone mentioned to me that visiting the bore at night was an unforgettable experience…  Cue the help of TRC.

 

At the start of David’s walk on September 10th I put the idea of going to the Severn that evening.  A 3-star bore was predicted, it was full moon, and the weather was warm and dry.  I had 6 takers from our club for the idea: Sue, Anna, Mo, Jackie, Janet, Vicky.

By 9.45pm we were a lone group standing on the riverbank at Elmore with a mill pond still River Severn in front of us. We waited. The bore was due at 10.03 but it can vary 10 minutes either side. At 10.08 we became aware of an oncoming sound increasing to a loud crashing noise as the bore passed by us 20 seconds later just below our feet.  (I have the sound recording if you are interested).

The once still water had become a swirling torrent, bearing tree branches and debris.  An unexpected bonus was seeing, pin pricks of light on the far bank in our torchlight – animal eyes!  I wonder what they make of this regular twice daily event of various magnitudes.  For me it was all and more than I had wished for.

And now?………Anyone up for seeing dawn from top of the Welsh Sugar Loaf?!!

Helen Willoughby

Mae rhaid ni yn fod yn gwallgof! 

(We must be mad)

The Rhondda Fach

Even before we set out on this walk, I thought it might be good to write an account of it as walk leader (full set of images taken by Helen Hailes on Images page).


To set the scene, I introduced my description of the walk with the phrase, “Hang on to your hats!” I thought of the route rather like a roller coaster starting with a steep slow climb of 920ft in ¾ of a mile and then swooping in ever decreasing curves back to the start. This walk along the Rhondda Fach is at the furthest limits of our range as a day walk, starting in Pentre, near Treorchy, 51 miles from Rock Street Car Park. It was motivated by me having walked the first section on the walk I did across Wales meandering along the longest straight line you can draw in inhabited Wales (Rhoose Point, to Llanlleiana Head, Anglesey) which I completed in May 2018. I thought this section was a perfect illustration of the experience of walking across the middle of Wales. Well, you certainly needed your hats. Anyone with half an eye on the weather radar can see that this must be the wettest place on our latitude, and we were not disappointed!  On return I received this very interesting email from Alan Vizard.

 

Over to Alan...

 

“I reckon that was the most challenging and difficult 10 mile walk I have done with the club in 20 years and I was surprised so many turned up (13). So, thanks for it and for being our driver and leader. What surprised me was that some people came knowing that some of their gear was not up to it and that Mo also came without her poles

(Note: Alan may have got hold of the wrong end of the stick here, because Mo asked me whether she would need her sticks and I, on balance thought no, of which more, later (sorry Mo!). 

Those who were ill prepared knew that their trousers were not up to the job required and commented by mid-day that they felt uncomfortable. I would have expected them to be a bit better organised.

 

As soon as your details arrived, I was preparing mentally and practically for it, with the result that I felt warm and dry all day so that I had the best chance of getting the most out of the challenge, and although I was completely shattered at the end, I was still warm and dry with a satisfied feeling that I had managed it. It was a great day out. One of the reasons why I can still do these walks is because I want to and that I prepare for them to enable me to manage them better and although age will be a factor in the end, it can be delayed longer than we may think. As you know I always carry 2 walking sticks and I honestly believe that they play a big part in saving joint wear and energy. My understanding is that when we stumble, we use a great deal of energy in recovery and that sticks can help with this, although the extra weight they add does have a downside effect. My aim on every walk is to keep my rucksack weight as low as possible and it is adjusted quite often for that purpose.

 

David said he paid £169 for the coat he was wearing for the first time and I had a new one on that I paid £89 for, he was wet at the end and I was dry so I reckon that the research I put in before buying paid quite good dividends. Also, after each walk, I look back on it to see what could have made it better and then make changes if needed. I also check from time to time on the base layers I use. Have you also noticed that while I spend quite a lot of the walk at the rear that I will vary things and move swiftly from back to front from time to time and I always try to be at the front when we reach the cars?

 

I went for a meal and a beer at the Ship with my nephew after the walk and was in bed by 9,15 but was awake again by 1130 and didn't get any more sleep and I feel fine today so I reckon the afterglow of the walk and the adrenalin it created was the cause of that. It’s in the top 5 of the best walks I have done with the club.

 

Thanks for a memorable walk.”

 

I will take that compliment all day long Alan, so thanks for your email.

 

When I did the walkout for this walk it was a wonderful sunny day, but I realised that although it was around 1500ft high on average, the terrain and state of the tracks meant that it could be carried out in all weathers (except for snow). Planning this walk was not a straight-forward affair. I have come to realise that on upland areas in Wales, just because a right of way is marked on the map doesn’t mean there is a footpath there. Usually there will be tracks, but often it seems as if the Ordnance Survey has never heard of them (although it might be my outdated source of maps). Having been innocent of this when I devised the Brynmawr to Abertillery route, I had a very hard time following non existent paths on that walkout. Nearly all of the Rhondda Fach is `Open access land` and therefore the “Right to Roam” applies and this means walkers can legally walk on any tracks that might be on it. Scarred by my experience of the Abertillery walkout, I carried out a careful survey of the terrain on Google Earth to check that the paths I needed in order to devise a circular walk from my original crossing of this part of Wales were passable. As you may now be aware I have great faith in my ability to navigate using GPS and I backed up my observation of the ground by plotting it on the very detailed Talkytoaster TT50 UK digital map. The walkout was entirely successful this time but threw up a problem which was to be resolved on the actual walk.

 

As Alan implied, the weather on the day was a mixture of extreme drenching windy showers and nearly sunny intervals. On balance, we had more clear periods than wet. But when it was wet it was really wet! I think I can say I had one of the coldest meals of my life having lunch by the side of the Lluest Wen reservoir up at 1300ft on the Rhondda Fach. When I planned it had seemed such a romantic place to take a break. After we climbed the first 900ft in rain the weather cleared and we were treated to wonderful views of hills, valleys and wind turbines in a post-industrial landscape doing its best to return to nature. There was coal on the tracks and the hum of turbine wings swishing across the hills. We were treated to typical Welsh mountain streams and old pine plantations festooned in deep moss as we ambled along well-made upland roads. And then…

 

I gathered everyone together and informed them of the problem we were about to encounter. I think it’s probably the first time our regular Ramblers have been treated to a formal democratic vote on a walk. I got out the map and explained about the sign saying,” PRIVATE NO PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY”, further on down the track. I took a vote as to whether we should ignore it and take a short cut of a mere 100yds on a nice bit of road, or use the right to roam and pick up on the right of way marked on the map circumventing the property. I declared myself neutral on the issue and the vote to obey the letter of the law was carried unanimously.

 

I may have intimated that a right of way marked marked on an Ordnance Survey map does not necessarily mean that a footpath actually exists. I did due diligence after the walkout and had ascertained that there was a walkable cart track across the open access land and that there were indeed stiles where the footpath route crossed fences visible from Google Earth. I think we may have been the first people to walk the right of way for some years because there was no sign of a path. Rhondda Cynon Taff CC had erected stiles and marker posts without which the path would have been a nightmare to navigate but even so, three people fell over on the tufted grass to my knowledge and two of them twice! Luckily, the long grass made for soft landings and no one had got hurt by the time we followed the R.O.W. right through someone’s back garden where Alan fell in love with the guard dog (1ft tall). From here the countryside changed as we followed the Nant Orci (stream) through oak woodland down into Treorci (Treorchy) passing an enormous cemetery and along back-to-back streets to Pentre Church. Wales wasn’t done with us yet because it had reserved one of those downpours so heavy the spray throws up mists over the road for the last quarter of the mile of the walk. Damp stuff, but hopefully a memorable experience. Mae rhaid ni yn fod yn gwallgof!

 

 

Alan Vizard

Bob Prince