The actual Gower: or what needs to done when your walking buddy has to self isolate

Anyway, it was down to me to do the actual walk. I had been looking forward to this for months. So I would just get on and do it, right? Well, not quite that simple. The thing with the Gower peninsula is the lack of buses. You can linear walk it if you can camp or find somewhere to stay en route, but with Covid restrictions we couldn‘t. So bunny hopping - having two cars to park at either end of the walk - was essential. Ok, so who was my bunny hopping partner going to be? We had a number of people wanting to meet up and walk with us which was really lovely, but it took a little while to organise who and when I could bunny hop with. I am so sorry that I couldn’t organise for everyone but I am very grateful for Sian who stepped in to cover three of the days with me, and to my ever-patient husband and also my lovely son Sam of Aberdyfi to Machynlleth fame who volunteered to walk and bunny hop. An entertaining sight that would be, having watched Nick and Sam attempt to skip. Hilarious, is all I will say on that matter.

A problem also arose when Sam needed to borrow our second car (fairly crappy Citroen C1) because his car looked like it was on its last legs, so if we loaned it to him Nick would be carless. Not the end of the world, as he is on holidays, except that for one of two days he would definitely need a car. i can’t go into more details but it was so stressful that even Sam got a bit stressed. And I’ll tell you about Nick later.

Day 1: Loughor to Llanrhidian 9.95 miles or 11 miles according to Nick‘s deluded Fitbit.

We made the decision to begin the walk, Nick and I, with him following me along the motorway and on to Llanrhidian . Nick couldn’t find the sat as as our house is in greater disarray than usual and he couldn’t remember where he had put it. I knew where I was going. We set off and I lost him/he lost me because he drives TOO BLOODY SLOWLY !

To be fair he found me again in the end, though his stress levels were very high! However, we had a really lovely afternoon's walk. It was a warm, sunny day and the path was almost totally flat and scenic.

Estuary and salt marsh, pretty villages and an excellent dinner at the end at the Welcome Inn, Llanrhidian.

Day 2: Llanrhidian to Rhossili

Today I was accompanied by Sian, a seasoned walker and all round good egg who I met at the car park in Rhossili, ready for one of us to drive to the start of the walk at Llanrhidian. I hate paying to park, and I really hate ticket machines. This one only takes £1 coins. The bag of coins I had accumulated for this purpose turned out to be inour other car, back home with Nick. So, pay by phone kicked in. And so did the rain. I was so flustered by the end of it that I left my phone on the back shelf if the C1, in Rhossili. I realised this when we arrive d at Llanrhidian and wanted to take a selfie at the start of the walk. So we got back into Sian's van, drove back to Rhossili, retrieved my phone and then drove back to Llanrhidian. Phonegate. Sian was saintly, is all I can say...

The walk itself was utterly wonderful with a variety of terrains and constantly beautiful views that made us stop in wonder. We were able to paddle in the sea, walk through woods, partake of ice cream and brownies, get lost, chat and gasp at the magnificence all in some of the most beautiful surroundings of all of the WCP.

Day 3: Rhossili to Oxwich

Day 3 began with no mishaps, thank goodness. It was another long walk, with some uppy-downy and again with a wonderful variety of walking. I felt full of energy and we motored on through a couple of heavy showers. The walk was wonderful, and passed through Port-Eynon, which I had never visited before and which is another lovely bay. The skies cleared and the sun shone for us. Oxwich Bay, and a little further on opened out and were glorious.

Day 4: Oxwich to Caswell

Feeling sluggish after 2 14 mile-or-so days, this was a tough one for me. The perfect sands of Oxwich led us up steep sand dunes and lots of uppy-downy walking into secluded bays that were very beautiful and very taxing! Three Cliffs Bay Hove into view. I hate the excessively overused word 'iconic' but if I were to use it I would apply it to Three Cliffs. We made it to Southgate and refuelled with delish cake then set off for the second half of the walk. It was simply gorgeous, though I was extremely tired and even had an uncharacteristic crisis of confidence about scrambling down a rocky path. We reached the sands of Caswell down a narrow, stony and slippery stairway and I was mighty relieved!

Day 5: Caswell Bay to Swansea Marina

Helen arrived on Saturday afternoon excited to be covid-free and free from the daily circuits of her garden. The actual outdoors awaited!

We got to Caswell early as I knew the car park filled up quickly.

There was a steady flow of locals running and walking their dogs. We took our time, bench-hopping and chatting and passed along the walkway at Langland Bay as the cafés we're opening up. We admired the rows of green and white beach huts and continued what felt like an easy stroll in comparison to the previous couple of days walking. Stopping for some coffee we got chatting to a woman out for her regular walk and discussed the beauties the Welsh coast and agreed that you don't really need to go anywhere else in the world!

Limeslade Bay meant another pitstop, this time for bacon rolls, and a highly entertaining chat with a few local chaps outside Forte's cafe with its original sign from the 50s painted in bright blue.

On we went to the Mumbles with its pier and interesting shops and eateries.

By the time we reached the outskirts of the Mumbles it was time for some ice cream. I had just remarked to Helen 'I wonder if I will see anyone I kno As it happened we saw four past pupils if mine, each one delightful.

We paddled in the sea, walked on past the Patti Pavilion and the Brangwyn Hall, and stopped at the marina in SA1 for some tea and Biscoff cheesecake - excellent choice.

All in all it was a great reunion and a happy ending to my part of our Gower adventure. Once again thanks to everyone who helped us walk the distance and contributed to our fundraising and I am happy to say that I am now able to wind Helen up about having completed the whole section 😎