8 Miles miles walked since starting ... Wake up promptly and quietly pack up our tent, not even stopping for breakfast.  To return to Ogmore beach we decide to drive to Bridgend and catch a bus.  However, as I’m paying for our parking at Bridgend railway station, I spot a taxi and we are soon whizzing down to our start.  Without stopping for breakfast! The hustle and bustle of a sunny Sunday afternoon at Ogmore-by-sea have been transformed into a deserted litter-strewn car park.  The very same gentleman we saw at the beginning of our holiday is piloting his drone to test the waters here.  I’m curious [...]

5.5 Miles miles walked since starting ... We’ve had a lovely evening with family at the Plough and Harrow Inn, just above the campsite, followed by Welsh Cakes, kindly provided by Jack and Lisa. Delicious, thank you very much 😊 This morning we’re up early for Jenny, Dean and Doug to pack up their camper and tent as we take a leisurely breakfast.  We’re staying on for one further night.  Thankfully there’s no faffing with getting to our start point as we are walking from the campsite.  It is, however, a 20-minute walk back to the bottom of the valley where we left off last [...]

12.5 Miles miles walked since starting ... Having set up our bell tent at the Heritage Coast campsite in the late sunshine last night we then sheltered from a short downpour.  By the time the sun came out over the sea in the distance, Jenny, Dean, Doug and Raffie the dog had arrived and we enjoyed a well-earned rest and supper. Us campers are up early, packing a picnic then being dropped off at Rhoose train station to retrace our steps the short distance back to the coast path. We stop for a group photo before embarking up the steps and take the path between [...]

5 Miles miles walked since starting ... Yippee, we’re off on our holidays to Wales again.  It seems a long and winding journey but finally we’re parking up in the huge harbour car park in Barry.  It couldn’t feel less like a harbour to be honest – not a boat in sight. Having experienced the heatwave and drought of summer 2026 I’m actually super pleased to don my new yellow Helly Hansen raincoat.  A purchase, maybe two months ago, and it’s hung with it’s labels still attached in the wardrobe ever since. We pay for parking then head off along the pavement; the mud and [...]

2 Miles miles walked since starting ... We’ve packed up our belongings from our holiday home, said goodbye to Victoria and family and driven back down to Barry Island for one last walk before returning home. Starting at Barry Island station we set off on the marked footpath round the island.  Walking alongside at first new homes then Victorian terraces there are fab views inland off the rows of houses, across and up the street.  One of those is Trinity Street which we visited a couple of days ago – had to have pictures taken outside Gwen, Doris and Uncle Brynn’s house! As [...]

10 Miles miles walked since starting ... Due to the heatwave, I’ve suggested on an early start, and when I say early, I mean early, this photo of the sunrise was taken just after 6am.  Haha wonder why we are never up and out walking at this time of the day - the low sunlight over the water and the pale blue sky scudded with wispy clouds is mesmerising. It feels like Penarth promenade would feel this sedate at any time of the day, not just six in the morning, with its parade of benches, streetlights and strings of festoon lights.  The colourfully painted buildings [...]

1.5 Miles miles walked since starting ... Gosh, it’s another extremely hot day in Wales, making it a somewhat challenging, although short, walk.  We have two of our daughters and two of our grandchildren for company, and a scooter.  So, after a meander along the bay to the play area and the greedy crocodile we climb the short hill along the road past the Custom House. A gardener watering the stunning flower displays kindly waters Zara too!  The road swings to the left and we opt not to follow the signposted route for the coast path, instead heading past a school and a church direct [...]

1.5 Miles miles walked since starting ... The best way to see out the longest day of the year is surely to head to the coast to watch the sun set.  So, after a busy day with family, on Barry Island, three head to Penarth Marina to walk to Cardiff Bay and back. We follow the landscaped pathway across the barrage to the bay then wend our way back.  Mermaid Quay is somewhat busier and more boisterous on a midsummer Saturday evening during a heat wave than it was on a wet windy day March. Maybe too busy and clamorous for me, ha-ha. [...]

12 Miles miles walked since starting ... After a second night in the lighthouse cottage perched on the sea wall, we wake to the sunrise over the estuary and the sound of a curlew calling.  We’re tempted to sit outside but the weather has other ideas as hailstones start to drop from the darkening clouds.  Thankfully by the time we’ve packed our bags and loaded them into the car the sun has re-appeared.  We are setting off on foot from here and coming back later to collect the car. At first the coast path follows the route of a water course just below the seawall. [...]

5 Miles miles walked since starting ... We’ve slept well in a four-poster bed in the iconic dwelling sitting on the sea wall beside, and part of, the West Usk lighthouse.  The owner, and as it turns out, builder of the wood clad building, welcomed us warmly last night. We’ve worked out the best way to get back to Newport for todays walk is a taxi.  We decide not to ask him to drive the .7-mile pot-holed farmers track to the lighthouse so walk up (bizarrely, following the owner’s son in a Rolls Royce car) to the main road.  It’s a short drive and just £11.20 to [...]