145. Ogmore to Porthcawl

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 as to his readings seeing as what I read yesterday.

But I’m even more curious as to whether we can wade across the water estuary to the golden sandy beach of Traeth yr Afon. We decide against it and start the arduous long walk up the estuary following the coast path signs.

We’re mostly walking through sandy dunes, my feet getting dirtier and dirtier as I’m wearing sandals.  Across the estuary, below the dunes and the spinning wind generators a single file row of horses are being ridden towards the beach. It takes a whole hour to meander up the estuary, weaving either side of the road and eventually finding a bridge. The tiny hamlet of Merthyr Mawr is quiet and picturesque with thatched cottages and a church.

I’m guessing that peace will be broken when the festival-goers arrive for the “Between the Trees” event next weekend.  Regimented rows of pristine white bell tents are set up and ready. We miss-read the signs and blindly walk into the venue thinking they might serve breakfast.  But luckily we have stuffed our rucksacks with apples, nuts and water to sustain us until we arrive at Porthcawl.

The small road leads us to the Merthyr Mawr Warren (National Nature Reserve) car park where signs lead us in various directions over the warren.  We continue on the coast path finally arriving, two hours later, just opposite the Ogmore-by-Sea car park.

I’m not sure what to think when I see a couple and their dog wading across the river?

The sun is beating down on us, my feet are filthy, so its time to release them and splash through the tiny waves toward Porthcawl. It looks like we can just continue all the way but I hadn’t factored in the area marked Black Rocks on the OS map.  I dry my feet, don my sandals and head back to the dunes which lead to the outskirts of Porthcawl.

I also hadn’t factored in the huge sprawling holiday park on the map.  I must read the map better.  The time for breakfast has now passed and we are desperately hunting a nice venue for lunch.  It’s busy with holiday makers dashing to the beach and walking their dogs.  I have to admit the yellow painted container cantilevered over another container for the lifeguard station is a piece of art.

We weave across more dunes and through the edge of an amusement park to the marina.

Thankfully perched on the edge of the marina is a newish development containing restaurants – we opt for the “Front Room” where I enjoy a delicious salmon salad, Nigel a pizza.

We’re travelling back home this afternoon so take a stroll down the pier before continuing just a short way round the coast to the main town where we grab an ice cream then board a bus back to Bridgend.  It’s sadly time to head back home for work tomorrow.