Day 4 Llanrhystud to Aberaeron

Day 4.  Sunday 12th October 2014
Llanrhystud to  Aberaeron

Walk distance 11.75km
Height 105m
4 hours
Bus to Llanrhystud from Aberaeron

Total coastal distance walked  11.75
Running coastal total distance  49.75km
Running coastal total height 964m

Both mornings the breakfast at Glyn Garth was great and sustained me throughout the two walks.  I love full breakfasts, and its rare to have such a good one! Louis’s cooking was great.  However today I had to rush it as if I wanted to walk the next session I would have to drive to Aberaeron to catch the only morning Sunday bus back to Llanrhysud. Of course, in a hurry I was thwarted. First by getting lost trying to leave Aberystwyth - there were diversions in place and then second, getting behind a tanker that crawled up the coastal hills.  I parked and rushed to the bus stop and made it with seconds to spare.  By 10AM I was walking at Llanrhystud again. The path immediately turned away from the hideous caravan park and followed the long shingle ridge and past old lime kilns. The sky was blue and the waning moon above the sea looked beautiful.  The first part of the walk was dominated by flat farmland, some ploughed and some with livestock. Each hedgerow or stone wall seemed to be the territory of  a robin, who announced their presence to me. The farmland seemed alive with birds, suggesting not many chemicals are used.  There were flocks of linnets feeding in a brassica field.  A sparrow hawk shot by me, chased by two jackdaws.  I also saw meadow pipits feeding and one solitary swallow flying south, on its migration to Africa.  The warm weather was giving the insects a chance to fly  and there were many wasps feeding on ivy clad farm walls and I even saw a few butterflies, mostly red admirals.
The walking at first was level, running along the top of low cliffs.

C of E recruitment campaign

At Llansantiffraid village I diverted along the beech.  At high tide this would not be possible.  The tide had already nearly reached the cliff so I wasn’t sure if I had time to walk it all. The alternative was a longer inland diversion. As I wasn’t sure where to climb back onto the coastal path I popped up each set of metal steps to see where I was. The farmland here is divided into linear medieval fields, and its not possible to walk across the numerous fence boundaries. The beach provided the quickest route despite the incoming tide.  The sea looked really inviting. It was incredibly calm and the air temperature was warming.   I am sure this would be a safe place to swim in the summer. Half way along the walk, the path gently climbed until before I knew it I was again on very high cliffs.  Bracken and gorse dominated these slopes.
In contrast to the farmland here sea gulls and corvids dominated the air. Jackdaws, crows and ravens all flew around. Out to see I could just make out gannets and occasionally a cormorant would fly by.  The path then dropped down to the village of Aberarth. A pretty village bisected by a small river. I watched  a dipper dipping on a rock protruding from the water.  Cottage industry is thriving here - one house selling honey, another jam. These old fishermen cottages, that were probably peasant hovels, are now desirable places to live. The price tag on one was nearly £300000.

The rest of the walk was again dominated by a long pebble beach which was hard to walk on.  I wonder just how much litter I will see around Britains coast. The natural flotsam and jetsam is interesting, but to see so much plastic is worrying. Where do all the odd shoes come from?

 Aberaeron harbour and village is beautiful. All most every house is painted and the whole place has a happy feel. After a coffee by the harbour it was time to head home after another enjoyable weekend.

Aberaeron