Day 8 Gwbert to Poppit Sands

Day 8
Friday 27th March
Gwbert to Poppit Sands

Walk distance 4.7km
Cycle 4.8km
Height 54m
2 hours
Bus from Poppit Sands to Cardigan

Total coastal distance walked  4.7km
Total coastal distance cycled 4.8km

Running coastal total distance  106.25km
Running height climbed  2773m


Drove via Rhayader to Cardigan and parked at Poppit Sands at the end of the Teifi Estuary. The recently surfaced and enormous car park suggested that this is a very popular spot in season. After a snack on the beech I waited at a very smart brand new timber bus shelter for the bus, aptly named  the Poppit rocket.

 It arrived promptly and I took it to the centre of Cardigan and hopped off by the castle walls. Within a minute of crossing the bridge over the Teifi and leaving the small town I was walking alongside primrose and celandine lined streams and paths. I followed the coastal path across very wet fields to the large village of St. Dogmaels. The Abbey museum was open so I explored it before wandering amongst the ruins. How many people are disappointed by the interactive displays in a museum when they don’t work?  When there is a button to press, I press it. Nothing happens and I press again, and again, and again…In the museum were ancient Christian stone crosses, undoubtedly the most striking objects on display.  The Abbey fell into disuse 4 years after the dissolution of the monasteries. Robbed of stone for houses and a sixteenth century church little survived. The



crypt, now roofless, with a few remnant columns was the most interesting. After a coffee in the cafe I walked through the picturesque village and by its pond decorated with ducks. Daffodils colored many gardens.


At St. Dogmaels the Pembrokeshire Coastal path officially starts, marked by a small and rather non descript plinth. At this point I must have just passed my 100km mark.  The views down the woodland cloaked winding estuary were impressive.

From the village the path went close to the river and then rejoined the tarmac lane to Poppit sands. As the road drew closer to the waters edge I could see and here curlew and oystercatcher very close up.

One plant I passed I would have to look up. A large yellow green umbellifer in flower. I thought Alexander’s. Later I confirmed this and its home range is Macedonia.  Introduced to Britain as a herb apparently all of it is edible.

Once back at the car I drove to the Cliff hotel at Gwbert. After a brief nap I cycled the north side of the estuary completing the only bit of the Ceredigion coast line section I had not walked.
In Cardigan I ate stir fry at the Chinese I had enjoyed so much on the previous visit.  The bar at the hotel was so packed I did not make use of it, and instead settled down to watch films in a rather luxurious bed room.  The views across the estuary from the window were fine, looking directly across to Poppit Sands.