Friday 30th October
Newgale to Little Haven
Walk distance 12.3km
Height 460m est
4 hours
Cycle 10km from Broad Haven to Newgale
Total coastal distance walked 12.3km
Total coastal distance cycled 0
Running coastal total distance 238.05km
Running height climbed 7556m
Arrived after a three and a quarter hour drive
along the M4. Soon after dusk I followed
a sign into a carpark for the YHA and wondered where it was. The building was
well hidden behind the car park. I
checked in and walked into Broad Haven. From the sea front I could see large
white breakers and five ships illuminated at sea. So refreshing to hear the sea. I ate a meal
with a pint of Reverend James at the Galleon Inn.
After a good sleep, the only guest in a 7 bed dormitory I then cycled from the hostel
to Newgale. I followed the coastal
lanes. Where I could see the shore large
waves crashed against the cliffs, as it was high tide. The first few minutes of
cycling were hard, having to climb a very steep hill to Haroldston West at 91
meters. Laden with walking boots and all my walking gear I walked the steepest
bit. There were two more similar hills to climb. But the down hills made up for
it and some was on the level. Closer to Nolton haven I passed large flocks of
starlings feeding on insects in the fields or perched on wires. Over 500 on one
count. At Newgale I had Welsh cakes and coffee in Pebbles cafe and then cycled
back to my start point parking my bike up at Newgale sand car park.
Unlike the
last time I was here, the seasonal RNLI lifeguard hut and volunteers had gone.
While getting changed a friendly council worker, emptying litter bins,
explained the main season was over but that he was back on duty for half term.
He started early so he could get home to watch a match. There were several
vehicles in the car park and a number of people were changing into wet suits.
The wide sands were invisible under the high tide. As I started walking along
the pebble bank I watched some surfers paddling out and waiting patiently for
the right waves. The waves were pretty big. Whilst I watched I did see one ride
a wave briefly.
The path briefly followed the road and then started to
climb the cliffs.
Very soon a large chimney became visible. This is all that remains of Trefane cliff
colliery. Looking harder there are also remains of machinery and spoil
heaps. The site closed down in 1905.
The cliffs along this section
are very crumbly. Rickets head, perhaps of harder rock stands out. In the warm
autumn sunshine I saw a butterfly and passed a couple watching a large toad
hide itself in the heather. The light was wonderful. Surprisingly a number of
flowers were still out, the occasional head of knapweed, ragwort and
thrift. A group of choughs kept calling as well. Rounding a corner Nolton
Haven appeared. Several people were bobbing about in wetsuits. I stopped for a
morning break sitting on a rock on the beach. The beech was busy with a few
families and surfers. But dogs and dog walkers predominantly. The owners identifiable
because of their little black bags of poo.
Others identifiable by the high pitched shouting as they try to retrieve
their dog from playing or fighting with another. I counted ten dogs on
the tiny beech. You’ll realise I am not a pet dog person, although I love
working dogs. In my childhood I spent much time curled up next to warm and
often wet gun dogs. This haven was another important place for exporting
coal from. Hard to imagine these, now tranquil, places being so busy.
Moving on there is large scale land slips
and hollows leading up to Druidston. The views out to sea showed large even
waves rolling in, but countering this from the south the wind blew smaller
waves at right angles. Large ships sat at anchor, the same ones I had seen in
the dark. I had lunch at Druidston Haven beach. It was warm enough for one man
to be shirtless. I did not think it quite that warm. I spent some time looking
at rock pools and watched a top shell slowly moving, creating a path in the
sands.
Disappointingly, after lunch, the wind picked up and it clouded over.
Just before Broad Haven I glimpsed the towers of Milford Haven. They looked
surprisingly close.
Broad Haven is a small place, but it
boasts a shop, pub, bar and cafes. I walked on the sands as the tide was now out
to the pretty village of Little Haven. Here, on the beach, I saw my first
oystercatcher of the day. The cliffs here have amazing folds and there is one
very large arched roof cave. I found a RNLI shop and thought I should support
them after hearing one of their lifeguards was rescued by helicopter after he
attempted to help someone stranded on the cliffs. I had seen and heard the
helicopter the evening before. The lady
in the shop was very kind and talked about the walks near Dale. The short walk
back to Broad Haven over the cliffs passed a sign to Little Haven, it read
Little Haven big sign.
At Broad Haven I had a coffee and bumped into a
chap with his family that I saw near Newgale photographing the bay.
This weekend I tried Nordic walking again.
I realise the poles I have are normal trekking pole, but they seem to make
walking easier. It is a dilemma what to carry on these walks. Today I did not
use my binoculars and carried an extra litre of water undrunk. If I do
not take these tomorrow I can guarantee ill need them.
I then drove to pick up the bike and
returned to the hostel to shower and cook a meal. Whilst cooking I chatted to a
couple who also walked in the area. They were disappointed to hear Marloes
hostel was now shut. Sad the small self-catering hostels seem to close. It was
much nicer the Broad Haven one. They kindly left me lots of chocolate
nibbles.
No comments:
Post a Comment