2025 Gower Pilgrimage - Day 6

Friday 12 September 2025

Cue for a song! "Oh we do like to be beside the seaside"

Day 6 - What a view

Wow! What a lovely day today. 

Sheltering from a spit of rain

We have been blessed with loads of sun & only the very occasional light, shower that pretended to be rain. 

In contrast to yesterday today's weather has been positively balmy!

Also, in contrast to yesterday, we had a really pleasant, enjoyable (almost hitch free) day. 

I won't mention about trying to send Ali right instead of left at one point. 

Left was the path, right was not and would have got into a bit of a mess!!

We had a good, comparatively easy day's walking over fields, burrows, sandy beaches and through stands of Scots Pines as we walked most of the day on the Wales Coast Path. 

On the windward leg of the walk we almost had the miles of beach to ourselves. 

It started with acres of sand fringed by the Marram grass of the dunes. 

This turned into sand littered with pebbles near the dunes and bounded by the sand nearer the sea. 

As we reached the tip of Whiteford Sands, at the point, the dunes towered over the rocks and crushed shells of the point itself. 

In the estuary mouth, just off the point we could see the remains of Whiteford Point Lighthouse, the only surviving wave-swept, cast-iron lighthouse within the UK, and one of only two worldwide!

After yesterday's debacle it made a really pleasant change to feel the warmth of the sun and to really enjoy a day with beautiful views and the peace and solitude of coastal dunes and salt marshes.

Spirits refreshed we returned home to enjoy sausage rolls freshly baked by Denise (made by my sister-in-law, Julia Espey. Thank you so much!) Yummy!!

Only two more days to go and the least said about the weather forecast the better!!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has commented here or on Facebook .

If you do leave comments here please say who you are as it doesn't automatically add your name!!

An even larger THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to my fundraising which has reached £3K but is a tad short of my Target amount.

If you would like to donate please follow the link: donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/margs-gower-100-mile-walk-2025

2025 Gower Pilgrimage - Day 5

Thursday 11th September

Anyone for a swim?

Today was an excellent day with a slightly unexpected finish. 

We really got a TAB on for most of the day averaging about 2.5mph over good but varied terrain after Denise dropped us off at Cilonnen. 

She took the obligatory start photo while we larked about pretending it was so hot because it was actually dry!! Needless to say, pride definitely came before a fall. 

We hadn't gone more than a few minutes before the heavens opened and the rain came down in stair-rods. 

We tried to shelter against a high hedge (& took a video) but it really didn't offer much shelter against the lashing rain.

Weather was bonkers all day. Mostly sunshine but with some truly biblical heavy downpours.

By lunchtime we had broken the back of the day's walk having covered 7.19 miles at a really good pace. 

We stopped at the same place as yesterday for our lunch with a view. Penmaen (& the Three Cliffs Caravan/Camp site) has amazing views over Three Cliffs Bay. 

We shared our lunch-stop with a young lady on a bicycle who must have been touring & camping as she went. 

Her bike was laden with packs front and back and she seemed to struggle to wheel it back towards the roadway. 

She was pint-sized so we really wondered how on earth she would manage to pedal the thing. But pedal she did, passing smoothly and confidently along the roadway in front of us.

After Lunch we pressed onwards  with only 4 or 5 miles to go. Before going down the path that I had laboured up yesterday before lunch I stopped outside the campsite shop to re-fill my waterbottle and Ali headed into the shop to kindly buy us both a bar of chocolate!! Yummy! Thank you Ali xx. 

Of course, having gone down we had to come back up again. We took a short cut which involved scrambling up a very steep, narrow path with 3 separate sets of very, very steep steps! So steep we ended up crawling up on our hands & knees!!

Still, it got us onto the lane that we wanted, cut of half a mile or so of walking & swapped a short, very steep climb with a longer but still steep climb!

We were going really well despite the occasional heavy downpour. 

We made use of a bus shelter to get back into our waterproofs when the sky was threatening rain again. Just as well as we suffered another drenching . . . . & then the sun came out again and dried us up. 

I phoned Denise to tell her that we'd be arriving at the drop-off/pick-up point in about an hour as we only had a couple of miles or less to go. 

We were getting quite cocky. So cocky that it all went horribly wrong!! 

We got to within about a mile of the finish and the pathway just disappeared in a tangle of trees, bushes and brambles. 

There was a lovely gate with a clearly marked footpath sign but just a jungle behind it. 

After much heaving and  pulling we managed to free the gate from it's bramble clutches and fought our way through the said jungle. we managed to find a route, of sorts, through a copse of bushes and came out the other side to be faced with chest-high grasses, reeds, irises and other marshy vegetation interspersed with copses of scrubby trees. Of the pathway there was no sign. We tried to follow the route as shown on my OS App but it was impossible. 

Eventually we found ourselves in another marshy copse and came to a full stop with a bit of a river blocking our path. Neither of us wanted to turn back and fight through the jungle again so there was nothing for it but we  had to wade more than ankle deep down the rushing stream & then clamber up a muddy 30 foot cliff to get out and find the path again. Not ideal but we regained the path. 

We make a good team as neither of us was prepared to give up on it. Go us!! 

The weird thing was that on this side there were brand new kissing gate at every field boundary: the paths were still rubbish but the gates were very pretty!!

We got back to the road and our pickup point about an hour later than we'd hoped. 

Denise had been tracking us via our shared Google Maps so wasn't too worried. 

She drove us home  for a hot shower and change of clothes. 

I do hope that our boots dry out ready for tomorrow's adventure around Whiteford Sands! 

If not the forecast says its going to be sunny!! So shorts and trainers might be on the cards!!

Ha! Ha!

2025 Gower Pilgrimage - Day 4

Wednesday 10th September

Is that rain I see?

Well, it is Wales, what do you expect? This morning, wisely as it turns out, Ali & I donned our full wet weather gear. 

Waterproofs a must today

The rain was fairly heavy by the time Denise drove us to Bishopston where today's walk started. The start looked a little scary as we had to negotiate a very fast flowing via a ford!! It looked like wet boots to start until Ali noticed a rather nice footbridge way over to our right. I'm not sure that a 100 foot climb up a very steep, twisty lane was the ideal start but we made it Ali gliding up beside me as I puffed and panted to the top. Once e'd crossed the busy main road the going was much easier along a twisting minor road that was surprisingly busy. Another main road to cross and a stile to climb and then we were onto a much more pleasant wooded lane. The lane dipped down to the bottom of a small valley with what we assumed had been a gentle babbling stream a few days ago but was now a raging torrent. This time there was no handy footbridge. Nothing for it but we had to wade across. Fortunately both of us were wearing boots which proved up to the job. Of course, once you've climbed down you have to climb up again. So we climbed up what seemed to be a bit of a drovers track. Part the way up was a huge fallen tree across the path but, being a drovers track, the sides were steep so there was plenty of room to walk under it. Once at the top, you've guessed it, we started back down again. The track became steeper sided, quite narrow and boulder strewn with a bit of a stream running down it thanks to the almost incessant rain over the last few days. Quite tricky to negotiate with varifocal glasses which were steaming up. We arrived in the little hamlet of Ilston and the church of St Illtyd where we discover a kneeler dedicated to the QAIMNS the pre-cursor of the QA's. 

QAIMNS

From there it was all downhill, literally, as we took a delightful pathway beside a fairly hefty, muddy river. At one point I caught the toe of my boot on a fallen branch and went a A-over-T!! Again!! No photo this time! Further on we came to another fallen tree but people had made a pathway round it. There were a lot of fallen trees although it had not been massively windy. We crossed and recrossed the river on substantial footbridges that were well above water level. I suspect that the water level gets even higher. Not long before we were due to cross a main road again we came across a rather large, very recently fallen willow tree blocking our way. There was no way round so we had to fight our way through and over its fallen limbs. Once negotiated the rest of the way was fairly trouble free.

Rain stopped so we could see the sea

Our next port of call (after more ups & downs) was the church of St John the Baptist at Penmaen, our lunch stop. Just as well because I was definitely flagging by this time. Sadly the church was locked and there was no seating in the porch. We did find a rather handy bench in a garden area overlooking the sea at Three Cliffs Bay. Fortunately the rain stopped long enough for us to eat our sandwiches & munch a few Haribos. Then it was off to visit the penultimate church at Nicholston, St Nicholas'.

We'd skirted the moorland behind Penmaen and Nicholston and dropped down to the busy main road. Fortunately there was a gate opposite where we assumed we could walk parallel to the road before entering the churchyard. The churchyard wall was substantial and looked comparatively new or restored. Could we find and entry point? Nope! Nothing. We certainly could go back & walk the road, it was too busy & dangerous.

Ali showing me how it's done!

Ali instructed me in the art of wall climbing! She shinned up & over & then it was my turn. I scrambled laboriously, in an ungainly fashion, (feeling rather like a beached whale!) The video (on Facebook) is a definite Ooops Moment. Once in the churchyard we made our way to the porch only to find the church locked and no stamp to be found. There was seating either side which we gratefully used. Whilst sitting we noticed swallows swooping around; one went to fly into the porch, saw us, and veered off. We heard some chirruping and thought it might be sparrows in the trees. It eventually dawned on us that the sound probably came form inside the porch, possibly from swallow chicks in the rafters or door-frame carvings. We beat a retreat and stood back a while to watch as the parent bird swooped around a bit more before flying inside the porch to tend their young. We exited the churchyard via a roadside gate and made our way along the road to another, closer lane back up towards the moors. 

All we had to do now was climb up a prolonged incline till we reached the top of the ridge where we joined the Gower Way as it headed westwards towards Reynoldson and out final church of St George. The pilgrimage part of our Gower Walk was nearly over. We had visited some lovely, quaint little churches all hunkered down hiding from the elements. We had, in our own way, appreciated the dedication and labour of the earlier Christians who had founded each one. We had really enjoyed their history and peaceful surroundings. We felt at one with our maker.

Sadly our maker had a final surprise up her sleeve! as we climbed onto the ridgeway path the wind grew stronger and the rain got a little heavier. For at least a mile and probably more the rain lashed down even heavier than it had done in Pembrokeshire last year in a Force 9 Storm. We battled the torrential downpour, water streaming off our waterproofs in rivulets. Mixed in with the rain was a little hail, just to add to the fun!! As we dropped down towards Reynoldson village the rain and wind subsided and there before us was blue sky!! I think somone upstairs was having a laugh!!

Last church of the day was St George's. The church was open and we entered and found memorials to the fallen of both World Wars. There were two Benson's, a Lieut Col and a Captain, both killed in 1914. Father & son or brother's we don't know. The Lieut Col, although originally " buried" in France was brought back and re-buried in the churchyard in what is now a CWG.

Home at last and the sun finally shines!

Pilgrimage over, around 50 miles plus the connecting route joining St Gwynour's to St Teilo's. 

Now we need to complete 3 circular walks and 1 linear walk to get close to the 100 miles. 

And the weather is looking . . . . just as awful as it has to date. 

In fact, the last day is threatening thunder clouds and lightening; very, very, frightening!!

2025 Gower Pilgrimage - Day 3

Day 3 - Let the Train Take the Strain!

Tuesday 9th September (Coz I'm loosing track of the days!)

Today, as usual, started off dry, windy but warm-ish. We knew it wasn't going to last but Hey-Ho. Both Ali & I were looking forward to today with an excited, slightly apprehensive sense of impending doom!! 

Part of Today's Route

When planning this Gower walk I had to find a way of connecting both ends of the Pilgrimage section. 

 

Whilst planning I noticed a cycle-path from Gowerton to the Mumbles, The Clyne Valley Cycleway. 

 

On researching a bit further I discovered the track made use of an old railway line from Gowerton down to Blackpill on Swansea Bay. 

 

The thought went through my head that railway line equals gentle gradient. 

 

Gradient from inland to sea probably means gentle downhill. 

 

That would make for easier walking! 

The next thought that popped into my head was after a conversation with friends from our WRAC Walking Group. Elaine and Phyl mentioned that, as well as their "proper" bikes they had two folding Brompton bikes: "folding," as in, would fit in the boot of a car! 

Now, normally I hate bikes with a passion. I find cycling so painful on my rear-end that no amount of persuasion can get me on one! 

However!! 

Light bulb moment!! 

Downhill, virtually free-wheeling, little or no cycling involved. 

It would certainly be easier on the poor tootsies than trudging down the same route on foot. 

I put the idea to Ali and she seemed as warily up for it as I was! 

Well, how difficult could riding a bike be? For me the last time I had ridden a bike (briefly) was about 40 years ago. The last time I'd ridden a bike seriously was when I was in secondary school about 60 years ago!! 

A fortnight ago we got the bikes from Phyl and Elaine. The first hurdle was unfolding and folding them. YouTube to the rescue. That was the easy bit. Next came actually riding the thing! The wheels are about the size of a toddlers training bike but, unlike a toddler, I have a much higher centre of gravity on said bike which makes balancing interesting. Denise tried to take a video of me practicing in the back garden and I'm afraid to say that my language was not complimentary. I think Ali had similar joys on her bike. 

Nevertheless we both persevered and decided that, come the day we'd see how we felt and probably, possibly give it a go.

That day arrived. 

Today!! 

We both were of the opinion that this could well end in disaster . . . . but also might be quite a laugh. 

I think Denise felt that, a) we were totally bonkers (we agreed), b) that she would get a phone call saying either come back & pick us up or that we'd crashed!! 

Things didn't get off to a good start when neither of us could remember how to unfold the bikes!!! 

Ali was able to get a phone signal to ask the Internet and we discovered what we were doing wrong and successfully set the bikes up. 

Waterproofs and crash-hats were donned, we tried a few circuits of the car park before we decided to brave it. 

Denise waved us off as we wobbled past her. 

Mumbles next stop!

Wow! What an enjoyable start to the day. 

The track is usually flat, smooth tarmac and, once we'd set off and gingerly picked up a little speed, we were able to glide easily down the anticipated gentle slope towards Blackpill Car Park where we were due to meet Denise again to relinquish our bikes for the next bit. 

I was in front as we rolled onward. Every time I tried to turn my head round to chat to Ali I tended to wobble & swerve a bit so she banned me from doing that!! 

If ever you are round that neck of the woods it's a marvelous ride and there are walks off the track, picnic tables galore. There's a coffee shack (it was closed!) beautiful woodland either side. Streams and fishing pools beside the track. The sun was shining (well, trying to) ; it really was a glorious start to the day and put huge smiles on both our faces.

Yes, I know it wasn't walking but it also wasn't really part of the Pilgrimage, it was just connecting both ends. More importantly it was immense fun! And, bonus points, no bums were damaged in the process.

We arrived at Blackpill Car Park a lot sooner than we had anticipated. 

Fortunately Denise had also had an uneventful car journey to greet us. 

Her biggest problem was spending quarter of an hour trying to work out how to get the ticket machine to work with her in English and not Welsh!! 

We folded and packed away our bikes (mine proved problematic, a bit like its rider!!). 

We swapped our kit for walking attire and set off along the seafront towards Oystermouth and Mumbles lighthouse. 

In the car park Ali had remarked on how the wind had dropped. When we got on the seafront we realised that had been untrue; it was blowing fit to bust. She's definitely sacked from the weather forecaster position.

No sooner had we got rid of the bikes than it not only got very windy but, before very long, it started to rain. The weather has been really odd the last few days. Sunshine then light rain, heavy downpours, sunshine again. All the while its been fairly warm and humid meaning that every time you put a waterproof on it made you feel hot & sweaty, especially when any climbing had to be done. Our next port of call was St Teilo's church inland  in Bishopston which, of course meant a fair bit of climbing. 

Due to the very blustery conditions we didn't think it too sensible to use the coastal path so we chose a gentler route through housing and up onto the start of Clyne Common. 

The common was a fairly rough, grassy area with plenty of bracken, heather, shrubs and a little gorse. The route we wanted off the common was not marked as a pathway so we had to find our way through the scrub land. We took it in turns leading along narrow animal tracks. 

Unfortunately Ali was in the lead when we came across the only patch of gorse. There was no way round so she chose to step over . . . . with her shorter legs that wasn't the best idea as she ended up astride two bits of gorse. Very painful!! Having seen her dilemma I chose to step on & squash down the offending bit of gorse on the right meaning I could safely step over & around the bit on the left. Alison Brown - my hero - saving me from a painful experience!!

Journey's End & still smiling!!

The remainder of the walk was unremarkable (apart from the on and off rain). Most of it was on grassy lanes, quiet residential roads and fenced pathways beside schools. My map reading went a bit awry at the end when we were so euphoric that we'd nearly reached journey's end that I didn't look closely enough. We ended up having to backtrack a bit to find the entrance into the churchyard. 

I nearly did another Bambi trick trying to take a photo of the unusual bell housing on top of the tower. I was under strict instructions for the next 100 yards or so to hold the handrail!! Ali does look after me: I think it's her bit for charity - "Help the Aged"!!

So, Last day of the actual Pilgrimage tomorrow; it'll then be about halfway through my 100 Miles. As I sit here writing this it is absolutely pouring down outside so I'm glad that, thanks to the bike ride, we finished a bit earlier today! I wonder what the weather has in store for us tomorrow?

2025 Gower Pilgrimage - Day 2

 St Cenydd’s, Llangennith to St. Gwynour’s Church, Llanyrnewydd, Penclawdd

What a lovely morning to start our second day's walking. According to our resident Weather Forecaster (Ali) we were going to have sunshine all day. She had predicted the rainfall that we had yesterday but also had predicted that it would stop at around 2pm. It didn't! Still, she was bound to be right today.

The 1st church (we'd "done" the church in Rhossili yesterday) was St Cenydd's at Llangennith. It is supposedly named after Cenydd who was abandoned as a baby and raised by seagulls and angels!!

From there the route was supposed to climb gently a bit then skirt the hills to take us down again to 2nd church at Llanmadoc. The views across Rhossili Bay were spectacular, the path was a bit steeper than I was hoping and it seemed to go on for ever.

On the downward slope, as we headed for church number 2 we came across half a dozen "wild" ponies with their foals. The foals were sprawled, fast asleep, across the pathway blocking it very successfully. We stopped, encouraged, clicked our teeth/mouths, gently clapped our hands, asked the mums encouragingly to move them on. All to no avail, the foals slept peacefully on. There was nothing we could do without upsetting them all which could well have turned nasty.

After about 1/4 of an hour of encouragement all of the mums and most of the foals had moved aside out of our way. All except 1 inquisitive black foal who became very interested in me (I was in front of Ali!) He (yes, it was a boy!) came closer as I purposely turned my back to discourage him. He nudged my arm. I ignored him. He nuzzled again. I ignored him again so he nibbled me!! I didn't appreciate that and told him so! With rather sterner "encouragement" we moved him away and he reluctantly let us pass!! What is it with me and animals?

The churches that we have encountered have all been rather special. Steeped in history with their beginnings in and around the 6th century many of them were rebuilt in the C12-C14 and later rebuilt in Victorian times.

At each church there is a stamp that pilgrims use as proof that they've visited the church. Ali was IC Stamps and has made an excellent job so far. each church has its own stamp marking out some feature or sign peculiar to it's area.

On the way between Llanmadoc and Cheriton I decided that I needed a rest! Not intentionally - my foot twisted in a small dip in the ground and, as I was heading slightly downhill, I tumbled forward ending up reclining on my side as Ali kindly took a photo!!

At St Andrew's church, Cheriton we met a retired priest called Roger who chatted to us about the history of this church in particular and the history of the Church in Wales in general. He was a lovely man and we felt a little guilty disturbing his prayers. We left as quietly as we could, only my squeaky boots ruining our departure.

From Cheriton to Llanrhidian we followed the Wales Coastal Path and found the going quite hard with some difficult, stony, slippery, trip-hazards, muddy patches. We were hoping to reach St Rhydian & St Illtyd's church for lunch but our stomach's begged food before that. It had been raining off and on fairly lightly since we'd left Cheriton so waterproofs had been donned. We found a few mossy boulders under some trees beside the path so decided that would be a good place to stop. We settled ourselves on the boulders and unpacked our lunch. With that it started to rain. In fact it started to pour with rain. Oh heck! It started to hail down on us!! There was nothing we could do other than get further under the trees and continue munching on our sandwiches whilst the hail stopped but the rain continued and the drops from the branches plopped on our heads, our sandwiches and our back-packs!

After a hasty, soggy lunch we continued on our merry way to St Rhydian's & St Illtyd's. The entrance to the churchyard was a little difficult to find but we arrived at the porch expecting to find a sheltered seat only to find the seating either side was full of statues and storage. The door to the church looked closed but, to our surprise, was not. We entered and found a large, slightly impersonal church. It's saving grace was a pew behind the font bathed in sunshine and with plenty of leg-room in front. We'd had lunch but a warm, dry place to sit, munch Haribo's and send an email or two to Paula was too good to miss.

From there to the next couple of churches was a comparative breeze along a flat, tarmacked marsh road. We really managed to get a wiggle on.

Only two down-sides; firstly the climb from the marshland towards the finish, we climbed 90 plus meters overall but 40 or so of those in the 1st half mile, almost vertically!

Secondly, when we finally reached St Gwynour's at Penclawdd we couldn't find the stamp and the church was locked!

Another about 14 miles completed. Ali & I are still talking & smiling! Denise is still amazing: our chauffeuse, cook, housekeeper and referee!! Let's hope the weather is a little more predictable tomorrow. Ha! Ha! Ali is sacked as Weather forecaster!!

2025 Gower Pilgrimage - Day 1

Day 1 - Rain Didn't Stop Play!

Sorry its a bit late! Normal service will be resumed tomorrow!!

We're off!

We set off in brilliant sunshine and our hopes were high for a good, dry day's walking. 

First church on our Pilgrimage was St Andrew's, Penrice a church which Ali knew well having holiday'd there for the past 10 years or so. From there it was mostly downhill to Oxwich Bay and the 6th Century church of St Illtyd. When we arrived it was closed so we wandered around the outside to admire the earliest part, the Chancel. It was then that Ali noticed the lettering on the nearby gravestone, "Lieut Edna Maria Morgan, WRAC." As we wandered back to leave the church yard we met a lady and she allowed us to enter the now opened church to admire the inside in all its glory.  

It was a bit of a slog up and out of Oxwich and then towards Oxwich Green. We decided to avoid a lot of the coastal path as the weather was definitely looking threatening. So we took to the lanes and paths towards Horton and onwards to Port Eynon. On our route we came across a rather unkempt farm and after that came an extremely badly maintained narrow path with nettles & brambles pushing in from the sides. Yes, we were wearing shorts. Yes I did get stung. Ouch!!

Lifeboatmen Memorial

As we approached Port Eynon it started to spit occasionally. We were heading for St Cattwg's church. Outside was a memorial white marble statue of a lifeboatman which was erected by public subscription to commemorate the three crew members who died but also to give thanks for the ten survivors of the Port Eynon lifeboat disaster on 1st January 1916.        

It started to rain!

No sooner had we taken a photo than it started to rain a little heavier so we ran to the porch of the church where we intended to have our lunch. As we sat to eat the heavens opened and a truly biblical deluge descended on Port Eynon. We lingered a little longer than we'd intended in the hope that the rain would stop. It didn't so we continued to climb, and climb, and climb to reach our next church at Llanddewi. 

Suggestion, don't walk up tracks and pathways after heavy rainfall. Reason? Because they turn into muddy, boggy, water rushing rivers. What fun!! 

Somewhere between Port Eynon and Llandewi, in the pouring rain, my phone which had successfully been tracking us, decided to have a Hissy-Fit!! It lost the whole walk right from when we started. It took random screenshots. It opened a zillion apps. Finally it used up 65% of the battery leaving me with 0%!! Which of course meant I had no map App!! I plugged in my battery-pack and recharged it a bit then switched it back on. It did come back but almost pitch-black. We weren't far from St David's church where I was able to turn the lighting up. That's when I discovered that I'd lost all the earlier walk!! Off we set again for our final church of the day at Rhossili. I have to admit that the final few miles were a bit of a slog. The weather had improved and the sun was shining but, with all the technology fails and the rain I was getting a bit tired. Just as well Ali was there to cheer me up and keep me going (the Haribos helped!) 

We arrived 15 miles after starting, tired but pleased with ourselves, to be greeted by a cheerful Denise with car and dry clothes & shoes!! It has been an interesting first day. We've seen some beautiful little churches and the weather looks set fair for tomorrow's 15 mile hike! 

End of the day and we're still smiling!

Thank you to everyone for your lovely comments and donations. If you'd like to sponsor us please use the link below: 

 donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/margs-gower-100-mile-walk-2025

2025 Gower Pilrimage - We're here

Saturday 6th September

Well here we are at the Gower. Sitting in the sunshine drinking tea and eating some of Denise's delicious shortbread. We're sitting outside where its warm but a bit blustery. 

Enjoying the sun whilst it lasts

At the moment we're waiting for Ali to arrive and settle in. Hopefully she won't make the same mistake as we did. Being the Gower there are sheep everywhere. The "drive" (well farm track) to the cottage is accessed through a large metal farm gate. You have to pull up, get out, open gate, get back in car, drive through, get out, close gate, get back in car & drive down a 100 yards to the cottage. I started unpacking the car whilst Denise put all the food & kitchen stuff away where she wanted it. I was back and fore to the car. At one point I looked up and noticed that there were some lovely little sheep that I hadn't noticed when we came in. Ooops! Then I noticed that the gate had swung open and the sheep had taken advantage of the lush grassy lawn!! Fortunately Denise & I were able to quickly herd (Flock?) them back onto the road. Phew!

Ali has arrived. We're all just settling in and preparing for tomorrow. Wish us luck!!

If you'd like to make a donation to my fundraising please click on the link below:

https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/margs-gower-100-mile-walk-2025

2025 Gower Pilgrimage - Almost Time

Wednesday 3rd September - Prepared?

For the 12th year running the spare room looks a mess! Most of my walking kit is laid out so that I can go through it to check that I've got everything that I need. Probably tomorrow I will sort through the mass of kit and make it more sensible & manageable. I'll cut the packing down by leaving behind at least one item - probably the one thing that I will discover I needed the most!! 

I have done all the preparation that I can do. I've walked long distances; short, fast distances; steep hills; gentle river & canal meanders. I've lost over a stone in weight (Yes! I'm still working in old money!!) I'm as fit as a Septuagenarian can be.

Denise and I have batch-cooked & baked to fill a very large freezer! I have grappled with my new car and survived. Denise, on the other hand, has not even driven it yet and she'll be doing the driving around the Gower!  

Tomorrow I get my hair cut (anything to lighten the load!) I hope it doesn't sap my strength. Tomorrow and Friday (yes, it'll take that long) I'll also be to pack everything in cases, bags & boxes & putting them in the car.

Gower here we come. Wish me well.

You can donate to my walk by clicking on the link below:

https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/margs-gower-100-mile-walk-2025

2025 Gower Pilgrimage - The TWIST!!

 August 2025 - The TWIST!!!!

It's not long till my 12^th 100 Mile Walk in Wales where I'll complete the Gower Pilgrimage Way plus 2 linear walks and 3 circular walks (which add up to my 100 Mile target). 

As training for my annual walks I am part of a WRACA Walking Group based in Herefordshire & Worcestershire. We generally walk around 6 miles on a Monday and I usually plan & lead the walks while another member usually books the pub/cafe where we stop for lunch. They are all well aware that I like to do my 100 Mile Challenges alone as it takes a certain mind-set to complete day after day.

A few years ago one of the group sent me a link to a Pilgrimage saying, “Here you go Marg – how about this one?”

I duly replied with, “I will if you will!!”

So the banter went back & fore over the intervening years. This year I’ve called her bluff!

Ali greeting me at Stratford
at the end of my 2017 Walk

The person in question is someone who has supported and encouraged my fundraising efforts from the get-go. A few years ago, when trying to raise the profile of female veterans and the WRACA, she ‘used’ (her word not mine) various people to publicise the Association.

The thing I liked and respected was that she always checked that I was comfortable with whatever scheme she had in mind. This year’s walk is no exception; she has checked with me that I am happy to continue doing this as a joint walk. Whether we’ll still be talking to each other after 8 days of fairly arduous walking remains to be seen.

So, Colonel (Retired) Ali Brown, OBE, I hope you know what you’ve let yourself in for. That’ll teach you to set me a challenge! Ali sent me the link to the Gower Pilgrimage but its only 48.5 miles long. I’ve had to add some more days of walks to make it up to the 100 miles. This will be the only time that I will complete a full 100 mile walk in company.

I have, previously, done a day within the 100 miles with someone else but never the whole trip. This should be interesting!!

2025 Gower Pilgrimage +5 - Introduction

 Marg's Gower 100 Mile Walk 2025

In September I’ll be embarking on my latest charity walk. It’ll be my 12th year of 100 Mile Walks and I’ll be doing it in Wales again, this time walking The Gower, to complete the Gower Pilgrimage Way plus 2 linear walks and 3 circular walks which add up to my 100 Mile target.

Gower Pilgrimage in Red. Other walks also  shown

I’m planning to complete my 100 miles at some time between Monday 8th September 2025 and Wednesday 17th September 2025 over an 8 day period. The pilgrimage, linking all 17 historic churches in Gower, and including several chapels and other Christian sacred sites along the way, is only 50 miles so I’ve had to plan some extension walks.

Each year my supporters amaze and humble me with their generosity and again I’m raising funds for the same two charities as last year. The first is the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association, the only military veteran’s charity set up specifically to cater for the needs of female veterans. Females are often the forgotten ‘heroes’ - forgotten by society in general but also under-resourced by ‘Veteran’ society as well. The WRAC Association gives not only financial support to female army veterans but also provides emotional support to a section of our community that often suffers from isolation and loneliness. The WRAC Association is a safe haven where female veterans can find the support and friendship that is often all that is required to overcome their difficulties. My second charity is a Pembrokeshire (the county of my birth) charity, the V C Gallery, CEO Barry John MBE who served 20 years as a soldier and set up the charity to combat loneliness and social isolation for veterans & community. As a veteran myself I am only too aware of how fortunate I am and how difficult and lonely it can be to transition from military to civilian life. Last year I visited Steph and Kevin at the facility they run in my home town, Pembroke Dock. They have turned an abandoned school building into a hive of activity, innovation and support for all those in the local community who need their help to enrich their lives.

My 2 Charities

You can support me and my two charities by clicking on the link below which will take you to my fundraising page at Give as you Live Donate: 

https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/margs-gower-100-mile-walk-2025