2025 Gower Pilgrimage - Day 9

Monday 15th September - Whoopee!!!!

This is the FINAL, final day!!!

A last 4.5 mile gasp from both Ali and myself in very stormy, windy conditions as the rain started to close in all around us again. 

Today was not the route I'd originally planned as that would have been far too dangerous. 

Instead we bimbled around the village where we are staying. 

We were conscious of avoiding trees where we possibly could because of their falling branches. 

We also did not want to get too bogged down on the very wet, marshy moorland. 

We were kind of stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea!! 

Trees gave us shelter from the howling wind but the moorland was devoid of trees!

So we strode out up a quiet lane with water streaming and tumbling down either side. On a couple of occasions we came across large, leafy fallen branches which we dragged to the side of the lane and heaved onto the grassy verge. 

Before long the lane petered out and we were onto the moorland which forms the ridge along the spine of the Gower peninsula. 

Of course ridges means pathways going up & water coming down! At the start we were walking along the lowest boundary of the march where all the heavy rainfall had collected. 

We showed some nifty footwork keeping out of the worst of the water by leaping from reedy tussock to tussock or bounding over pools and rivulets. 

We were on strict instructions from Denise to not come back with soggy boots!

Needless to say, the higher we climbed the windier it became. 

The going underfoot was better with broad grassy pathways leading up to the Gower Way at the crest of the ridge. 

We were buffeted by the ever increasing wind but it thankfully was pushing us ever upward along the ridge behind our home for the week, Reynoldson. 

The rain clouds were gathering either side of us as we walked. 

To our left and north of us was the Afon Llwchwr (River Loughor) but the rain clouds obliterated Llanelli on the opposite bank. 

To our right and south should have been views of the sea off Port Eynon and Oxwich Bay. That too was hidden in a cloak of rain. 

Either side the rain was creeping further up each side of the ridge towards us. 

We quickened our pace, half marching, half jogging to try and out-run the inevitable all the while being assisted by the strengthening wind. 

Eventually we decided that enough was enough and we found a pathway leading back down to the village. 

We took shelter in St George's church, the last one we'd visited on the actual Pilgrimage part of our 100 Miles. 

We found the CWG headstone to Lt Col Benson, East Yorkshire Regiment which we'd missed on our first visit. 

We also went inside and found the carving of St George and the dragon on the front of the pulpit. 

Once we decided it was safe to move again we quickly made it back safe & sound to the farmhouse! 

There, to our surprise and delight, we were met by Denise who had collected petals from around the garden and threw them, confetti-like, to celebrate our completion of an enjoyable but grueling walking challenge.

My thanks to everyone who has supported & encouraged Ali and I as we've struggled through the week. 

Massive thanks to all the many people who have donated to the fundraising pot; my two charities, The VC Gallery and WRAC Association, and I are extremely grateful and can assure you that the money will be well used serving the people they support.

My thanks goes to Ali Brown for firstly, suggesting this walk and secondly being brave enough to follow through and join me for the duration. 

We've had some interesting, hairy scary moments and delightful laughs (some hysterical!) along the way. 

We've seen some wonderful little churches and enjoyed learning their history. 

We've ridden wobbly bikes, forded raging torrents and kept each other going with encouragement, Haribo's and chocolate. 

We've started the week as friends and, surprise, surprise are still talking to each other!!

Final thanks, from both Ali & I, goes to my wonderful Denise who has been our doctor, housekeeper, cook and chauffeuse all week. 

Thank you so much x

None of this would happen without your amazing support.

If you would like to donate to my two extremely worthy charities please click on the link below: 

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

2025 Gower Pilgrimage - Day 8

Sunday 14th September - This was supposed to be the Last Day!

No fun walking in this!

Yellow Weather Warning Curtails the Day

Storm Amy is definitely making the finish of this year's 100 Mile Walking Challenge even more of a challenge!

Today was supposed to be the last day of walking but rain & wind seems to have had other ideas!

I had already decided to do two shorter circular walks today instead of the 9 miler I'd originally planned.

Early birds catching
the worm

We got up early (and that was a bit of a shock to the system for a start!) 

Then we managed to complete a fair old 5 mile "Yomp" around Rhossili averaging about 2.5 mph. For those that know the area you must admit that's pretty good going. Neither of us fancied being caught out by Storm Amy. 

First of all it was a lung-busting climb up onto Rhossili Down (why do they call it Downs when it's always Up!!)

What spectacular views even watching the threatening storm brewing out at sea before rolling ever closer.

Today's climb was slightly easier than some of yesterday's as it was mostly grass with a little bit of rocky pathways. 

It was much easier than climbing up yesterday's sand cliffs!!

Then it was back down again to the church and onward towards Worm's Head. 

Laid out to our right was the vast expanse of Rhossili Beach in most of it's glory. 

The threatening sky perhaps a little off-putting.

On our way down the National Trust track towards the coastal lookout at Worm's Head we were followed and overtaken by a farmer on a quad bike and his scampering collie. They were setting out to check on the sheep scattered all along the headlands before the storm hit.

I'd never been to this part of the Gower before so was delighted to see Worm's Head in the flesh. 

It looks spectacular in photographs that I've seen but to see it there before me, even in the gloom and wind, was breathtaking.

It's rather nice for me to think that this is really my Welsh Dragon just lying in wait for unsuspecting victim's!

We followed the Wales Coast Path round towards the east and were so enjoying the spectacular scenery that I forgot to look at the map and walked past our turning back up towards Rhossili! 

No matter, there was another turning just along the path and we were both thoroughly enjoying the scenery.

We followed the alternative path back up to the road and reached the car in record time. We had managed plenty of climbing and descending, stunning views, a bit of a scattered shower now & again and decidedly windy once we were out in the open.

So Walk No 1 of the day was completed without incident but then the weather closed in so Walk No 2 has had to be postponed until tomorrow.

Such a shame as we're less than 5 miles short of our 100 Mile target. Fortuitously I'd given ourselves a day extra to play with so we should be able to find somewhere away from the gale force winds tomorrow to complete the challenge.

If you would like to donate to my fundraising for my 2 wonderful charities, The Women's Royal Army Corps Association and the VC Gallery in Pembrokeshire , please click on the following link: donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/margs-gower-100-mile-walk-2025

2025 Gower Pilgrimage - Day 7

Saturday 13th September - Penultimate Day

Slight change of plan

Today was a tough but enjoyable day on the Wales Coast Path again. 

We walked about 12.5 miles of up and down, lengthy detours, rock strewn narrow paths and lots of sand. Not just walking along sand but climbing up it too! 

The original plan was to start at Langland Bay and walk westwards to finish at Oxwich Bay. It occurred to be in the night that the wind was blowing from to west so we'd be battling against it all day. I knew it was going to be a long, difficult walk so we changed the plan and started at Oxwich to walk eastwards to Langland Bay with the wind generally at our back and blowing us along. 

The weather hasn't been too bad today, a bit blowy, well,VERY blowy at Caswell Bay when it suddenly kicked up a fairly hefty short storm. We also had the odd shower but generally it was sunny and quite pleasant. 

We managed a fairly good pace, considering the terrain, until we got to Three Cliffs Bay. There were burrows and of course we were going up and down like the proverbial "Fiddler's Elbow." When we got to Three Cliffs Bay and Pennard Pill (a stream sometimes) we were hoping to cross via the muddy causeway but of course, with approaching it from Oxwich, we arrived earlier than I'd anticipated. The tide was still receding and of course, with all the rain over the past week, the Pill was in full flow. Nothing for it but to walk a mile upstream, cross via a sturdy bridge, then walk a mile back downstream to regain the Coastal Path. After our experience of Thursday we had no intention of wading across! 

We then had to clamber up onto Pennard Burrows which entailed climbing up the almost vertical (only a little bit of an exaggeration) Sand dune/cliff. As I stepped up the sand kept giving way beneath my foot and I was back where I started. Ali kindly took over the lead and I literally followed in her footsteps as we made our way slowly up onto the headland. It was now approaching lunchtime and my "tank" was distinctly on empty. We forged ahead a bit more until we reached the car park at Southgate where we found a handy glass bus shelter complete with bench. We were able to sit and have our lunch in the sunshine, while it lasted; sheltered from the rain, which inevitably arrived; but best of all next to a busy little cafe/shop where Ali kindly bought me another bar of chocolate!

After lunch we headed off along the road as the coastal footpath beside it was a bit muddy. We managed to up our pace a bit until the road became a muddy track which then became a rock-strewn, twisting, steeply descending path down to Pwlldu Bay. Having gone down we then had to clamber up an equally steep but wider rocky path where, to our surprise, we encountered a vehicle descending! It must have done wonders for his suspension and sump!!

Once we'd reached the top we had a fairly easy, flat, grassy stretch which made for great relief. Until, of course we had to descend again this time down some interminable steps. At the bottom was a kissing gate which, by this time, I just couldn't find the energy to open so I stopped dead, which kind of took Ali by surprise. I then broke into hysterical giggles which never helps boost my energy. It took a while for me to regain some composure whilst Ali looked on in some puzzlement. I put it down to not being fed enough Haribo's!! 

Eventually we continued to Caswell Bay and then, finally Langland Bay where Denise met us with the car. A great walk but definitely tiring.

We're both very apprehensive about tomorrow's walking. 

The weather forecast for Sunday is horrendous. 

We've decided to get a very early start to at least try and get some mileage in before the torrential rain and gale force winds stop play. 

Please wish us luck. 

Thank you to everyone who has commented and sponsored us. My 2 charities really appreciate the funds and will both make excellent use of them.

If you'd like to donate please click on the link: 

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

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!!