#CoasttoCoast C2C Sea to Sea - a Three Tenners ride

We three brothers enjoyed the cycling the Hebridean Way in July. Enthused we thought we could squeeze another one in before the weather turned. Same format - cycling - camping - low budget - ha! 

The route we chose was a well defined and popular one - the Sutrans C2C route, C2C - Sea to Sea! The idea is to cycle across England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea - albeit at one of its narrowest parts. The recommendation is west to east because of helpful prevailing winds. The start is either Whitehaven or Workington - the finish either Tynemouth or Sunderland. We chose Whitehaven to Tynemouth - 140 miles. We decided on 4 days cycling - some do it much quicker of course. The guide book recommends 5 days to allow for sightseeing. There are many ways to approach the route - the surface is good - but we have touring bikes - pretty heavily laden (although we have improved) because we are self sufficient. We each carry a tent - a cooking system - food - and of course a range of clothes to deal with whatever the unpredictable weather can throw.

A quick note on logistics - Mike drove with Rob from Exmouth. I drove direct from the IOW. A bit under 400 miles from the Island - so a fair hike for us southerners. Whitehaven if you do not know it is in Cumbria. Our plan was to leave the vehicles at the start and had arranged through Haven Cycles at Whitehaven transport to pick us up at the finish in Tynemouth and bring us back. The drive back takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours and cost us £60 each. It was the only practical solution and worth it.

We arranged to meet at St Bees 4 miles from Whitehaven. As far as I could find this was the nearest practical campsite. We arrived late afternoon - got the tents up etc - and then thought we would have a scout around - find the start at Whitehaven etc for an efficient start the next day. What immediately became apparent was the route to Whitehaven from St Bees was a very hilly 4 miles! We aren't the biggest fans of unnecessary hills so we decided rather than leave the vehicles at St Bees we would drive to Whitehaven for the start. That meant finding secure carparking. Again Haven Cycles provided the solution - it was an extra cost - but a good decision. 

Next morning - a little behind schedule (Rob always has something to repack - lol) we get to the official C2C start at Whitehaven harbour filled with nice Irish Sea water. The start was almost a disaster. The tradition - the done thing on this route - is to place your back wheel in the Irish Sea at the start. But the slipway - tidal affected of course - was incredibly slippery. Rob dropped his bike - and I nearly went over. Anyway we got the all important photo and we were off!

First day was a bit overcast but dry and still. Our plan was to cycle about 40 miles into the Lake District to get to Keswick and beyond. We eventually camped at Troutbeck near Scales. It was a top day. How can you not be uplifted by being in the Lake District. We climbed a fair bit - and got our head in the clouds (and wind) when we got over the formidable Winlatter Pass. After Keswick the cycling was lovely and by clever planning we came across the White Horse Inn about 2 miles before our campsite for the night!

Next day was to be another 40 miler - on to Penrith - gradually out of the Lake District and down to and across the Eden Valley. Our objective was Nenthead - North Pennines. Just great scenery. Quiet. Special. Hard to describe. One thing I love about these type of rides. You get in a bubble. You - the setting - the personal effort on the hills - the release going down. Your own thoughts. Your own plans. Your own dreams. Make of it what you will. Hard to beat. When the Three Tenners cycle we rarely form a peloton - ha! We do our own thing - cycle at different speeds - and meet up usually when the route is not clear. There was one especially long tough climb to the Hartside summit and eventually the long downhill to Alston. This a quote from the guide book " leaving the gentle Eden Valley you soon climb to the spectacular viewpoint of Hartside before beginning the traverse of the North Pennines - England's last wilderness. Much of it is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the sombre wide open spaces present if anything a more powerful landscape than the Lakes themselves." It was sombre - it was grey - it was at times magnificent - like another world - and so quiet - so little development - just sheep.

We got down off Hartside and eventually met up at the lovely little town of Alston (that claims to be the highest market town in England). I went into a pub and ordered a hot chocolate while I waited. It had been draughty up there! On Alston the main street looks and feels like that cobbled street on the Hovis advert - but it is not the same place.

Eventually we head on towards Nenthead. We have booked a bunkhouse for the night - because we were up high and there were no designated camping areas. It turned out to be a good decision. It was not a nice evening outside. We were dry and showered and comfortable. We had the whole Haggs Head Bunkhouse to ourselves for £25 each. Just as well. My brothers snoring can be off the scale and this night it was a shocker. Eventually I had to move to another room and I am normally a heavy sleeper!

Next day was dank and still. We had just a few miles to Nenthead and just 32 in all to get to Consett. As we get to Nenthead I see a bike repairers. I put my head in the door to check out the route as there were options. The owner was smiling. He said the first part is a killer! Basically in a relatively short distance we had to get up to the highest point on the whole trek - Black Hill 1998 ft. It was steep. We get up and on to a beautiful wild open moor. On the moor there were ups and downs with another bigee up to Parkhead Station via Stanhope. It was a brute of a climb but I really enjoyed it. A great place to be but I am sure the warning signs were right. Beware it can be dangerous up here in bad conditions. 

As in life you usually get out what you put in. Thereafter it was a wonderful 10k descent on the Waskerley Way - a bridle way / cycling track on an old rail line. It was great - freewheeling a lot of the time. Beautiful quiet countryside. Hardly no one around. We have time in hand, the riding is easy and the final leg tomorrow would be even easier. 

We have booked a campsite a few miles out of Consett - a nice little site (we are the only ones on it) called Starlight Camping. A field (with great views) and a portacabin - well fitted out as a shower block etc. The owner Billy comes down for a chat. We sound him out for the nearest pub and shop. As suspected it was several miles away and up and down hills. We agree we have no choice but to cycle later. While in the shower I reflect on that. I ring Billy from my tent. I do a deal with him to pick us up at 4pm and drive us to the local pub. He agreed to pick us up at 6.30 and take us to the local fish and chip shop on the way back. He was very happy with £10 per person. So were we. The drive to the pub didn't take long but it would have been a brute of a ride especially topped up with beer. The Fleece Inn was quiet but it was a good place to be and the fish and chips turned out to be amazing! We are back at the campsite - picnic table - and fish and chips - and witnessed an amazing sky. (see photos below). A good nights sleep.

As the Tour de France - and the gentle ride into Paris - ours is to Newcastle and then to Tynemouth! I thought Consett would be industrial - a former steel town. But no the countryside is lovely - the people we met friendly and chatty. I think it was Rob who made the comment "Boris goes on about levelling up - its the south that needs levelling up with the north! " We were well impressed with the area.

Our route is down the Derwent Walk - along the River Derwent - idyllic woodland and pasture until we get to where the Derwent joins the mighty River Tyne. We have a choice south or north bank. We start off on the south but cross on the Tyne Bridge and head down through Newcastle on the Hadrian's cycleway the 10 miles all the way to Tynemouth. It was an easy enjoyable ride - with many landmarks.

We get to Tynemouth at about 2.30pm. What a suprise. A real buzzing tasteful holiday town - all up together and nice - traditional. We know the northerners call us soft southerners. The late September sun is out but a real cold wind coming off the North Sea. Those Geordie lasses don't care. Not a sign of a coat or a jacket!

It was a bit of an effort to dip our front wheels in the North Sea (as custom requires to complete the sea to sea) but we managed it at the local sailing club. A good moment - we have done well.

Haven Cycles pick us up for the 2 1/2 road trip back to Whitehaven via Carlisle.

It was a great thing for us to do. I will admit I get a great deal of satisfaction out of the planning and carrying out the plan. I love to reflect on what we have done. Completing the journey is probably the most important thing. Doing it with my brothers - each with strong personalities but so different is a brilliant dynamic. (we sometimes wonder what our late parents would think - and know that they would be proud and happy to see us do these things together).Cheers bruvs - to the next time. 

Here are a few photos from my mob camera : 

The start in the Irish Sea at Whitehaven Cumbria

First glimpse of the Lake District

Camping the first night nr Scales (Troutbeck)

My trusted Dawes Super Galaxy. Old but a great bike. Looks overloaded but the weight is not too bad. I prefer to make the effort to carry more gear to be comfortable. A larger tent for instance.

An old mine - now a visitors centre.

Our little campsite nr Consett

The Three Tenners at The Fleece Inn. I can't keep up with my bruvs on the beer lol!

Sun going down while eating our fish & chips

River Derwent

River Tyne

We cross the Tyne into Newcastle

Tynemouth and the N Sea finish ahead.

Long Beach Tynemouth the official finish of the C2C

We put our front wheels in the North Sea for the full finish!

#IsleofWightFestival2021 and 2022!

It happened! Despite the covid doom and gloom - and the naysayers the IOW Festival has just completed. It is a normally a June event but covid pressures meant June was too early to go for and the September date turned out to be well judged by John Giddings and his team.

The event was billed as a sell out - 50000 tickets. To be honest I thought this might have been hyped but as it turned out if it wasn't the full 50k it wasn't far off. In the weeks leading up to the festival there was a fair bit of negativity towards staging the event. To be honest there is always some - even without covid ie disruption noise etc. With covid there was speculation case numbers would mushroom and the only Island hospital would be overwhelmed. For ourselves we did not want to be irresponsible but like thousands of others rationalised we could and should get on with it (life) now vaccinations had happened. It was also an outdoor event and unless you wanted to be down at the front it would be possible to avoid very close contact.

The other factor was the weather prospects - it was September rather than the normal June. In the week leading up the forecasts were poor and on the Monday before there was an almighty deluge - it was going to be a muddy festival. As it turned out there was no mud, no further rain and the poor forecasts did not materialise. It turned out largely sunny - on the Saturday - exceptionally so.

Of the festival - I pretty much go every year. Living on the Island makes it a doddle to attend - and great value in my opinion. Historically the IOW Festival has had tremendous cache based on its deep rooted festival origins and ranked only below Glasto perhaps in status. However in my opinion while Glasto remains stand alone the IOW Festival has lost some of its kudos and drawing power. There are now so many festivals and the IOW has probably become just one of many. Consequently I do not think the IOW is somewhere a band would necessary have on their bucket list as it definitely used to be and the commercial reality is ticket sales cannot be taken for granted either.

In response John Giddings has placed the festival line ups bang in the safe middle ground. There is something for everyone but probably really suits no one. The scale and range at Glasto makes it much more eclectic and edgy. IOW does not have that feel anymore in my opinion.

But as I have written before I am not going to knock the IOW Festival. It is what it is. It is tremendous value and you can guarantee you will have fun if you go with the right attitude. It still draws big acts and it is basically well run (once you get over the strictly enforced commercial rules to prevent you taking food and drink onto the site unless you are camping. Even then you are not permitted to bring anything into the main arena. This year it was £6 a pint). As I have said we are lucky to have it on the Island and I am a committed supporter.

Here was the festival line up :

For us we ruled out the Big Top this year for covid reasons. That left the main stage. Of course what you like is what you like but it was wonderful to enter the site and hear the special big stage sound. 

Friday was a mixed bag night but so uplifting to walk into the big arena - with everything there as usual. Despite the negativities and covid pessimisms it was happening and it felt "normal" which is what we needed !!

James are a big time festival band and they went down well. I think the problem for them as is so often the case - they wanted to play their newer stuff but the mainstream audience want to hear their older stuff like Sitdown.

Tom Jones was irrepressible. He loves it - at around age 80 he must. He opened with Pussy Cat Pussy Cat I love you and then Not Unusual! He couldn't fail and he didn't. I am glad I was there.

It was a big step to Liam Gallagher after Tom Jones - too much for some.

Saturday was a superb weather day. Great to be there in the sun - the odd drink and the big festival sound and vibe. 

A grumble from me. There is always one or two Simon Cowell type acts on the festival line ups. Definitely some people want to see them. They invariably look good - some in the crowd know their back story. They have had a few 'hits'. But that is it. Invariably the stage is too big for them in my view. Their catalogue too small. They do not have the pedigree. They have not served their time. Keep em off the big stage please until they are ready if they ever will be !!!

And one little amusing observation. Maybe years ago it was not cool to take a chair to the festival. It may still not be "cool" but it is what more and more people do now. Maybe is reflects the age profile - middle England. One thing it has done is effect moving around. Chairs are placed to form barriers - to mark out territory. Such is life - but it is nice to sit down now and again lol. xx

Roachford was smooth - Lightening Seeds went down well. James Arthur for me was one of the lightweight Cowell productions and we missed Sam Fender. I am not sure what happened for him but there was not much applause at the end. All Saints I suppose were fun but a poor mans Spice Girls. I have seen Snow Patrol before. They are a big festival band with a tremendous range. They mixed it up and were what they festival needed. Actually they were joint headliners with David Guetta. I expected Snow Patrol to be last on but they preceded the French DJ. It was the right decision. When Snow Patrol finished much of the main arena audience changed. In poured the youngsters and they filled up the front. Amazing volume and light show from Guetta. Some of it was real hardcore it seemed to me. Prodigy on drugs lol! I wanted to see David Guetta. It had been a long day. He became too much for us. However his set was so loud and bright you were still in it long after you had walked out the festival gate. 

Sunday was another good weather day. Highlight in many ways for me on was Seasick Steve. I had seen him before at the IOW. He reminded it was 10 years ago! A class act. Then it was a strong line up - a bit of a walk down the past especially with Supergrass and then Duran Duran. The Script were quality - could have been the headliners. Their show went down well. As for Duran Duran - well they would be easy to knock in some ways. There was a comment in the local paper a week before when there was speculation as to whether the festival should go ahead. Someone wrote "the festival has to go ahead now - Simon le bon is almost defrosted !". They were a long way from my band of choice - but they were great - a tremendous big budget show which I am glad to have seen. It was really enjoyable and like most old rockers he knew how to engage with the audience. Great stuff.

The festival had opened on the Thursday with the fantastic Red Arrows. Few things can make everyone stop and stare in awe. The Red Arrows can. Sends a tingle through you. It finished with fireworks as we left the stadium. Over for another year - it will take a day or two to recover. Thank you IOW Festival. It was great xxx

PS the 2022 line up has been announced already. It has gone down well. Muse and Kasabian will be a big pull and there is Nial Rogers for bop around fun. I have secured the obligatory early bird ticket - something to get in the diary to really look forward to. 

 

#ConservativeParty a short letter of protest to my local Tory MP.

 Dear Mr Seeley

I regret to advise you I have cancelled my Conservative Party membership and will now donate to the Reform UK Party.

My reasons. The Tory party has become Labour light under Boris. I believe we should live within our means and the way to build a healthy sustainable economy is through low taxation (low taxation is the engine). I am sickened by the proposed increase in Nat Ins. to apparently fund social care properly. The working people of this country already pay too much tax and the money is already there to fund social  care and the NHS. The problem is it is being squandered by Boris's nanny state policies. It is also ridiculous we are housing thousands of Afghans and pandering to illegal channel economic migrants when we cannot look after our own. Charity for the genuinely needy should begin at home. Feel badly let down by the Tories and have withdrawn my support.

PS I am also in strong disagreement with Tory planning changes - but at least you and I agree about that as far as the Island is concerned at least.

#Inconsideratecyclist how not to ride a bike

The other day I was cycling along Seaview duver towards Ryde around the middle of the day. The duver road runs behind the beach from the Seaview end to the Boathouse pub - maybe 3/4 mile max. It is a narrow road but passable for two cars most of the way - but there is a chicane about half distance and carparking (this time of the year especially) which makes the road narrower and hard to pass. There is also a 20 mile speed limit on the Seaview end half.

Anyway I get to the chicane just before the bottom of  Oakhill Road and I witness a shouting match between a driver of a large white van and a guy on a mountain bike. The gist of it was the cyclist should ride single file not 2 abreast as it was stopping the van driver getting by. The male cyclist was cycling with a female cyclist - she was on the inside. I guess they were about 30 ish, had helmets and the Muddy Fox type clothes that mountain bikers use off road. They were not occasional cyclists in my view.  

In the few seconds this ensued it was obvious there was a lot of bad feeling. The cyclists set off with the van behind going in the Seaview direction, The male cyclist deliberately cycled slowly in the middle of the road stopping the van passing. The van driver is revving his engine inches from the back wheel of the cyclist. I stand and watch to see what happens (it is predictable and inevitable I think to myself!) They get a 100 yards or so down the road and there is a big commotion and shouting. The male cyclist is shouting "he hit me". The bike is on the floor - the cyclist stood on the grass. More shouting and the van driver drives off perhaps after a minute.

My take as a cyclist and also as a car driver.

• The male cyclist was being ignorant and provocative and not cycling in accordance with the Highway Code.
• Obviously cyclists should not unduly hold up traffic whenever they can avoid it and certainly riding 2 abreast will almost always cause a problem on normal roads.
• The van driver was clearly working and wanted to get on with his day and the male cyclists in the end was wilfully trying to stop him.
• Maybe at some earlier point the van driver had shown impatience - maybe sounded his horn - I don't know - but the upshot was the cyclist was acting unreasonably.
• Clearly the van driver should not have hit the bike. I assume it was a nudge from behind and it was likely deliberate. In this respect the driver was at fault and has likely committed an offence and I am not condoning it as such.
• Many might feel the cyclists got what he deserved.
• Many might feel the cyclists behaviour is the sort of thing that gets cyclists a bad name.
• Some might feel it is what gets white van man a bad name.
• As far as the 2 individuals involved are concerned it is highly likely their views are now indelibly polarised !
• Fortunately no one was seriously hurt and something so petty and silly didn't really get out of hand (which it easily could have done).
• I hope the young cyclist is now chastened and has learned a life lesson.
• Similarly I hope the van driver reflects that he took a silly and irresponsible risk by nudging the bike rider off.

Late last year my brother Mike and I cycled from John o' Groats to Lands End. Over 1100 miles. It was obvious the best way was to work with motorists. We never rode 2 abreast - we always allowed vehicles to pass asap. Consequently we received plenty of friendly peeps - we weren't stressed - and neither were the drivers. It was a win win and much safer and enjoyable. It is just common-sense and good manners. The inconsiderate cyclist needs a rethink! If he continues to think he has the right to take up as much of the road as a car or van he is going to have a miserable and possibly short cycling life.

#Didtheyreallydothat? cars and motorbike performance

This blog is about car and motorbike performance.

Bear with me.

During the last week I have sat through a few "Horrible Histories" with my darling little grand daughters. They love them! They are amusing and I guess informative too. The theme is often how extraordinary our forbears were - they did the most bizarre and outrageous things!

Horrible Histories - Vile Victorians | Compilation - Bing video

Like most Islanders I read the IOW County Press - the local newspaper. The CP maintain a good website with rolling news. I pick up the Islands news headlines each day and to be honest it is often the basis of local conversation. We are parochial - with a village mentality. 

The IOW is not really a big place - population in total about 140K and in many respects a bit of a backwater (much is rural - half is designated an AONB). There are no motorways of course but we refer to one. The "motorway" is the only duel carriageway on the island. It is an urban road - and the duel carriageway stretch is less than a mile long. Despite this there seems to be an extraordinary number of car and motorbike accidents. Over the weekend there were at least three separately reported collisions involving a car and motorbike on the County Press website. Injury and death. Almost always excessive speed for the conditions features.

Now the link! Horrible Histories and road accidents on the Isle of Wight!

I am imaging a Horrible Histories in say 50 or more likely a 100 years time - DID THEY REALLY DO THAT?

Did they really, for more than a hundred years, build virtually all cars and motorbikes capable of exceeding the legal speed limit by at least 50% and in many cases over 100%?

Yes they did !

Why ?

Why build a car or motor bike that can achieve speeds far in excess of the legal speed limit? ( so the only time the engines capability can be fully utilised is when the driver breaks the law !? )

Why build transport that is so over engineered for its basic purpose?

Why buy a car that is much more expensive than it needs to be because it is so over engineered?

Why when the planet is threatened by climate change do we continue to build cars and motorbikes that consume far more resources than necessary and burn far more fuel because the cars and bikes are so unnecessarily powerful.

Speed kills. Why are we building cars and motorbikes that are capable of such excessive speeds? Driving within speed limits and reducing rates of acceleration would massively reduce accidents.

Horrible Histories will be able to have a lot of fun with this question. Why have we bought into it?

The short answer I can see - 

VANITY

STATUS

CHEAP THRILLS

IT CREATES JOBS AND TAXABLE INCOME.

The more you think about it the dafter it is. Very hard (impossible) to justify if cars and motorbikes are just a means of transport. It is particularly hard on the IOW where there just aren't the roads for excessive speed. Perhaps it is why there are so many accidents - drivers and riders frustrated that they cannot open the throttle and consequently take chances. Years ago I realised there is no point overtaking on the IOW. Occasionally I get overtaken - but you can almost guarantee without fail I will catch them up at the next junction.

 

#ExamResults A level grade inflation and common-sense

In the last week A level and GCSE level results have been released. Yet again they show grade inflation.

What makes this even more controversial is results are based on teacher assessment rather than controlled examination.

I am commenting on this issue based on common-sense - based on the experience of a parent - and based on the fact I was a governor of two different schools totalling a 10 year stint (albeit a few years ago now.)

I am going to make my points in bullet point form for simplicity and because of time constraints (it is holiday time and my grand children are here).

• The government cancelled formal national based exams because of practical covid considerations. It is hard to challenge this decision (although some of course will challenge any decision a government make for political reasons).
• Independent controlled national exams removes most of the possibility of any outside influence on results (although admittedly and historically fault has been found in vagaries of exam paper marking. There is no such thing as a perfect system.) 
• The gov't tried to use an algorithm to predict grades to replace the temporary halting of formal exams but there was an out cry against the results it produced. The results using the algorithm were based on past performance and therefore gave no scope for undue improvement! 
• The only other viable option was "teacher assessment". In effect teachers marking their own homework.
• This is what teachers unions, teachers and the majority of schools wanted. 
• Teachers claim they are the ones who know their students best and as they the teachers are professionals they will ensure grades awarded by them are objective and fair.

The results just released show A level A and A* grades awarded nearly doubled and almost 50% of candidates achieved A or A* grades. 

Despite this unprecedented increase the on message is results can be trusted.

However the reality is this evident grade inflation casts doubt on the veracity of some results and so it should. Can the results be trusted? 

Well is the current cohort so significantly brighter than their predecessors? Or have they worked so much harder. Or have schools improved their teaching to such an extent ? The answer logically is surely no. So what is the explanation for "grade inflation"!

In my opinion the explanation is simple. Teachers have over graded their pupils and the reason why is not complicated to understand (and expect).

All schools are placed in league tables based on their exam results. Those league tables in simplistic terms determine which schools are considered to be the "best" schools and which are the failing schools. These league tables are used by parents to determine choice of schools. Pupil numbers largely determine allocated resources and kudos and career advancement flows to the leadership (and teachers) of "successful" schools. 

By the same token "failing" schools are under pressure. Heads can lose their jobs. Governors and OFSTED will be on their case. Teachers who are not getting good exam results from their students are under pressure. Heads will be putting pressure on them to up their game.

So with the best will in the world if teachers (schools) can mark (grade) their own pupils - they are likely (bound) to grant them the best possible awards for reasons of self preservation and self interest. Sadly the system puts maintaining "professionalism" under unrealistic pressure. There is additionally the emotional pull from students to teachers - why not give them the best possible grades (the best grades we can get away with) - it will open doors for them !? Teachers and schools have caved in.

Flowing from this are a number of unsatisfactory outcomes :

• If almost 50% get A and A* grades they lose a lot as a measure of excellence. Future employers will not trust them.
• Genuinely bright students will not be clearly identified.
• However competing universities desperate for students to fill their courses (to generate fees) will now be able offer them without being accused of dumbing down academic standards. 
• Over rated students will come a cropper at some future stage as they are not as bright as their grades indicate.

Having said all of this I do not believe it could have been avoided. As soon as you cannot sit vigorous exams in a controlled setting with fully independent marking (as the gov't couldn't do in the covid pandemic) there will inevitably be test flogging, distortion and over marking. (We have previously seen this when results are based on too high a proportion of "course work".)

Covid has had a very broad impact on education. It has been very hard on students. Students (and their parents) cannot be blamed for grabbing everything they can even if deep down they know grades achieved are lets say - better than their normal standard. Sadly it is life but eventually it will all come out in the wash.

#Brecon&Gower

I am just back from a short camping/walking visit to South Wales - 4 nights. It is an area I know pretty well and it always delivers. 

Of course it is good to get off the IOW now and again - especially after the Covid lockdown. South Wales is easy to get to from the Island - ie Portsmouth - Winchester - Newbury and down the M4 to cross the Severn Bridge into Wales. 2 or 3 hours.

When we set off the weather forecast was not great - but weather was forecast changeable! While summer sun was desired it was not crucial ha!

There is something positive about going over the huge Severn Bridge. It makes you feel you are entering a new world. You are of course in many ways - just look at the unintelligible road signs. Welsh is like Greek or say Russian - impossible to guess what the words mean. So many double l's and d's ha!

Our destination was Brecon - in the Brecon Beacons for the first night. We ambled up the lovely Wye valley for a break at spectacular Tinturn Abbey and later a walk around the attractive and well preserved little town of Monmouth. Then it was across to Brecon the main town in the Brecon Beacons.

The Brecon Beacons sit in the Brecon Beacon National Park. It is an AONB.

From Wiki :

The Brecon Beacons (Welsh: Bannau Brycheiniog, IPA: [ˈbanai̯ brəˈχəi̯njɔɡ]) are a mountain range in South Wales In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of Old Red Sandstone peaks which lie to the south of Brecon. Sometimes referred to as "the central Beacons" they include South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan. The range forms the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog), a designation which also encompasses ranges both to the east and the west of "the central Beacons". This much wider area is also commonly referred to as "the Brecon Beacons", and it includes the Black Mountains to the east as well as the similarly named but quite distinct Black Mountain to the west. The highest peaks include Fan Brycheiniog to the west and Pen y Fan in the central part. They share the same basic geology as the central range, and so exhibit many similar features, such as the north-facing escarpment and glacial features such as lakes and cwms (cirques).

For two night we camped at Priory Mill Campsite by the River Honddu. It is a low impact site - quietly run with no commercialism whatsoever. The owners have been there for over 20 years. They allow no groups, children or dogs. It is very peaceful with the added advantage of being in walking distance of Brecon town and therefore the pubs of Brecon. (Find the Brecon Tap and sit right in the town square. Very atmospheric.)

Next day was a lovely walking day - bright but with a breeze. We walked to the top of Corn Du 2864 ft and the the highest peak in S Wales - Pen Y Fan 2907 ft. We took the quick route disparagingly referred to as "the motorway"! It starts from the carpark of the Storey Arms. True there can be a lot of people setting out but you soon lose them on the 4 hour plus trek. If you are lucky to have clear visibility - as we were on this day - the views are spectacular. I have walked to the top of Pen y Fan several times over the years. I would do it anytime. It is a very rewarding thing to do.

Next day we headed south down to the coast. The weather was poor so a good day to drive. By late morning we were in Swansea and visited the well known Swansea Market. I had a Swansea breakfast which is basically a full English but with laverbread (seaweed) and cockles. A surf and turf breakfast - ha!

We were booked to camp on The Gower peninsula - another AONB and NT presence. The afternoon brightened considerably and we were able to doze in the sun overlooking stunning Rhossilli Bay with its 3 mile long beach.

Overnight a storm came in - very strong winds and heavy rain but the Vango Omega 350 with the bracing straps locked - stood up well. 

Next day everything brightened and the tides were perfect to walk / scrabble out onto the Worms Head.

Worms Head - Wiki

Worm's Head (Welsh: Ynys Weryn) is a headland which is the furthest westerly point on the Gower Peninsula, at Rhossili. The name Worm's Head is derived from an Old English word for 'dragon'.^[1] The headland of carboniferous limestone comprises three islands: the Inner Head, the Middle Head which features a collapsed sea cave known as the Devil's Bridge and the Outer Head. In total it is approximately a mile long, and the Inner Head up to 200 yards wide. Worm's Head is only accessible on foot for 2+1⁄2 hours either side of low tide, fatal to attempt to wade or swim to when the causeway from the mainland is flooded.

The poet Dylan Thomas initially described the Worm's Head as "the very promontory of depression" and was forced once to spend the night on the Head after being trapped by the tide.

In August 2020 seven visitors were rescued by the coastguard after getting stranded on Worm's Head by the incoming tide. In September 2020 seven Swansea University students also had to be rescued after becoming stranded.^[5

The Worms Head walk is a bit of a test. It involves a lot of scrambling. The rocks are sharp and vicious - so be careful! Adhere to the tide/time advice of course. There is a real sense of satisfaction when you have completed it as with Pen y Fan walk. It is great when you get back and look out to the Worms Head and think - I have just climbed to the top of that!

In the evening we have a celebratory dinner at a great little pub called the Britannia Inn at Llanmadoc (in the middle of nowhere - ha!). 

On the way back home to the Island we stopped off at Barry Island of Gavin & Stacy fame. It is a bucket and spade kiss me quick type of place. I will try and not be too judgemental. The beach appeared excellent and we walked out onto a very gusty headland which was a good place to be. Barry Island is an amusement park and fast food haven. It is what it is and everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves. It is not like so many of the UK's resort towns - on its last legs. It seems to be doing ok.

Now back on the Island we can reflect on those full 4 days. Really excellent. Brecon and The Gower are an excellent combination and a very practical place to get to from the Island.

Here are a few mob photos :

River Wye - England one side Wales the other

Tinturn Abbey

Priory Mill campsite Brecon

On the way up to Pen Y Fan. First Corn Du - the black anvil.

after Corn Du the short descent and then climb to Pen y Fan

Pen y Fan in the middle

a Swansea breakfast - laverbread (fried seaweed with cockles)

beautiful Rhossili

the worm and Worms Head

Seals commonplace

On the Worms Head

Oxwich Bay - the Gower

fished here with my dad and brothers many years ago

The Old School House Oxwich. We rented it for easter holidays many years ago. Nice to see it again.

View from the Britannia Inn

Barry Island where Ness played father christmas and Gavin & Stacey met apparently