ARCHIVE PICTURES.
Monday 14th July 2003.
Southgate to Pobbles Bay.
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind
permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland
The cliff top walk from the car park at Southgate to Pobbles Bay is among the nicest in Gower and one of my favourite short walks.
My path was obstructed by oncoming cattle so I quickly decided it would be wiser to get out of their way. I made a slight detour through the bushes......
....to the cliffs overlooking the small rocky inlet known as Foxhole. We are looking out over the Bristol Channel towards the Devonshire coast some 25 miles across the water. When the visibility is good, you can see the hills and fields on the other side and even a building or two.
As I came through the bushes I almost stepped on this wriggly creature. No, it's not a snake. It is a Slowworm (Anguis fragilis), a legless, burrowing lizard.
A little further along the cliffs, we get a better view into Foxhole. When the tide recedes it uncovers a sandy beach.
The cliffs on the south side of Gower are mainly carboniferous limestone. The bands of limestone on the cliff face clearly show how these once horizontal layers were twisted through ninety degrees when these cliffs were formed several hundred million years ago.
There are many lovely and interesting flowers to be seen here. Unfortunately, my knowledge of wild flowers is almost nil. I wish I could name them....
..... but that part of my education has been sadly neglected. If you recognise them , let me know.
Patches of orange and yellow lichen brighten the grey white rocks and make a nice foreground for this picture of Oxwich Point..
It's quite breezy on the cliff top and these flowers are blowing in the wind.
There are many lovely views in Gower but this I think must be be among the best.
I scrambled down the side of the cliff to get this picture.
What a great spot to sit and enjoy the view..
The small sandy inlet just in front of us is Pobbles Bay. On the other side of the conical rock is Three Cliffs Bay and the hill in the background is Cefn Bryn.
We follow the path down from the cliff top to Pobbles beach......
...... we skirt around the top of the beach and climb the high sand dune on the other side. This is the end of our walk, so now, I'll just sit awhile and enjoy the view before starting back..... 'bye.
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