SwanseaCAM - 030601 Rhossili to Mewslade

ARCHIVE PHOTOGRAPHS.
Sunday 3rd June 2001.
Rhossili to Mewslade..

Weather: Sunny.

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind
permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

A few days ago the foot and mouth disease access restriction to the cliff path from Rhossili to Mewslade was removed and as the weather is nice it is a good opportunity to do the walk. The notices on the gate posts inform visitors, in both Welsh and English, that the pathway is open.

From the cliff top there is a glorious view of Rhossili Bay. At the far end of the bay is Burry Holms where I went on my previous walk.

It is just before 10am and there are only a few walkers about but I'm sure that in an hour or two there will be hundreds of visitors here. .

This is a favourite venue for hang gliding enthusiasts.

The tide is out at the moment and I can see a small group making their way over the rocky causeway to Worm's Head. They will have to be sure not to stay too long or they will be cut off when the tide comes in.

The pathway I'm following runs alongside a dry stone wall. On the other side there are a number of potato pickers working in the field. They are collecting potatoes by hand into large white bags. Walking on I come to a stile set in the wall at the corner of the field so, I thought, why not go in and take a couple of photos of potato harvesting. Notice the doggy friendly stile... you lift the bar on the left for the dog to go under.

The potato pickers are out of sight but we can see the result of their labours. Gower Earlies ... these new potatoes will be off to market pretty soon. .

A tractor uproots another row of plants in readiness for the pickers. .

Leaving the field I follow the wall to where it ends on the high ground overlooking Falls Bay. Below me, on the bank just above the beach, are several rowing dinghies.

I go down the slope, I want to include the dinghies in the view across Falls Bay. It is very quiet here .. I look around and there is nobody in sight. The tide is at its lowest point now and there is a strip of sand below the cliffs all the way to Mewslade. Instead of going back up the cliff top I can go along the beach.

I set off along the beach .....

......

All is well, I am enjoying the walk, but now my way is barred by rocks stretching out into the sea.

The low rocks are not the problem ,it is the six feet wide strip of water I have to cross to reach them. There is a small rock midway,just under the water that I can use as stepping stone.. I jump, the rock is slippery. It wasn't a good idea and now my boot is full of water. However, despite the wet foot I quickly get over the rocks and down onto the sand again.

The tide has turned and has started to come in but I have plenty of time to reach Mewslade. The headland is Tears Point and the white dots at the bottom of the hill are the dinghies.

There is no shortage of rocks for climbers to test their skill..

This would be a just little more difficult to climb..

I have reached Mewslade Beach and the tide is coming in quite fast..

A fisherman gets his tackle ready. He tells me he is going to fish from the beach for Bass..

I leave the beach and walk up the valley towards Lower Pitton Farm.

Because some of the pathways are still closed to walkers, I must make my way back to Rhossili by the main road..

Along the road to Rhossili is the hamlet of Middleton. Just a little way to go now and my walk is ended.............'bye..