SwanseaCAM - 310501 Broughton Bay to Burry Holms

ARCHIVE PHOTOGRAPHS.
Thursday 31st May 2001.
Broughton Bay to Burry Holms.

Weather: Sunny at times.. Temp: 14C

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

Our walk starts from the farm and caravan site at Broughton Bay. Rescued from the seabed, these old anchors are put on display.

Nearby is a tree bearing strange fruit. This collection of boat fenders and buoys have been picked up from the beach after being washed ashore..

This is Broughton Bay. Our destination, the tidal island of Burry Holms, is further along the coast and we start by climbing the sandhills .

We are overlooking Twic Point. You can see Broughton Beach on the other side. .

Looking back from a high point we see the caravan site with Llanmadoc Hill in the background. .

We have arrived at Bluepool Bay. It gets its name from a pool in the rocks and I remember very many years ago when I was a lad coming here to swim in the pool. A steep narrow path leads downwards ending on rocks above the beach. From there,to reach the beach, one has to scramble down over the rocks. I wanted to see the pool again and to get a photo so I continued. .

Near the end of the path, growing out of crevices in the lichen covered limestone rocks, are clumps of pink Thrift. This plant has long roots and can reach down to where the water supply is constant.

We can see the pool now, it doesn't seem as big as I remember it. .

Deserted at present, but I am told the pool is still popular with youngsters looking to cool off on a hot day..

At the other end of the bay there is a passage through the rock..

After leaving Bluepool Bay we walk along the top of the sand hills following the coastline and soon we get our first clear view of the island. The tide is well out so now is a good time to go across.

The most direct route to the island is across these rocks and then over the sandy strip that separates the island from the mainland..I decided it would be better to walk on a bit further and look for an easier way.

Having found an easier route to the island we are now heading towards south western corner. If you look closely you can see rectangular patches where archeological digs have taken place. Burry Holms was first inhabited over 5000 years ago by nomadic hunters during the Mesolithic period. Relics of the Bronze Age have been found and a bank and ditch bisecting the island once formed part of an Iron Age promontory fort. Also on the island are the ruins of a 12th century church.

This is my first visit to Burry Holms and although it is fairly small I'm eager to explore.. Here we are looking towards the sanddunes on Rhossili Beach and in the background is Llanmadoc Hill.

As we move around the edge of the island and look in a southerly direction we see Rhossili Beach stretching away into the distance and now Rhossili Downs form the background. .

Around a bit further and the view changes, we see the distinctive outline of 'the worm'. (Worm's Head)..

Sea Campion and Thrift grows in abundance.

On the northern side you look out into the Loughor Estuary and towards Whiteford Point..

It is time for us to leave Burry Holms .Immediately below is the strip of sand that divides us from the mainland ....

.... so we make our way carefully down over the rocks to the beach, and with a final look at Rhossili Beach we start the walk back to Broughton.