Two trips along coastal path
ON Sunday, August 21, Brian Lowans led the group on an 11.5mile circular walk in the area southeast of Briton Ferry on a warm and bright day.
It was a walk of two parts, with the first section following the inland section of the Wales Coast Path from Briton Ferry up to Mynydd Dinas and then down to Aberavon, and the second section following the coastal version of the Wales Coast Path along the sands at Port Talbot and back to Briton Ferry.
The walk started from Briton Ferry where the group picked up the inland version of the Wales Coast Path. They followed this path on a long steady uphill climb, then through more open country where members enjoyed excellent distant views, until we reached the day’s high point at Mynydd Dinas. From here the path led them downhill on over 200 steps, until they eventually arrived at the edge of Aberavon. We walked through the town, picked up the regular Wales Coast Path, and followed the
River Afan.
Now they enjoyed a flat coastal walk along the edge of the wide sandy beach for about two miles. As we reached Baglan Burrows, the coast path turned inland alongside the River Neath where they passed the local council’s car park and smiled at the funny names they have given to their winter gritting fleet.
Shortly before the end of the walk they arrived at Brunel’s Tower. Restored in 2009, Brunel’s tower houses the hydraulic accumulator which powered the lock gates and cranes of the unique Briton Ferry floating dock. From this landmark it was a short walk back on a footpath leading to the starting point.
The group’s next walk is on Saturday, September 3, when Barbara Strobel will lead a five-mile walk in the Amroth area.
See www.carmarthenramblers. org.uk/index.html for further details.