Covid-19 Guided Walk for One. Number 9: Gower – the Walk over Rhossili Down.
Number 9: Gower – The walk over Rhossili Down
Rhossili Down and beach looking north over Llanelli Bay.
This is probably the simplest walk ever described in Mindfully Bertie. On a day like that one in September 2020, it is quite simply sensational. It is a walk that really demands a fine day to take advantage of the spectacular views in all directions.
Red route back via coast path. Green on the beach.
Starting at the National Trust car park
From the car park. The coast of North Devon. England.
From the car park. Lundy Island.
Leave the NT car park on Rhossili Down and head towards the church. It was closed, but has a poignant memorial inside to Evans. A Rhossili man, who perished with Captain Scott on that ill fated adventure to the South Pole.
St Mary the Virgin, Rhossili.
Edgar Evans.
The coast path is signposted by the churchyard follow it a short way to the foot of the Downs.
Follow the coast path sign.
You now have the big choice. Climb up, over and down returning along the foot or vice-versa. We chose up. It’s a steep climb that reveals more and more distant vistas the higher you go.
Choosing the route up to the top of the Downs.
Rhossili Down. Famous for Hang Gliders.
There were hang gliders. You could see Tenby and the Pembrokeshire Coast. Lundy Island. England along the Somerset and Devon Coast towards Ilfracombe. Across the back of the Gower you could see Llanelli Bay, Llanelli, Swansea and the Black mountains and Brecons of distant mountainous Wales. Follow the path that has one or two useful arrow markers all the way along the top and back down again to the back of a caravan site. Once again you have a choice. Turn left along the grassy track and you are on the coast path at the foot of the Downs and above the beach. But note, there is no access to the beach from it. It’s a lovely walk but, if your preference is to walk on the beach itself, turn right along the grassy track to the entrance to the caravan park and find an access to the beach. Either way, the last section of the walk is uphill back into Rhossili.
As free as a bird.
Click on the picture. Turn the sound off and relax.
The glorious panorama from the trig point:
Along the top.
Follow the arrows.
Heading down.
Returning along the coast path (signed).
Day’s end looking across the enormous beach to Worms Head island. What a glorious place this is.
Lighting a Candle for Diddley
Diddley loved these ducks. They came from Oxfam. They have all flown. Downwards and each broke its head off. The biggest broke the lid of the china cistern. Bobby mended each one. Lovingly. By the look of the flame on the candle, they are itching to take off again.
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A stay at the Worms Head Hotel was my first holiday with Tricia and James. James did his best to clear the breakfast buffet and insisted on pinching food from my evening meal. Tricia a few months pregnant with Emily managed to sprain her ankle near the far end of the Worms Head which gets cut off by the tide. So touch and go whether we got back to the main land before the tide marooned us, Happy days!
Memories.! I have been on Worms Head in my younger days. A few weeks ago a group of students had to be rescued by the inshore lifeboat