As part of the group’s 25th Anniversary celebrations William opted to lead a 12-mile hike and played host to a group of 19 walkers who gathered at the ruined gatehouse of the 13th century Barry Castle, built as a fortified manor house and the home of the powerful de Barry family.
Leaving Park Road in dry but overcast weather and descending Fishpond Hill, steep steps cut into the hillside led them down into Cwm Barri and crossing a footbridge over the Barry Brook to head into Porthkerry Country Park, a muddy path beside the main Vale railway line led them uphill through woodland and across West Ridge.
More mud came in the descent to cross the Whitelands Brook for the gradual climb through fields to carefully cross the A4226 at Welford and into boggy fields behind Blackton Farm. Then following a farm track with its neatly cut hedges to the road and into Penmark village, they made for the Church of St Mary for morning break accompanied by slices of cake baked by John R and a WH Davies poem read by William.
A Fleeting Passion …
Thou shall not laugh, thou shall not romp,
Let’s grimly kiss with bated breath;
As quietly and solemnly
As Life when it is kissing Death.
Now in the silence of the grave,
My hand is squeezing that soft breast;
While thou dost in such passion lie,
It mocks me with its look of rest.But when the morning comes at last,
And we must part, our passions cold,
You’ll think of some new feather, scarf
To buy with my small piece of gold;
And I’ll be dreaming of green lanes,
Where little things with beating hearts
Hold shining eyes between the leaves,
Till men with horses pass, and carts.
Continuing their journey more muddy fields and a flooded underpass led them towards the northern perimeter fence of Cardiff Airport and onto the road at Nurston for their trip southwards along Old Port Road to join the party at the Blue Anchor just as a few spots of rain began to fall.
The forecasted heavier rain began to fall during lunch and after catching up with friends new and old, delicious food, a speech and toasts it was time to don their muddy outer garments and boots for the return journey to Barry.
They headed through Pleasant Harbour, up the cliff steps and through Fontygary Leisure Park to Fontygary Bay where the cliff falls during 2017 means part of the Wales Coast Path is closed as the path is deemed to be unsafe.
So, making their way inland for only a short distance via the footpath diversion and heading along the cliff past the flooded disused old quarries to the Southernmost Tip of mainland Wales at Rhoose Point for a short break, more muddy tracks led them towards Porthkerry Leisure Park.
Passing through the Iron Age fort of the Bulwarks a slippery muddy descent through woodland brought them into Porthkerry Country Park, for a climb up the Golden Stairs in order to make their way back to Barry Castle for a final photograph at the Gatehouse, all very wet but still smiling!