Saturday 14 May 2011

Hidden Secrets of Wales.

After some discussion with the camp proprietor it was decided to visit Port Eynon and Rhossili today. We tried to obtain a bus timetable from the internet but it was all double Dutch to us so we set off to catch what we knew was the first bus available to us. The first driver was very helpful and explained how the bus system around here worked.

Rhossili Bay.Rhossili Bay.

Worms Head, Rhossili Bay, Wales.Worms Head, Rhossili Bay, Wales.

Caravan Campsites adorn the Rhossili Bay area. Broughton Bay in the background.Caravan Campsites adorn the Rhossili Bay area. Broughton Bay in the background.

Nothing could have prepared us for what was to follow. Driving down narrow lanes to reach little villages where at the terminus the driver turned the bus in the bare minimum of space to drive back the way he had come. What would have been a 15 minute drive in a direct route turned into a three quarter of an hour trek. At Scurlage we were told we had to change buses for Rhossili Bay but the driver wouldn’t open the door until the other bus arrived and then we just stepped from one bus straight onto the other. How neat was that and we did it twice.

Burry Holm. The point between Rhossili and Broughton Bays.Burry Holm. The point between Rhossili and Broughton Bays.

The cliff's out to Worms Head, Rhossili Bay.The cliff's out to Worms Head, Rhossili Bay.

St Mary's church, Rhossili.St Mary's Church, Rhossili.

The causeway out to Worms Head. Only accessible 2 hours each side of low tide.The causeway out to Worms Head. Only accessible 2 hours each side of low tide.

Wild pony Rhossili Downs, Wales.Wild pony Rhossili Downs, Wales.

At Port Eynon when it was time to go back to camp we caught the bus which took us back to Rhossili Bay where we had been a couple of hours earlier. Despite each bus carrying the same service number each bus service covers different villages and you can finish up travelling all over the Gower Peninsula to still finish up where you want to go. We actually travelled on 4 different services so got our moneys worth out of a Gower Coast Day Ticket.

Oxwich Tower looks derelict but has in fact been restored as a cottage.Oxwich Tower looks derelict but has in fact been restored as a cottage.

Oxwich Tower, Wales.Oxwich Tower, Wales.

The funny part about all this bus travel was that 95% of the passengers were trampers or hikers who appeared to be using a combined bus and walkway map which showed them all coastal walkways and buses that connected with them.

The 16th C Salthouse, Port Eynon. The original owner made money through Piracy to pay for it.The 16th C Salthouse, Port Eynon. The original owner made money through Piracy to pay for it.

Inside the 16thC Salt House, Port Eynon.Inside the 16th Century Salt House, Port Eynon.

Port Eynon Point.Port Eynon Point.

Despite the narrow roads it doesn’t appear to deter campers from bringing caravans and motorhomes down here as we counted umpteen caravan sites with both permanent and touring caravans. We could see why Rhossili Bay was so popular as the 3 mile long beach of golden sand was an ideal family beach. The scenery is certainly something special and well worth the effort of a visit. Come the summer school holidays we can see the roads around here are going to be as bad as Devon and Cornwall, hectic.

2 comments:

Jenny and Robin said...

What an interesting place, and such wonderful scenery. You are certainly getting your sightseeing fix lately, and we love to see all the photos.

Derek and Dot said...

Hi you two
That didn't take you long! :-) At least the blog will help us to remember it all in our old age. The locals here don't appreciate what they have but the kiwis will find it.