My walk this week took me round Swansea University’s new Bay Campus on the seafront along the eastern approach to Swansea. It was a sunny(ish) Saturday morning and the place was fairly quiet. As I strolled through the large open spaces between the buildings I thought “this is very nice and new in the sunshine, but they’re not going to like it much when the bad weather blows in!”
I started my photography of the walk on the seaward side of the campus and found, down on the beach looking out across Continue reading→
While the seaweed was doing a good job of clinging to the wire of the barrier fence around Colwyn Bay’s dilapidated pier (see yesterday’s post), the crustaceans that collected on the fence further towards the sea line, were being super-efficient about it!
My short walk this week across the beach at Colwyn Bay in North Wales presented some fabulous patterns. The dilapidated state of the old pier was protected by these barriers which have clearly been there long enough to gather a healthy collection of seaweed.
Approaching the steep descent to Rhosilli from up on Rhosilli Down and towards the end of my walk this week on the Gower Peninsula, my knees had just about had enough for the day.
The views had been and still were spectacular but the height I had to climb down from can be seen in the footpath photo below. That is not the path that I would follow as that one descends right down to the beach and Rhosilli itself is at the top of the cliffs from which that path clings. However, the way for me would still be steep and my knees had decided to complain.
I postponed the inevitable and took some more shots of the wall and fence near the start of the downhill track and the distant threatening weather (see tomorrow). Finally, though, I plucked up the courage and began literally inching my way painfully down the slope. My only other option would have been to call for a helicopter and things weren’t so bad to tempt me to suffer that embarrassment.
I reached the bottom eventually and after returning home, spent the next couple of days with my feet up! This is not something that often happens to me but for whatever reason, occasionally my knees protest. Certainly I have always preferred ascent to descent.
The wind was quite calm at this point on my walk and so the sound clip below is mostly the continuous motion of the sea. The sound is not rhythmical as you might expect of waves, but it is quite distinct from the sound of the wind.
Sound of the Sea
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Reasons to visit Swansea beach – none needed, go anyway and enjoy a walk in the sea scented space and listen to the waves as they lap or pound on the sea wall and steps. If the tide is out, then the space is that much greater and you can have the give of the sand under your feet instead of the hard concrete of city streets. Rain or shine, windy or still, the sensations are there for anyone and everyone.
Waves on Promenade Steps
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I am not often walking on Swansea Bay when the tide is in – for some reason it seems to be out far more often. This must be coincidence but it means that when I am there when the tide is high, it feels new and fresh, a bit like the way snow changes the landscape.
The tide was not particularly high on this occasion but it was still lapping at the foot of the promenade steps and this, for me, is an almost iconic sound of the place. So click the play button below for an aural backdrop to the images posted about my walk this week. Click the first thumbnail image to view them in sequence.
Waves on Promenade Steps
If viewing this in an email, to see the sound player you will need to visit the blog – please click the post title to view the full post.
Swansea harbour sea wall is, to my mind, an amazing structure. The textures, colours and patterns of this seemingly huge scabrous metal arm that reaches far out into the bay intrigue and fascinate me. I say “seemingly” and “intrigue” because of the deceptive sense of scale that it presents to the walker as you proceed towards it along the beach.
Until you are standing right next to it, you do not realise how much it will tower above you. No doubt this has to do with its length relative to its height – a length that helps guide some of the flotsam and jetsam up to the top of the beach.
You can see the rain clouds moving away into the distance at this stage of my walk along Swansea Bay. The scene doesn’t lighten much but at least the rain is gone.
These different views from the promenade show where my walk is headed and as I descended to the beach, the patterns of stones and ripples in sand and water caught my eye.
I started my photography of the walk on the seaward side of the campus and found, down on the beach looking out across Continue reading
