Category Archives: Travel

Sounds of Swansea Bay Cycle Path

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For all the years I have lived near Swansea, I have never walked the full length of the cycle/footpath from Swansea to Mumbles, just different parts of it at different times.

The path runs along the top of the beach from Swansea’s maritime quarter right round to Mumbles Lifeboat Station. On the other side is Oystermouth Road, a busy road along which tourists must drive as well as locals to reach the Gower Peninsula, one of Wales’ most popular areas and was designated as the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956.

Despite the proximity of Oystermouth Road, the sound clips I recorded recently might suggest that the road is much further away than it is. There was plenty of traffic on it at the time but the light breeze was blowing away from the cycle/footpath and so even for my iPhone, this was not the predominant sound.

Swansea Cycle Path 1

Swansea Bay Cycle Path

Swansea Bay Cycle Path

Swansea Bay Cycle Path

Pen y Fan – The Big Picture

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Having posted about focus and time, here is some physical photographic evidence of me “adjusting my focus” and “allowing the time” to stand back and look at the “big picture” – enjoy the view of Pen y Fan from Brecon, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales.

Pen y Fan from Brecon

Pen y Fan from Brecon

Not Alone in the Wilderness

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The sheep in this landscape enjoy the comfort of each others company in the wilderness of Galloway in SW Scotland . . . but the pheasant is asking for it as is typical of pheasants!

flock of sheep

Galloway scenery

pheasant in a field

The Road to Borgue and Back Again

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My walk along the Borgue road in Galloway, SW Scotland, was about an 8 mile round trip. This rusty bench was at the side of the road at my turning point, just above Kirkandrews. Old but not out of use, it was a welcome resting place for a few minutes.

Maybe next time round I make do a StillWalks production day of it and capture the sounds as well as the sights.

country seat

bluebell wood

A Pirate Laid To Rest

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The skull and crossbones gravestone is just one of the things that makes the old graveyard at Kirkandrews on the Galloway coast in SW Scotland is a fascinating place.

There are thousands of wrecks around the coastline of Britain but pirates did not usually merit a marked grave in the local cemetery. This one must have held some honour amongst the locals!

There are a number of other interesting gravestones in the cemetery, some of which have faces, others have intriguing patterns and motifs.

pirate's gravestone

Kirkandrews Kirk

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Kirkandrews is a tiny wee place but worth a visit if you are ever in the Galloway area of SW Scotland.

We first visited this place with the kids about 10 or 15 years ago. I am still impressed with my girls’ stamina and enjoyment of what was a fair length of walk for young children. We had an unexpected surprise in the graveyard a few yards down the road from the kirk but you will have to wait until tomorrow for that.

Kirkandrews Kirk

Kirkandrews Kirk