I recently began a walk along the Ceredigion Coastal Path which, as part of the Wales Coast Path, runs from Cardigan in the south over 60 miles to Ynyslas on the northern edge of the county. This is my diary of the event.
Tuesday 28th May 2019 18:51
Location: Pencraig Farm, Cwmpengraig
Distance: 39 miles
Well, that was a surprise. I had struck camp by 10:30 and was on the path to Llanrhystud, the first part is along the beach, large pebbles and fairly good going, then at Aberarth a quick detour off the path, through the village and onto grass. I stopped to chat to a walker heading to Tenby expecting to be there in a couple of weeks. He suggested the Morfa Bychan campsite for a place to stop for the night. I had already contemplated this as a possible stopping place midway between Llanrhystud and Aberystwyth. I figured this would put me in good stead for a final early assault on Aberystwyth before catching the bus back to Cardigan.
The path became a little more undulating now following the line of the sea on my left and the A470 on my right before flattening out into a field-edge path on the approach to Llanon. Here, about two miles in, it became apparent that the blister on my left foot was not going to hold up, that combined with the oncoming wet weather and the path fortuitously depositing me on the A470 in Llanon, led me to the snap decision to jump on the next bus to Cardigan. At that point a police car pulled alongside.
“Hello, can I ask you your name, sir?”
“Why”, I asked
“Your description fits a missing person”, came the reply.
Assured I wasn’t their missing person they moved off and I headed for the bus stop. The hour and a half it took to get back to Cardigan revised all of the major highlights of the trip so far. Aberaeron High Street, down through the winding streets of New Quay, past the turnoff for distant Cwm Tydu and through a much busier Aberporth than the one I passed though early the previous Saturday. We passed signs for Penbryn, Tresaith and Mwnt before dropping down into Cardigan, Aberteifi. Half an hour later I was on a bus to Newcastle Emelyn, Castell Newedd Emelyn, and back to my starting point at the bus stop outside the Livestock Market.
I hitched up my rucksack and began the long walk back to camp. On reaching Drefach Felindre, the 640 bus sped past. It continues from Newcastle Emelyn all the way to Drefach Felindre. The last three and a half miles hobble over the top of one of the steepest roads around had in fact been a needless exercise, other than to bring my mileage up to that had I made it to Llanrhystud. Lying here now, fed and showered, with throbbing feet, that’s one sacrifice I could have forsaken.
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