It has taken me a month to get these photos up. Every September we take the first Gower bus to Rhossili Bay, and then walk 19 miles on the South Gower coast to the finish in Bishopston. It is like a end of summer ritual, and it is great to see all the usual suspects on the bus each year.
The starting line up for the DimExcuses Big Gower Walk 2015.
You can read about the DimExcuses Big Gower Walk, 2013 by clicking here.
And the following years’ DimExcuses Big Gower Walk, 2014 by clicking here.
Starting in Rhossili the sun was low and Rhossili Down cast a long shadow across the bay. A lovely wave coming in too.
A quick toilet stop, and we head off across the fields towards Port Eynon, soaking up the morning dew in our running trainers. This distance is a bit far for hiking boots. Unless you are really used to your boots, blisters are inevitable. I also advise having two changes of socks.
The dew wasn’t a problem for Huw and Sarah in their Gortex Trail Shoes. They also brought their massive Dire Wolves straight out of Game of Thrones.
We were lucky with some lovely sun all day. By the time we powered in Port Eynon the sun had burned away the early morning mist.
An essential full cooked breakfast stop at Port Eynon and then it was back onto the Wales Coast Path.
Making our way to Oxwich Bay along the Gower Coast. It wasn’t long before we were in the Oxwich Bay Hotel, checking in with family and picking up some more walkers.
We waved good bye to Huw, Sarah and the Wolf Pack at Oxwich, and gained Tony and his dog Ness. Of course we also picked up Molly the French Bulldog.
It was only a matter of time before Molly was at the front, giving advice as we approached Three Cliffs Bay as she knows it so well.
This is a fantastic walk, and the huge Oxwich Bay section just has to be barefoot all the way in the Gower seawater.
That Oxwich Bay walk seems to go on forever.
The tide was out at Great Tor for once, so we were just able to splash around it and into Three Cliffs Bay itself.
From Three Cliffs it was a short walk into Pobbles Bay. Molly never more at home than when she is in Pobbles Bay, but a herd of cows on Three Cliffs was a new one even for her!
A quick liquid refreshment stop at the Southgate Club and then it was onto the final section of Pennard Cliffs and down into Pwll Du Bay.
By this point we have seen nearly all the South Gower Coast and its great Bays.
We are a weary bunch at this point, before the final finishing leg.
But once out of Pwll Du, we arrive in Bishopston and the finish at the Joiners Arms. Good thing the Joiners is a micro brewery, because we deserve a pint of Three Cliffs Gold after nine hours and 19 miles walking.
Another year gone, another summer ended, the seventh Big Gower Walk completed. I expect to see you all there next year, DimExcuses.