I didn’t have too far to drive today for our Walking Well Walk as it started in our village, Llansadwrn, the centre of my universe! I was too lazy to walk up the hill so I drove and parked outside the local pub, The Sextons, before we all set off walking down the old Roman road to Llanwrda.
Now I always thought that the Romans built straight roads but this one certainly has a few curves and bends in it and a stream to cross too.
The most important fact about this road is that there are definitely a few ups….
and more ups….
followed swiftly by some downs….
and even more downs….!
Until at last we reached Llanwrda village. It’s a great place with a lovely and interesting history. Walking through the village we came to the footpath leading to the village school which closed in July 2016. The school, the Cornwallis Almshouse and the three and a half acres of land surrounding it are owned by the Letitia Cornwallis Trust. Letitia Cornwallis left £400 in the 1730’s to house spinsters of sound repute. Since then the almshouse has been turned into flats which are now empty. The place has now fallen into disrepair and funding is being sort to rejuvenate the almshouse and save its future. It is a graded building as it is an example of a Georgian almshouse of remarkable scale and design.
All this wonderful information came from one of the hard working volunteers who happened to be on site when we passed and gave us a very interesting short talk about the Trust.
Of course as we had come down, down down the hill into the village it was now time to go up, up up a hill to get back onto the road that leads to Llansadwrn.
The good thing about getting higher are the views over the hills and the Brecon Beacons. It would have been even better if the sun had been shining and no low clouds to block the view!
The public road we were walking on passes through the centre of a farmyard. The resident chickens didn’t seem to mind!
Continuing along the road we passed some wonderful gates and gate posts. Note to self: Must find out the history of the large slate gate posts…where did they come from?
We joined the back road into the village and kept on the road as the fields were too wet to walk on.
Back in the village we passed another lovely gate and some old buildings before we all got in our cars and came home to Lletty Cottage for some coffee and cake! Thank you Philip for a lovely walk and for doing a recce in the week.
Last week Jim and I had a lovely walk front our front door down the road to Abermarlais. ( where Letitia Cornwallis used to live in a mansion- which sadly was demolished in the 70’s) . The land though is now a wonderful caravan site and a beautiful setting with a river and snowdrop clad banks.
Very excited to find some hair ice ( Thank you Mr T!)
We’ve had a few really sunny days so we made the most of the sunshine and went to Mumbles. I have fond memories of the little town as my parents lived there. It’s not the same now!!! It was absolutely packed with visitors and all the little shops have disappeared and shops like Joules, Seasalt and the like where there on the front. It’s different, vibrant and still beautiful!
We walked up to the castle to see the fine vies over the town towards the pier and lifeboat station.
In the town we found an excellent cafe to enjoy our lunch…it was buzzy and lovely!
We walked along the sea front and watched the oyster catchers catching oysters!!
There were cycles to hire if only you can understand the instructions!
Back home we have had some wonderful sunsets and sunrises to enjoy. It isn’t sunny here all the time but it is beautiful!
Of course our resident ‘police cat’ who watches everything in his garden is always out on patrol checking the pheasants, the mice and the birds. He has never caught anything but he watches and stays alert at every sound!!
Thank you for reading and hope you can have a chill out somewhere pleasant too!
