Rain was forecast throughout the day, but only one drop rather than two, so we decided to take our chances.
It was, I realised, as we were en route for Three Cliffs Bay, just over forty years since I'd last been there. Which was also the first time I'd been there. I saw my first-ever CD player that day too. Yes, that long ago, and high time, then, to revisit.
We parked up at the camp site above the bay and made our way down the stony lane to the beach, admiring the last of the flowers.
gorse and devil's-bit scabious
corn marigold
viper's bugloss
We had to cross stepping stones to get to the beach, and I was pleased Cwtch, who was celebrating her fourth birthday, clearly remembered what was required of her from when we were at Ogmore Castle, as she trotted across ahead of us quite happily, despite her dislike of water and the fact the tide was still pretty high and washing over the top of them.
Looking towards Oxwich Bay
According to Google, a labyrinth was first built here in 1974, but was destroyed by a storm. The current one appeared at the turn of the century and still survives.
‘I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow!’
‘Look Cwtch, did you not just hear me say about me
being the wielder of the Flame of Anor?’
All the while we were messing about on the beach, we were aware of Pennard Castle looming on the hill. It was no good, we were going to have to clamber up there. So we did.
The castle was first built in timber on a limestone spur overlooking the bay in the early 12th century, the walls being rebuilt in
stone in the 13th and 14th centuries. Some time afterwards, encroaching sand dunes led to the abandonment of the site, and it fell into ruin. Restoration work was carried out during the 20th
century.
Below in the valley, Pennard Pill looped somewhat picaresquely.
On the way back down to the beach, I watched a colony of ivy bees for a while as they buzzed around their nests in a sand bank.
The tide had receded a fair way by now, and the stepping stones were far less daunting to cross.
'Scared of stepping stones? Me? No, that never happened.'
sea rocket
A curlew feather
Three Cliffs Bay - as lovely as I'd remembered. Better not leave it as long again to go back, else I'll be dead.
