Time to go west, we decided, and headed for lunch in a pub in Llangennith that had been recommended to us, followed by a walk at Whiteford Sands. But first, a stop on Cefn Bryn, the ridge of common land that runs for five miles through the Gower peninsula, to find the Neolithic burial chamber (dolmen) called Arthur's Stone.
Two rooks flying over the Loughgor estuary
'I've found it!'
'Ah, but do we know for sure that Arthur was there?' a friend would ask a week or so later, and the answer, of course, is no, we don't. But we do know that he progressed east along the other side of the Loughgor estuary, through Carmarthenshire, and shook a stone from his shoe, because this is the very stone, which, having flown through the air across the river, landed on the opposite bank. Proof!
Looking towards Burry Port ...
... and Llanelli
It was such a staggeringly beautiful spot, even when scads of rain came bowling up the estuary (but miraculously didn't touch us).
And back at the car park, looking south, Lundy Island in the Channel, which I still haven't managed to visit (though I long to) on account of having a dog.
Scarlet waxcaps
After lunch in the King's Head in Llangennith, we headed for Cwm Ivy, just beyond Llanmadoc, and a walk through pine woods to the sand dunes and salt marsh that line the River Loughgor at its estuary.
Unfortunately the Northerner's bad knee was troubling him so we couldn't walk as far as the cast-iron lighthouse at Whiteford Point, although it was visible in the distance.
CLOCKWISE from top left: Scotch rose; Sand Viper's Gloss and Autumnal hawkbit; Small restharrow; Autumnal hawkbit
Beyond the warth is Whiteford Sands. After a blow along the beach, we looped back through the dunes and slacks to regain the pine wood and, eventually, Cwm Ivy.
Once back, we settled in at the very dog-friendly cafe for Cappuccino and a fully-justified brownie apiece, while enjoying the view. A memorable day.
mermaid's purse and oystercatcher feathers
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