It’s a new year and a new strategy would be required because the driving distances were getting longer. We therefore decided to stay away for 2 or 3 nights in order to do 3 days walking in one go. To make life simple I emailed everyone a couple of weeks before and gave them the hotel Dorothy and I would be staying in. It was then up to them whether or not to stay in the same place. We would also continue to shuttle cars.

The Mumbles to Southgate: 6.8 miles (11.0km) +341m -295m (27 March 2015)

For the first two weekends we stayed at the Carlton Mumbles Hotel which was OK for bed and breakfast. Dorothy and I went up on Thursday to check out some of the start and finish places but the remainder arrived early on Friday morning at Southgate. We then took a few cars to Bracelet Bay where we finished walking last year.

This was quite a strenuous walk as it took us along the cliff tops and then down to the beaches of Caswell Bay and Pwlldu Bay. The 6.8 miles was a good warm up for the weekend.

Southgate to Port Eynon: 9.1 miles (14.7km) +204m -260m (28 March 2015)

In the morning we drove to Port Eynon and then back to Southgate to start the day. After a short walk we arrived at Pennard Burrows which was hard walking up and down the dunes. From the beach there was a stiff climb up to cliffs overlooking Three Cliffs Bay.

I noticed that the tide was just going out and if we waited a short while, we would be able to walk along the beach rather than up and down in more dunes. After we rounded Little Tor we dropped down to the beach and had lunch during which time the tide receded. After lunch there was just enough room to go round the headland and there in front of us was a long expanse of beach leading to Oxwich. Over the next 2 miles of beach walking we had the wind and sand in our faces but it was still better than the dunes.

On reaching Oxwich we climbed again to round Oxwich Point and then it seemed a long haul along the coast until we arrived at Horton. It was then just a short walk along the sand to Port Eynon where I was looking forward to a hot drink but being March everything was closed.

Port Eynon to Rhossili: (29 March 2015)

The previous two days had been rather wet and windy but the forecast for today was of gale force winds. When we arrived at Rhossili this was an understatement. It was so windy, you could hardly stand up. It was decided that we would go to the nearby cafe and think about what to do. I was pleased that we were almost unanimous in postponing the walk. I thought that not only would it be uncomfortable walking in that wind but also dangerous. This stretch of the coast path would have to wait for another day.

A windy Rhossili Bay

Total for the weekend: 15.9 miles

Total around Wales: 443.7 miles