Wales Coast Path – Gwbert to Aberporth
Coast Path Vital Stats
Gwbert to Aberporth
- Distance: 8.86 miles
- Elevation Gain Today: 478m
- Highest Elevation: 136m
- Time: 1:44:49
- Av. Pace: 11:50 mins/mile
- Calories: 813
Totals to Date
- Total Distance: 1084.83 miles
- Total Time: 214:19:35
- Total Elevation Gain: 35334m
- Total Calories: 105510
- Distance to go: 23 miles
Another short section of the Wales Coast Path ticked off at the weekend as I close in on the complete circumnavigation. As I had to finish early last time due to an Achilles injury I was a little out of sync with the public transport provisions so today would be a short one to get back on track. Anna dropped me off at Gwbert which saved me re-doing the section between Cardigan and here and also meant that she was available to collect me a little later in the day. As I was only doing around 9 miles she wouldn’t have to wait long for me either.
I actually got dropped off at the top of the hill above Gwbert, just so that I could bag a summit – not a particularly exciting one but as it was there I thought I’d visit it. I then said goodbye to Anna and started jogging down the road to the turning out towards the coast once again. I’d walked along the first part of this field last time but decided that my Achilles was hurting too much so stopped. Today I felt fine. My Achilles was still a little tight but it wasn’t sore and I was trotting along rather than hobbling. The plan today was to try to run the majority of the way – at a slow pace of course as the Coast Path is quite rugged, I was carrying a rucksack and I’m just not very fast these days!
The first section was around the boundaries of various fields of corn, wheat and other crops with views out to Cardigan Island. It was a pretty chilly day with cloudy skies and a stiff wind off the sea. Had I been walking extra layers would have been needed but the cool conditions were perfect for running. Many of the fields were bordered by bright flowers.
The running was relatively easy with the usual twists turns, ups and downs of the Coast Path. Some parts were narrower than others with wet vegetation to push through but quite a few parts were well maintained, wide paths that were perfect for running along. There were a few little bridges to cross and as I rounded the corner onto one I came face-to-face with a fix cub. It obviously hadn’t heard me coming so we were both a little startled. I stopped an let it disappear off into the undergrowth. It’s a good job we only have small mammals here in Wales and not any bears!
Mwnt
Before long the distinctive hill above Mwnt came into sight and I was soon approaching it’s sweep of golden sands. Despite the grey, windy weather there was a family determined to have a picnic on the beach!
In Mwnt I decided to take a small detour up to the top of the hill to bag another summit. I’d already been to the top of this hill, and not that long ago. That time it was just a gentle stroll so I didn’t record it with GPS and therefore hadn’t ‘odfficially’ bagged it. It had also been very misty that day with no views so it made sense to take another look today. There was a large flock of (around 40) Choughs hanging around the hill which was nice to see.
It wasn’t much of a detour, so with ‘summit’ bagged I headed back down and continued on my way.
On to Aberporth
The next stretch was more of the same for a while. The sun started to break through and as I headed uphill and a little inland I was sheltered from the wind somewhat too so quickly warmed up.
I was soon heading through some welcome shade in a little valley woodland and then emerged out onto the roads where I had to leave the coast to go around the military faciltities just outside Aberporth.
From here it was a steep descent on roads and before I knew it I was on the sands of Aberporth.
Strangely, we’d never been here before and it looked like a lovely little seaside village. The lifeguards were on the beach and a group of them had just finished a training session. There were water-craft of every type available for hire and with the sun shining and the place abuzz with people it looked like a typical British seaside resort. I ran through one car park and then dropped back down to another where I found Anna waiting in the car. I’d taken less than 2 hours and it had been less than 9 miles, but it was worth the trip and means there isn’t far to go before I finish this little project of mine.
I had a cold shower – there was an outdoor shower in the car park, got changed and then we headed into Aberaeron for lunch before heading home. As well as having the end in sight, thoughts are already turning to what can be my next project along these lines!
