137. Dinbych-y-Pysgod (Tenby) – Pentywyn (Pendine)

137. Dinbych-y-Pysgod (Tenby) – Pentywyn (Pendine)

Distance: 11.74 miles

Max Altitude: 103 m

Min Altitude: 5 m

Height Gain: 323 m

Height Loss: 343 m

 

I was back on the trail today after a day off yesterday. I had to go on the hunt for a new phone after the demise of the old one. Thrilled with my new addition, I was looking forward to a day of walking and phone photography.

It’s fair to say that over these past few weeks I’ve been spoilt with regards to the weather. Somehow the sun has shone on me almost every day whilst I’ve been in Pembrokeshire. Yes I’ve had a few light showers here and there but I can’t remember the last time I had torrential rain (that’s why I’m writing these blogs…so I don’t have to remember).

That all changed today and not by half either. Torrential would be an understatement. Biblical, more like. Had I not had yesterday off I would probably have retreated indoors when I saw the rain. However, I didn’t want to miss out on yet another day’s walking. So I donned my waterproofs and headed out of Tenby.

I’d love to tell you that it was fresh and bracing and that I loved every second. That would be a massive lie though. I’m not a rain person, never have been, never will be. The truth is that I trudged in misery for miles on end, my new phone firmly in my waterproof pocket. I got to Saundersfoot, somewhere that I’d been looking forward to. The rain poured harder. I continued without a single photo of the village or of anything else for that matter.

On and on I slogged, finally arriving in Amroth. I had reached the end of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

It felt bittersweet.

There was hope of a blue sky in the distance but it felt like Pembrokeshire was spitting me out into Carmarthenshire. I knew that I would miss this section. Despite the struggles and difficulties it had become a part of me. I could foresee spending a lot more time here in the future.

I carried on walking, with the blue sky taunting me in the distance.

By the time I got to Pentywyn (Pendine), the showers were only light but the sea was full of chop. High spring tides were imminent, and coupled with the rain, local residents were out and about preparing for flooding.

There was only one thing for it. I headed into the Springwell Inn pub to dry out. It wasn’t just me who’d had that idea. When I walked through the door there was a topless man at the bar. “Sorry”, he said to me when he caught my eye, “I got stuck in the rain and I’m trying to dry my clothes off”. His coat and sweater were hanging up above the stove.

I sat in the window looking at the dirty storm outside. Another chapter of my journey was over. Pembrokeshire was done and I was feeling nostalgic already.

Leave a Reply

error: This content is under copyright.