Day 16: Llangadog to Glynhir

Today our route took a sharp dog-leg south-west, very obvious on the route map, partly because we are keeping to the south of the Towy valley but also because there was little choice of accommodation. I was not happy that we had to walk half a mile east at the end of the day – but another great day’s walking.

Zoë and Charles delivered a Father’s Day picnic and clean clothes before we left this morning, and a parcel from Corinna was waiting when we arrived tonight. Impressive considering I haven’t received my birthday present from them yet.

It was a very hot day, but initially the lanes were shaded by high banks or trees. The honeysuckle is just coming out, the foxgloves are in full flower but the elderflowers and roses are past their best. We climbed back up the ridge we descended yesterday, but a few miles south-west, then joined the Beacons Way for a stretch. This is a path for walkers carrying food and tents and with more energy than me, as it takes the high paths and there’s nowhere to stay, but we saw none of them today. We found the first proper bog of the walk.

I was very excited to see our Pembrokeshire mountains, the Preselis, in the far west – the end, or at least a high bit near the end, is in sight!

As we descended, we took a diversion to Carreg Cennen, a ruined 12c castle high on a crag, reminding us a little of Lindisfarne. Being suckers for punishment, we left our bags in the tea shop and climbed right to the top. I could have claimed my first concessionary ticket price but I forgot!

We then walked another 4 miles on very hot lanes to reach tonight’s B&B – extremely comfortable and helpful. We get a lift to the pub tonight, first time in a car for over two weeks. We’ve now walked nearly 200 miles and are almost west of Swansea.