Trip Report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
Day 1 had gone perfectly.
Day 2 would be problematic. I could hike in the opposite direction from the hostel … but it was unlikely I’d find a bus to get me back.
In the end I decided to take a chance. If I couldn’t find a bus, I’d backtrack the way I came. My turnaround time would be 3pm.
Immediately the scenery was more dramatic than anything I’d seen so far. BIG cliffs.
This rugged, remote area is used for military training. At one point I was forced to walk around a training camp.
Most of my day was walking high cliffs.
The few coves had stairs. Most of them, in any case.
You can see how the earth was flipped 90 degrees at some point in geological history.
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path (opened 1970) is part of the longer Wales Coast Path. Many of these trails have multiple logos.
Though I’d been staying at the the Manorbier Youth Hostel (in Skrinkle), I finally made it to the village of Manorbier.
I’d been looking forward to see the quite intact Manorbier Castle. It’s privately owned now, but public can buy tea and access.
Across the way is the 12th century Norman Church.
More interesting to me was an ancient dovecote. This was home to about 250 birds. Doves and pigeons laid 2 eggs about six times a year. Squabs (4-6 weeks) were an important food source as were the eggs.
I carried on. It was hazy all day, but did not rain.
I saw many hikers.
Finally. Clearwater East Beach. It was here I was hoping to find a bus.
I walked the sand dunes to town.
Bad news. The chap in the ice-cream truck told me buses after Oct 1st only run once a day each way. The bus I needed had past about 2 hours earlier.
I ended my hiking day here. Had a bite to eat at the only pub in town. And retraced my steps, running most of the flat sections.
It was still a terrific hiking day.
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