President’s Challenge: Wales Coast Path Walking Weekend

I alluded in my last blog to a walking weekend where those of us participating in the current President’s Challenge, those who undertook the previous challenge and those who just fancy a bit of a walking weekend could all meet up on the Wales Coast Path and walk, talk, eat, drink and generally be sociable in a way we haven’t been able to for so long.

The Walking Weekend Working Group (both of us!) met up last week and the arrangements are now in place. The dates for the Walking Weekend will be 17-19 June 2022 and is open to those who want to come for the whole weekend or those who just want to walk on the Saturday or Sunday. You don't need to be doing the President’s Challenge, just come and join us in doing a stretch of the Wales Coast Path.

Our plan is to complete an eight mile walk on Saturday 18 June, starting from the campsite with an evening barbecue on the site, followed by a shorter four mile walk on the Sunday, finishing with a pub lunch for those who wish to participate.

The campsite we are using is Acorn Camping and Caravan Park, Ham Lane South, Llantwit Major CF61 1RP. It has pitches for caravans, camper vans and tents, and good facilities and is a short walk from the Wales Coast Path. You can book by phoning 01446 794024 or emailing the campsite directly. Please say that you are with the Julie Barratt group, so that the site manager can try and keep us together as far as possible.

There is plenty of bed and breakfast accommodation in Llantwit Major, which is not far from the site and you can see what’s available here. Get in touch with me if you are stuck and I'll see what I can do to help.

We plan to have lunch on Sunday 19 June at The Old Swan Inn in Llantwit Major, at the end of route of that day’s walk. Again, if you want to book lunch please call the pub 01446 792230 or email them directly. We have a held booking time for 12.30pm and please say you are with the Julie Barratt group. If you stay for lunch, we should be finished by 3.30pm at the latest allowing plenty of time to get home, but I’ve checked with the campsite and there should be no problem extending your stay if you want to stay for an extra couple of nights.

The itinerary for the two walks will be as follows:

Saturday 18 June: an eight mile (approx.) walk made up of the Coast and Light House Walk (Vale Trail 2) and the Celtic Crosses and Coastal Walk (Vale Trail 3) - both maps downloadable here.

Sunday 19 June: a four mile walk (approx.) exploring the Cwm Col-huw valley and St Illtud’s Church, located on the site of the oldest college on the UK, believed to have been founded as Cor Tewdws in AD395 by Roman Emperor Theodosius II.

We will all be walking together so no one will get lost, or alternatively, all of us will get lost!

If you plan to come either for the whole weekend or just to join us on Saturday or Sunday, please drop me an email so that we know to expect you. I hope that loads of you will join us, for some or all of the weekend. The scenery is beautiful, the walking isn’t too taxing, the weather should be nice and the company will be great.