It cannot have escaped your attention that Glamorgan has a spectacular coastline. And as you would expect, that comes with a wealth of maritime tradition and history.
It was from these shores that Captain Scott set sail on the Terra Nova to explore the South Pole. In the 18th and 19th Century, millions of tons of coal and iron were exported from docks along this coast such as Cardiff, Barry and Swansea. And famous sea farers such as Thomas Matthews, Admiral of the Royal Navy fleet and the pirate Henry Morgan were both born here. Along with countless others.
In fact, several global sea faring traditions owe their origins to Glamorgan sea farers. Including the tale of Davy Jones’ locker which has inspired novels and Hollywood film plots by the ton. The name Davy is believed to be an anglicised corruption of Dewi. The Welsh equivalent of David.
If you are curious to discover more about this aspect of Glamorgan history, the Glamorgan History Walks are a great place to start. We have a series of walks that visit places which tell each part of the story of this county’s maritime history.
Here are the places we visit, the stories attached to them and the dates of the walks they are visited on. If you click on the date of the walk, it will open a page of information about that walk, and you will be able to buy tickets.
Ports, harbours and docks
We try and cover as many chapters of the region’s history as possible. Some of the places we visit were significant ports in the medieval period. They include Kenfig and Newton in Porthcawl. You can visit those places on these walks:
- Kenfig Castle [11th May]…[1st June]
- Kenfig and Sker [24th May]…[27th July]…[14th Sept]
- Newton and Candleston [21st Sept]
The site of Cardiff’s medieval port may come as surprise to many. But we visit that on our city centre walks – Cardiff Historic City Centre (using John Speed’s map of 1610) [8th June]…[10th July]
Aberthaw has been a port since the medieval period too. It became the busiest port in the county until Cardiff took its crown during the industrial revolution. We visit that and the remains of the old lime works. Aberthaw and Fonmon [22nd June]…[9th Aug]
Finally, Barry. Once the biggest coal exporting dock in the world. Also features on our walks. Barry Island [18th May]…[19th June]
Pirates, wreckers, smugglers and scoundrels
Not all of our connections with the sea are wholesome. In fact, the most interesting stories concern our colourful outlaws. Walk in their footsteps, see their hides and hear their stories. The walks where you hear the most about Pirates, wreckers and smugglers are the following:
- Dunraven and Ogmore [5th May]… [28th Sept]
- Llantwit Major and the Castle Ditches [12th June]
- Port Eynon [28th June]
- Reynoldston [29th June]
- Llantwit Major Blue Plaques [24th July]
- Aberthaw and Fonmon [22nd June]…[9th Aug]
- Monknash and St Donats [19th July]…[17th Aug]
- Barry Island [18th May]…[19th June]
- Sully and Cosmeston [16th Aug]
Lighthouses, maritime architecture and landmarks
We also visit some important buildings associated with our maritime history. Including:
- Nash Point lighthouse: Monknash and St Donats [19th July]…[17th Aug]
- St Donats watch tower: Monknash and St Donats [19th July]…[17th Aug]
- Barry watch tower: Barry Island [18th May]…[19th June]
- Lavernock Point: Sully and Cosmeston [16th Aug]
- Breaksea Point: St Athan [3rd July]
- Sker Point: Kenfig and Sker [24th May]…[27th July]…[14th Sept]
- The Holm islands (we look at them rather than visit them): Sully and Cosmeston [16th Aug]
- Sully Island: Sully and Cosmeston [16th Aug]
- The Lougher estuary: Reynoldston [29th June]
Shipwrecks
The Bristol Channel is notorious. An incredibly dangerous waterway to navigate. On our walks we also visit the site of many shipwrecks. They include:
- Tusker Rock: Dunraven and Ogmore [5th May]… [28th Sept]
- Black Rocks at Newton: Newton and Candleston [21st Sept]
- Sker beach: Kenfig and Sker [24th May]…[27th July]…[14th Sept]
- The Nash: Monknash and St Donats [19th July]…[17th Aug]
- South Gower coast: Port Eynon [28th June]
Come and join us on any of our walks. We’d love to see you.
A full list of walks in this year’s itinerary are available on this link. You can also read reviews of people who took part last year here.
So go ahead. Choose a walk. And I’ll see you there.
