'GLAMORGAN SEASCAPE PATHWAYS' June 2003

Glyndŵr Publishing 144 pages paperback illustrated - supported by a Millennium Commission WCVA Arwain grant.

FELLOW OF THE MILLENNIUM AWARD (FMA)

Western Mail : Bookcase, 16th August 2003 By Dean Powell

‘Yet another publication to add to the ever-growing Breverton library of Welsh history – this time a very interesting ramble across the South coastline. Inspired by the desire to lobby for Heritage Coastline status from Gileston to Cardiff Bay, and therefore extend the title that exists  on the seashore from Porthcawl to Gileston itself, Breverton takes the reader on a journey of his own.

Dismayed by the state of the pathways, he leads this one-man campaign to attract more interest in the 52 walks described, with emphasis on such picturesque spots as Penarth, Sully, Barry, Rhoose and Aberthaw. Ramblers will love it, and armchair devotees can easily imagine the beauty from the descriptive passages, or maybe it will be enough to inspire them to drop the TV dinner and take a stroll.

Bookcase Rating: *** Bookcase Says: ‘Definitely a book to take on a walk on a summer’s night. Or maybe a weekly trek from cove to cove.’ If you like this, you’ll love: The Rough Guide to Wales.’

Phil Carradice, write and broadcaster: ‘Glamorgan Seascape Pathways is “well-researched and well written… a lot of information but it is presented in a totally accessible and user-friendly manner… a good idea for a book, one that will be useful to anybody who is interested in the topography, geography and history of the southern Vale of Glamorgan, either as a walker, or as an armchair traveller… fascinating”.

Western Mail 2nd August 2003

Terry Breverton believes in giving value for money, but it is still amazing how much info he crams into a slim book like this. There are practical details about the main walks, which stretch west from the Gwent levels to Cardiff bay and on to Gileston. But there are also stacks of local history, ancient and modern, about the buildings and landscapes you see along the way, which makes this good for armchair travellers too. This coastline deserves more recognition.

‘GLAMORGAN SEASCAPE PATHWAYS

This book is written with all Terry Breverton's customary, almost breathless, enthusiasm: from the first page one is swept in his wake, exhorted again and again to walk for health's sake, while the beauties of the coast are extolled and its spoliators castigated. Breverton doesn't mince his words, and unsympathetic and badly planned developments come in for unsparing criticism. This is a warts-and-all guidebook. The book is published with the aid of an ARWAIN grant from the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, on a not-for-profit basis. Many copies have been given away to libraries, the media and Assembly members, with the aim of making more people concerned with protecting and preserving our coastline, historic buildings and countryside.
  The author grew up in the Vale of Glamorgan and returned to live here a few years ago, and although changes mean that he cannot include some of his favourite childhood walks, he has still managed to describe fifty-two in 'the coastal area from Cardiff to Gileston through the vale north to Cowbridge'. The book is divided into nine sections: Walks round Cardiff; Wenvoe and Wrinstone; Penarth; Sully and Cosmeston; Barry; Porthkerry; Rhoose; and Aberthaw. There is a lot of Welsh history crammed in here and information on archaeological discoveries and natural history.
  Not only the past but the future is portrayed too, for example with schemes for the regeneration of Barry. There are no maps, as their inclusion would have made the book too unwieldy and, as Breverton rightly says, the OS Explorer which he recommends shows all the footpaths in great detail. In fact his instructions are so clear you could probably manage without a map. There are many good black and white photographs by Cathy Crompton and Martin Green. There are also several appendices: the 45 mediaeval churches in the Vale of Glamorgan; descriptions of the Vale's Rivers; and one devoted to Llancarfan because it is a 'Landscape of Outstanding Historical Interest'.
  Terry Breverton has done the walks in winter to ensure they are passable in any weather and indicates their suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs. If ever there was a passionate guidebook this is it. Sue Passmore - A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council

INDEX OF CONTENTS FOR 'GLAMORGAN SEASCAPE PATHWAYS'

LIST OF WALKS

The book is divided into:
WALKS AROUND CARDIFF
1 EASTERN SEA WALL
2 Cardiff City Centre
3 Cardiff Centre to Cardiff Bay
4 CARDIFF BAY - SEASCAPE TRAIL A
5 Cardiff Castle to Llandaff
6 Taff Trail
7 Roath Park
8 CARDIFF BAY TO PENARTH HEAD (not yet completed) -SEASCAPE TRAIL B

WALKS AROUND WENVOE AND WRINSTONE
9  Wenvoe Village Trail
10 Wenvoe Church to Wenvoe Castle
11 Wenvoe Church to St Lythans to Twyn-yr-Odyn
12 Wenvoe Church to Wrinstone
13 Wenvoe West Circular to Burial Chambers and Dyffryn Gardens
14 Wenvoe Circular
15 Short Walk East of Wenvoe
16 Long Walk West of Wenvoe
17 St Nicholas to Tinkinswood Burial Chamber to Dyffryn Gardens

WALKS AROUND PENARTH
18 PENARTH HEAD TO PENARTH PIER AND ESPLANDE (not yet   completed) - SEASCAPE TRAIL C
19 Steep Holm Island
20 PENARTH ESPANDE TO LAVERNOCK (to Cosmeston Lakes, circular) - SEASCAPE TRAIL D
21 Town Trail 1
22 Town Trail 2

WALKS AROUND DINAS POWYS
23 Dinas to Michealston le Pit
24 Dinas to Lavenock

WALKS AROUND SULLY AND COSMESTON
25 LAVERNOCK TO ST MARY'S WELL BAY TO SULLY ISLAND - SEASCAPE TRAIL E
26 Cosmeston to Sully
27 Cosmeston to Old Cogan to Penarth
28 Cosmeston Nature Ramble Short Walk
29 Cosmeston Park Brookside Walk
30 Cosmeston Nature Trail Long Walk
31 SULLY ISLAND TO BENDRICKS ROCK - SEASCAPE TRAIL F

WALKS AROUND BARRY
32 BENDRICKS ROCK TO BARRY DOCKS TO JACKSON'S BAY - SEASCAPE TRAIL G
33 JACKSON'S BAY TO PEBBLY BEACH/ COLD KNAP
34 Barry Centre Circular
35 Flat Holm Island
36 Lost Villages of Highlight and Merthyr Dyfan
37 Highlight to Dyffryn
38 COLD KNAP to PRTHKERRY (TO RHOOSE) - SEASCAPE TRAIL

WALKS AROUND PORTHKERRY
39 PORTHKERRY TO RHOOSE - SEASCAPE TRAIL J
40 Dyffryn to Porthkerry
41 Porthkerry Park Circular

WALKS AROUND RHOOSE
42 Rhoose - (Fonmon) - Penmark - Llancarfan - Llanbethery - Llancadle
43 Llanbethery - Flemingstone - St Mary Church - Old Beaupre
44 Llancarfan Northern Circular
45 RHOOSE POINT TO FONTYGARY BAY - SEASCAPE TRAIL K

WALKS AROUND ABERTHAW
46 Aberthaw Blue Anchor to Pleasant Harbour to Gileston
47 FONTYGARY TO ABERTHAW TO LIMPERT BEACH - SEASCAPE TRAIL L
48 Limpert Beach to Gileston to St Tathan to East Orchad Castle
49 St Tathan to Castleton to Llanbethery to Llancadle
50 Aberthin to Stalling Down to St Hilary
51 St Hilary to Flemingstone to St Tathan
52 Bonvilston Circular Southern Loop

PLACES TO VISIT – opening times and costs
BARRY – Pleasure Park, Railway heritage Centre, Triassic Towers, Pierhead and Flat Holm Project, Welsh Hawking Centre
CARDIFF – Castle and Grounds, City Hall, Cathays park Cemetery Trail, Millennium Stadium, Museum of Welsh Life and St Ffagans Castle, National Museum and Gallery, New Theatre, Parc Cefn Onn, Roath Park, St John the Baptist Church
CARDIFF BAY – Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village, Butetown History and Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre, Cardiff Cats – Boats, The Coal Exchange, Craft in the Bay, Lightship (Goleulong), Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Pierhead Building, Techniquest
COSMESTON – Medieval Village
DYFFRYN GARDENS
FONMON CASTLE AND POOL
FONTYGARI Holiday and Leisure Park
LLANDAFF Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace
PENARTH – Pier, Waverley and Balmoral Pleasure Steamers, Water Bus, Turner House Gallery, Washington Gallery
PORTHKERRY Country Park
SULLY ISLAND, Avalon Beauty Spa

POSTSCRIPT – Walks in February and March 2003

APPENDICES
A The 45 Medieval Churches of the Vale o Glamorgan
B Vale Rivers - Thaw, Kenson, Coldbook, Cadoxton, Ely
C Llancarfan