The Times - UK (2022-01-01)

the times Saturday January 1 2022

We e ke n d 7

Rhossili Down is a great three-headed

whaleback of a hill on the Gower

peninsula, with the three-mile curve of

Rhossili Bay at its feet. Seen from the

summit, the beach runs north to south

in a flawless arc. Beyond rises the green

double hump of Worm’s Head, a

promontory that darts more than a mile

out into the sea. Descend to find the

dunes of Llangennith, the site of

St Cenydd’s Church, and the tremendous

beach walk back to Rhossili.

Map OS Explorer 164

Start Rhossili car park SA3 1PP (OS ref

SS 415880).

Walk From Rhossili car park return up

road past church (417881); left on path,

past standing stone. In 100m, through

gate (“Rhossili Down”); climb to trig

pillar on the Beacon (420888). Continue

along ridge path, in just under ¾ mile

then bear left past radar station ruins

(418899). Steeply downhill; through gate

on right of caravan park (418908). Pass

shop; left down roadway on to Rhossili

Beach (411909) and homeward walk.

Getting there Bus 118 (Swansea). Road:

A4118 from Swansea then, at Scurlage,

B4247 to Rhossili.

Lunch Worm’s Head Hotel,

Rhossili SA3 1PP (01792 390512;

thewormshead.co.uk).

Information nationaltrust.org.uk

14

Ullapool and Loch Achall, Highlands

How hard is it? 7½ miles; moderate; hill walk

(143947); back to bench. Right on path

for 1 mile; at 2nd tall KG (154951), go

through; left (white arrow) to track; left

to road; right across bridge (155953) to

Loch Achall outflow (163956). Right on

riverbank track to road (157955); left

for 1¾ miles. Working quarry on right;

in 200m, left by cattle grid (132951,

“Ullapool Hill Walks” fingerpost) on path

(green post). In 350m, at fork with green

post in middle (133948), right to bench

(132946) and outward path to Ullapool.

Getting there Bus 961 (Inverness-

Ullapool). Road: Ullapool is on A835.

Lunch Arch Inn, Ullapool IV26 2UR

(01854 612454; thearchinn.co.uk).

Information walkhighlands.co.uk

Rhossili Down and

Beach, Gower

How hard is it? 5 miles;

moderate; one short climb

15

GLAMORGAN

RHOSSILI

Trig

Pillar

Sweyne’s Howes

burial chambers

start

P

Rhossili

Down

The

Beacon

Llangennith

dunes

Caravan

park

St Mary’s Church

Rhossili

Bay

500 metres

Llangennith

Swansea

Cardiff

From the port town of Ullapool, set out
over rugged terrain looking out to the
Summer Isles, and down to Loch Achall.
Map OS Explorer 439
Start Ullapool car park, IV26 2XB (OS ref
NH125941).
Walk Back to cross Quay Street. Down
Market Street; left along A835 (131942).
In 350m, right into Broom Court
(130945). Through kissing gate/KG
(orange arrow, “public footpath”). Path
climbs, then bends left (134944). In
300m, right at bench (132946, (red/
white post). In 350m, pass topograph
(136947); in 400m, fork left in hollow
(139946, red post). In 100m, right at
bench (red post) to climb Meall Mòr

ULLAPOOL

ROSS

AND

CROMARTY

Quay

Street

Market

Street

Broom

Court

Bench

Cattle

grid

A835

Meall

Mòr

500 metres

P

Quarry

Eas Dubh

(waterfall)

Loch

Achall

Ullapool River

Inverness

Edinburgh

Wick

start

16

More walks overleaf

This walk around Kielder Water gives

wonderful winter birdwatching. Pochard

and goldeneye on the water, siskins in

flocks, and crossbills later in the winter

among the trees. Chance of sighting a

sleepy red squirrel too!

Map OS Explorer OL42

Start Kielder Castle car park, Kielder

NE48 1EP (OS ref NY 631937).

Walk Follow purple “Wild Walk”

waymarks past Kielder Castle and on

upriver. In 500m, cross Kielder Burn

(637936). Right on Wild Walk, south

through trees for 1 mile to shore of

Bakethin Reservoir (635921). Continue

along shore for 1 mile as far as the

narrows with the Kielder Column

(644912). Retrace steps; follow Lakeside

Way across viaduct (633923), then

double back left from Bakethin car park

(632926), following brown “Wild Walk”

waymarks to Bakethin wildlife hides

(631919). Return to pond (632925): right,

below viaduct to follow purple “Wild

Walk” waymarks back to Kielder Castle.

Getting there Kielder Castle is signed

from B6320 (Humshaugh-Otterburn)

at Bellingham.

Lunch Anglers Arms, Kielder NE48 1ER

(01434 250230; anglersarms.

business.site).

Information visitkielder.com

Kielder Forest,

Northumberland

How hard is it? 5 miles;

easy; marked forest trails

KIELDER

CASTLE

NORTHUMBERLAND

Kielder

Kielder

Centre

Butteryhaugh

Kielder Column

start

P

Bakethin

Hide

Viaduct

500 metres

Bakethin

Reservoir

Kielder Burn

P

Newcastle

Carlisle

Edinburgh

The Iron Age fort of Eggardon Hill

Spot red squirrels in

Kielder Forest

A trig point above Rhossili Bay

ALAMY