It has been brought to my attention that those of you who have signed up to get an email every time I post a walk are not getting the Google map at the end which shows you where I’ve walked. I don’t know why this is happening because the map is there on the website but in the meantime, if you want to see the map, just click on the “View Larger Map” link at the bottom of the post and the map will appear.

So here I am in Wales again planning a walk to Swansea but having to spread it over two days due to inclement weather. Early afternoon sees me down on the seafront at Aberavon faced with the vast expanse of Aberavon beach. 

The beach is empty apart from a few fishermen and the damp sand makes for easy walking. The official route takes you through the dunes but someone ‘s been having fun with the signposts so I decide to stay on the beach and head up into the dunes further up.

This is a mistake as by the time I need to head inland the dunes are very steep and very hard work. After a lot of exertion I manage to get to the top of one where I can see more clearly in which direction I’m supposed to be walking but a passing local with an extremely slobbery dog tells me that I may have trouble getting through.

I know I cannot cross the River Neath up ahead and I can see the power station that stands in my way. If the walker is right I’d have to come all the way back – I turn around and head for the road which winds back inland through sad streets of pebble dash and yellowing net curtains. Eventually I join up with cycle path 4 which runs parallel to the very busy main road. Reaching the footbridge that spans the road over to Baglan station I decide to carry on up a minor road running parallel to the A48 and eventually end up in Briton Ferry. A sign catches my eye….Later I discover the connection between Bbowa and Briton Ferry is an educational one. This run down town in South Wales is involved in Care For Uganda, a sponsorship programme which aims to give all its children a proper school education. My mind goes back to the time I spent teaching primary school children in Uganda some years ago. Sixty to a class and about 10 pencil stubs between them. Most of them walked barefoot the five miles to school, some without breakfast. It was a real eye opener for me………

Distance: 6 miles