Coastwalk

Carmarthen → Ferryside

Distance: 9.56 miles
Ascent: 335 metres
Duration: 3 hours 7 minutes

Doggy day
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Directly after passing this dilapidated cottage, the path along the east bank of the Afon Tywi disappeared. We wasted an hour or so clambering over badly rusting gates, trudging through sodden boggy fields before we were finally greeted at Towy Castle by two dogs, one of whom took a good bite at my boot.

Earlier our lives had been spared by chains that kept two salivating Alsatians just inches away from the path; a little later we passed a man holding back another angry dog by means of a sling wrapped round its waist. It's been a doggy day.

Once more we curtailed our walk. Ten miles was enough, so from Ferryside we took the train back to Carmarthen. Beside the station, three men in the signal-box still manage the traffic by clanking levers that operate manual semaphore signals.

The slow pace of the railway contrasting with the speed of the dogs means I have no easy way to characterise the walk. A strange day.