Day 14 Newport Parrog to St. Dogmaels (Finish Line)

Stats for Today:

15.5 miles

910 meters

49,000 steps

2 ciders, 1 G&T

We finally made it to the end of our adventure!  Day 14, the last day of the walk and from all reports was supposed to be the most difficult.  Well, the Path threw everything at us today that it had.  We crossed the bridge from Newport over the Afon Nyfer River and headed back up the river through the dunes and climbed up the cliffs.  The weather was supposed to be just cloudy today but we immediately climbed right up into the clouds onto the cliffs and found that the winds blowing the moisture in the clouds on us felt a lot like rain.  So much so that those of us who did not put rain gear on were soaked to the skin within the first hour of walking.  Fortunately, the temperature was a mild 17 C so we didn't freeze.  Since we couldn't see much up in the clouds for most of the morning, we marched on at a fast clip and had several miles behind us by the time the clouds started to lift and we could see the coast line again.  The vegetation along the cliff side paths was not as high and robust today as in past days so we could see how close the path we were walking along was to the edge of the cliffs, normally around 2 - 3 feet away from a sheer drop to the sea . . . yikes!

So, the Path threw rain and wind at us, some of the highest peaks and cliffs we had hiked along so far, many steep ups and downs as we traversed the numerous inlets, some of them very slippery from the rain, one of the longest distances we had walked, sheer drop offs along side our path but always the incentive that this was the last day of our 300 km walk!!

I have reposted the map of our walk below to illustrate how far we have walked in the last 14 days!

We had heard that the last day was the toughest on this walk so we were mentally and physically prepared for it and having left at 9:15 in the morning, were actually finished and in the pub in St. Dogmaels by 3:30.  St. Dogmaels is a beautiful little village and our pub had a deck where we could sit out in the sun that had finally shown itself and toast our finish along the estuary.  A perfect finish.

We then jumped on a bus back to Newport and had some bubbly and another great pub meal at the Golden Lion to celebrate.

Tomorrow, we are off to London for one more good meal before we scatter. Stay tuned.

Below are some pics from today's walk.

The gang, setting out from Newport for day 14, the final trek.

The guys, enjoying the prospect of only one day left!

A look back on Newport as we started to climb

The clouds capping Dinas Island that we hiked yesterday

Our path and cliffs ahead this morning.

Don trying to convince a local horse that he should carry him the rest of the way today.

Finally, the clouds have lifted and we can see where we are walking.  A natural bridge on the cliffside

We came across this beautiful natural pool where the sea water comes in through the opening from the natural bridge on the left.

More rugged inlets to traverse.  For us this usually means a steep down hill followed by an equally steep uphill.

More beautiful coastline shots.

You can see our path ahead at the edge of the cliffs.

Interesting contours in the rocks forming the cliffs in the distance

Looking back on the cliffs we have just traversed.  You can get a sense for how high we actually are now.

The cool cliffs with the contours up close.  The triangle below looks like a cathedral door.

Finally, the harbour area as we approach St. Dogmaels.  That's Cardigan on the other side of the estuary.

A flock of gulls lounging on the beach.

Finally, our destination!!

Yes, the girls made it too!!  Notice the formal white shirts on the last day . . .

The monuments and the mermaid, denoting the official end of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path

And, of course the final pub!!

The bay at St. Dogmaels looking out across the estuary to Cardigan.

Now time for a rest and time to contemplate next years walk!!!!