What better way to explore the estuary, but aboard the famous paddle-steamer PS Waverley for a rare chance to cruise under the bridges. Join me and my travel companion, visual artist Heather Green, on our half-day cruise to discover more about this wonderful vessel, the last ocean-going paddle steamer in the world, and to learn about some of the delights of sailing in this dynamic, tidally dominated environment.

The PS Waverley – the star of the show?

Sleek and graceful, the recently refurbished PS Waverley glid across the grey sea towards Penarth Pier, watched and photographed by an almost silent, expectant crowd of onlookers. Clearly, the long-standing tradition and popularity of leisure paddle steamers in the Bristol Channel is still alive! Despite being dwarfed by the pier, the Waverley herself promised to be the star of the cruise with her handsome red funnels, well-polished decks and nostalgic charm. There were few thoughts of the possible fragility of such an old vessel, reliant on, what I later discovered, was eighteen century technology – the first ever paddle steamer appears to have been built in France to sail the Doubs.

Once settled onboard, I took an obligatory visit to the recently restored engine to admire this gleaming, mighty piece of engineering on which we would depend to carry us safely and swiftly through the potentially treacherous waters of the upper estuary. Standing among a throng of awe-struck onlookers, we all watched intently as the pistons moved back and forth, providing a reassuring and regular clunking accompaniment, seemingly from a by-gone age. Although the paddles themselves are now largely obscured, their flickering shadows were just visible through misted-up glass windowpanes.

PS Waverley approaching Penarth

 A glimpse of the maritime charm of PS Waverley

Waverley’s engine being admired by keen onlookers

The elegant dining saloon

KEY FACTS ABOUT PS WAVERLEY: Built in 1946 by Inglis in Glasgow, it is now the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world, listed within the UK National Historic Fleet as “a vessel of pre-eminent national importance”. It is powered by a three-crank diagonal triple-expansion marine steam engine. The Waverley underwent a major £7m rebuild in 2000 and 2003. For technical details from the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, click here.

Despite our excellent viewing position on the aft of the observation deck, we eventually ended up, along with what seemed to be nearly everyone else onboard, in the restaurant, not only to warm up and to partake of traditional refreshments (yes, chips were involved), but also to rediscover the nostalgic charm of this art deco dining saloon with its fine wood panelling and elegant ceiling-mounted glass lights.  We were also delighted by the different aspect afforded by the low perspective of the wide saloon windows as we waited reasonably patiently for our evening meal. The charms of the wood panelling did, however, being to fade as we waited SO long, trying not to stare at the mountains of chips being devoured by fellow passengers.

The offshore perspective

As I’m sure you’ll have experienced – one of the fascinations of a cruise is to see your surrounds from a different angle.  Earlier in the day, as we swept out into the Channel, swiftly leaving the pier behind, the scale, openness and expanse of the offshore quickly began to dominate – new geographies of the islands and coast constantly emerged as the resorts and cities which hug the shores receded into the distance. Would we glimpse the ‘dark side of Steep Holme?’ anxiously asked one passenger – well, no, but we would be treated to lots of photographic opportunities and the full range of Severn Shades of grey, green, blue and brown, worthy of a Farrow and Ball or Little Greene colour card, certainly not just the ‘grey-brown’  offered by Peter Finch in his recent book ‘Edging the Estuary’.

A running commentary pointed out key historical landmarks and other attractions along the way.  We learnt lots of new facts about the former and current uses of the coast.  Did you know that there was a nautical college at Portishead, the National Nautical School which, had been created for ‘destitute, neglected and often delinquent boys from Bristol, but which now, like many other imposing buildings with a sea view, has been converted to residential apartments?  Are you aware that there is a tanker storage facility on the coast close to Portishead which supplies Gatwick with aviation fuel?!  Have a look at these online photos to see the scale of this impressive site which was constructed as a Government Civil Reserve in the mid-1950s by ESSO.  I’m sure many of you who have driven along the M5 will be aware that Bristol Port has hectares of vehicle storage but you may be less aware of the large number of giant onshore wind turbines along the waterfront here.  Certainly, the marine perspective offers new glimpses into our estuary’s frequently hidden shores.

Penarth receding into the distance behind the ship’s wake

Passengers on deck sampling the delights of a Waverley cruise

Interesting as the commentary was, neither this, nor indeed, the curious offshore views, managed to entertain certain of the few younger passengers onboard. There was a plaintiff ‘are we nearly there yet?’ query from a very small traveller nearby, merely five minutes after embarking. Enterprising parents quickly devised a game of eye-spy buoy bingo and we were well entertained listening to many excited exclamations, as buoys of various shapes, ­sizes and colours were spied. However, as the game progressed, we were very much aware of the youngsters’ and parent’s confusion as the parent attempted to respond to the question, ‘if that’s a ‘boy’ then where are ‘men?’ May be an opportunity for future educational cruises and commentaries? There may also be a possible role for SEP to supply further information on the natural environment for future cruises?  All good stuff in the commentary, but sadly no information about the natural environment, nor in any of the many available purchases in the ship’s tiny onboard shop. 

Engineering connections – bridges and piers

If the intensity of the clicking of mobile phones and SLR cameras was an indicator of passenger interest, then the piers and bridges were certainly the main acts.   No surprise perhaps given both Penarth and Clevedon piers are rightly celebrated and have been so over much of the last century: indeed, the poet Sir John Betjeman considered Clevedon Pier ‘the most beautiful in England’ and more recently, in a 2024 National Trust survey, Penarth Pier was voted ‘the most special place in Wales’. Even on a somewhat grey dull day, the elegance of the art deco ironwork on Penarth Pier and the Japanese-style pagoda at the Pierhead on Clevedon Pier, was immediately apparent. However, the sheer size, design and strength of the ‘undercarriage’ of both piers was their most impressive feature, as we peered up at them from the deck of the Waverley. Even more amazing was thinking about the perilous construction of these structures in the first place, in such an inhospitable environment and with relatively simple technology –  I learnt afterwards that, not surprisingly, the first attempt to build Clevedon Pier, as early as 1837, had been thwarted by rough seas, causing the structure to collapse.  As we watched the volunteers supporting passengers onto the vessel at Clevedon and Portishead, I was also reminded of the immensely impressive community endeavours associated with these structures. Over many, many decades, local communities have come together to fight and raise money for the restoration and maintenance of these notable landmarks, frequently and seemingly sometimes against the odds, in the aftermath of various storms, natural and economic. What was evident on our short trip was that this community spirit continues.  Even onboard, as passengers from all embarkation points mingled and shared their experiences in a fascinating range of regional accents, new connections were visibly and audibly being fostered across the Estuary.

Clevedon Pier from the deck of PS Waverley

KEY FACTS ABOUT CLEVEDON PIER: 310m long and with 4.3m clearance at high water. The pier opened on Easter Monday, 29th March 1869. It helped provide a new, fast route to S Wales until the Severn Railway Bridge Tunnel opened in 1886. The pagoda and shelters were added in 1894, fashioned on Nash’s Brighton Pavilion. 1970 saw the dramatic collapse of part of the pier. ‘Vocal local support, heritage engineering expertise and lottery funding‘ enabled the Pier to be voted ‘Pier of the Year’ in 1999! The pier has Grade 1 listed status.

KEY FACTS ABOUT PENARTH PIER: At just 200m long, the pier allows shipping access into Cardiff Docks. It was opened to the public in February 1895. The art-deco style pavilion on the landward side was opened on 18 May 1929. An original wooden pavilion on the seaward end was destroyed by a fire in 1931. The pier was closed for repair work for two years after a ship crashed into it in a gale in 1947. Following some difficult years, various restoration programmes resulted in the Pier voted ‘Pier of the Year’ in 2014! The Pier has Grade 2 listed status.

Even though most of us must have crossed both Severn bridges innumerable times before, to sail under them offers a new perspective on the old and familiar, and in this respect the cruise certainly didn’t disappoint. Indeed, as we sailed under these massive structures and their mighty supports were revealed, the onboard excitement was palpable. Surprisingly, there was no audible cheer – only the ship’s horn broke the relative silence on deck as we finally emerged upstream of the old Severn Bridge.  There was then a flurry of activity onboard as people pointed SLRs and mobiles toward the bridges to capture that precious moment, and to take the inevitable selfie. Whilst neither bridge may not be as long or as high as other notable bridges in the UK, these elegant structures are integral to our estuary’s identity and, as such, should be celebrated. Indeed, the Severn Bridge still is the central feature of our own, Severn Estuary Partnership’s logo.

The ‘new’ pavilion on Penarth Pier

The bridges not only provide vital connections for modern day society but are also significant feats of engineering, particularly given the underlying geology and tidal currents in the intervening stretch of water. I can remember coming back from SEP meetings and crossing the ‘old’ Severn Bridge back in the 90s, and wondering at the seemingly slow placement of pillar supports for the ‘new crossing’ – would they ever get to the other side? It took four years, but I can vouch from my brief inspection of the underneath of the bridge, that it’s a very solid piece of engineering and does span the entire estuary! Apparently too, this bridge has been built to withstand an earthquake or, indeed, a ship collision – the tragic fate of the railway bridge over the Severn at Sharpness. More about all these bridges in subsequent postings!

A Severn Bridge pillar from below

A novel perspective – the Prince of Wales Bridge from below

Surprisingly, a few passengers were almost more impressed with other nearby attractions than the bridges themselves. The Old Ferry Slipway at Beachley drew quite a crowd of onlookers, but it was the ‘That’s it – Tracey Island!’ exclamation from a nearby passenger which was most unexpected. Seemingly, Chapel Rock resembles the famous Thunderbirds’ island and has been a landmark and useful distraction for some young families for many years! Researching the island, it’s actually quite a significant feature in its own right, although from the deck of the Waverley it didn’t really look much. The island, which has had no fewer than four names, apparently, attracted pilgrims and saints from far afield, or, should I say, afloat, back in the day. More about these Celtic connections in future walks, I think.

A rare sighting of Tracey Island from offshore!

Tidal waters run deep (just deep enough)

The perils of navigating the tidal currents and the constantly varying water depths of the estuary were obvious from the start of our voyage.  When we were ushered quickly onboard at Penarth, it was that ‘time and tide’ were certainly not going to wait for anyone, not even the most iconic of historic ships, even one which has a relatively flat hull and a draft of only 1.9 metres.   

There were also frequent references to the ever-changing tidal state of the estuary in the commentary too, particularly as we approached the upper estuary and sailed between and under the bridges. Taking onboard pilots to help our safe passage, we wound our way in what at first appeared to be a most bizarre route, to follow the deeper tidal channels between and under the bridges. I briefly reflected about the geomorphological history of the Severn and wondered at the origins of these ancient river channels, as well as the human endeavours to chart these precarious waters.

There were further reminders of tides later on in our cruise. As we disembarked at Penarth there was a somewhat anxious and then forceful request for the remaining passengers going on to Clevedon to move to starboard. This was the point where I hoped the earlier intake of chips by some of the passengers would pay dividends! The ship then very gently tilted over slightly, enabling us to climb the now steep gangway. Would we all make it? Assistance was indeed required for some of the more elderly clientele, but fortunately this time, at least, we all did alight onto the pier!  Hopefully, all the remaining passengers also caught the tide at Clevedon later in the evening. This all reminded me of a couple of previous Severn Estuary cruises. There was the cruise which followed a previous Severn Estuary Forum when packed lunches were almost thrown at forum delegates as they were ushered with great haste out of the Penarth Paget Rooms and down to the pier to alight the MV Balmoral. There was also a slightly less happy memory – being stranded for many hours offshore and sampling much of the ship restaurant’s menu as we waited for the tide to oblige and let us disembark at Penarth! 

Conclusions and further thoughts

So, overall, despite the final somewhat undignified climb, a great day out in the Estuary! We might not have seen the dramatic cliffs of the North Devon coast or, indeed, the wildlife around Lundy, but it was a memorable, even if rather chilly experience. I’m already looking forward to the 2025 cruise season, hoping that SEP might be able to team up with the Waverley to input some more information about the natural wonders of the Estuary into their cruises and associated paraphernalia, particularly given some passengers’ comments about the need to go to Cornwall to see any marine life. Looking to future seasons, there’s also the possibility that the much-loved and most widely travelled excursion ship, MS Balmoral may join the Waverley if further funding for restoration allows. Beyond that, the ongoing refurbishment of 1867 Birnbeck Pier to future public use may, hopefully, eventually inspire further restoration of this listed structure to provide a new ‘port of call’ for cruises. Whilst we’re not likely to get back to the heyday of steam paddlers on the Bristol Channel, when supposedly over 15,000 people per day disembarked at Birnbeck, if the comments of our fellow passengers were to believed, there’s definitely an appetite for recapturing the nostalgia associated with the historic steam paddlers of the Bristol Channel. For me in the short-term, however, this short cruise has been a useful window on the Estuary and a reminder of all the stretches of shore still to be explored in my future walks! 

A shipping navigating the tidal waters of the Estuary

Self, onboard the Waverley

Do you have memories of cruising on the Bristol Channel?  Let us know if you have memories you’d like to share.

More to explore

Paddle Steamers in the Bristol Channel

• Weston Museum leaflet
• Paddle Steamers Info website
• Waverley

The Piers

• History of Clevedon Pier
• History of Penarth Pier

An opportunity to introduce our visiting visual artist, Heather, to an old friend from Barry, resulted in my May Walk becoming a pleasant stroll from Barry Island to Porthkerry along the Vale of Glamorgan coastline. Although this was a rather familiar, relatively local stretch of coast for me, sharing the experience with Heather and researching the walk afterwards revealed many fascinating aspects of this coast – it’s certainly much more than just the home of Gavin and Stacey! I hope you’ll agree!

Barry Island beach nostalgia

As the two-carriage train clanked its way slowly into the station at Barry Island on a grey, overcast Thursday in late spring, it was hard to imagine the bustling excitement of families armed with bucket and spades and other beach paraphernalia on sunny summer weekend trains. Walking through the deserted and somewhat tired-looking Fun Fair to the seafront, even the brightly coloured dinosaur didn’t instil too much of the Barrybados vibe which has attracted generations of South Walians to this iconic location.

Whitmore Bay looking towards the N Devon coast

Barry Island amusement park

Meeting with Heather in one of the many seafront cafes for brunch, there was a little more buzz; however, it still was quite a challenge to explain the significance of Barry Island to my guest. Heather looked slightly bemused as I outlined the history of the famous Majestic/Butlins Holiday Camp which had over many decades provided a unforgettable, unique holiday experience for hundreds of thousands of those ‘of modest means’ and which, along with other similar camps elsewhere along the British coast, had created a public nostalgia which had inspired the popular TV sitcom Hi-de-Hi. Now the site of a Bovis Homes housing development on Nell’s Point, I was struggling to recall my memories of thirty years ago, when the derelict holiday camp with its rows and rows of white, flat-roofed chalets which dominated the Whitmore Bay seascape. 

With a slight break in the clouds and a falling tide, we ventured onto the wide expanse of sandy beach which understandably remains such an attraction at weekends. The view across the Inner Bristol Channel to the Somerset and North Devon coasts always inspires and the gentle, relaxing sound of the sea lapping at the water’s edge is such a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the promenade. However, frequent tannoy announcements periodically break the peace to remind you that this is an urban beach which must kept clean and tidy. The frequent instructions to dispose of your litter responsibly, alongside daily cleaning by local groups, does seem to be working, although the recent erroneous closure of the beach here due a malfunctioning water quality monitoring system has probably not instilled much public confidence (BBC news article). Unfortunately, the slightly brownish, turbid waters of the Estuary, are also frequently incorrectly interpreted by visitors as being dirty – clearly there’s lots of work for SEP and partners to do to try to educate the public on such matters!

Whitmore Bay looking towards the promenade

Shore treats –  Old Harbour to Watch House Bay

If you want to avoid the longer route hugging the main road to Cold Knap, crossing the wide expanse of sand at low water between Friar’s Point and The Knap is preferable, although you do have to negotiate a small stream which meanders haphazardly across the beach and creates quite a challenge for those ill-prepared for such an obstacle. Not only is the route much quicker, but it also incorporates many features of interest – even more than we’d anticipated, as you’re about to find out.

Given Heather’s interest in tides of the Severn, we made a slight detour on the beach to study the muddier backshore behind the Old Harbour. Notwithstanding the decayed remains of a stranded and abandoned boat and an obligatory beach traffic cone, the backshore is remarkably natural, given its location. A saltmarsh sequence has developed here which sports a variety of hardy, adaptable plants which can tolerate the harsh conditions of the intertidal zone. At the edge of the mud, we carefully stooped down to study some salicornia (samphire) but resisted gathering it to garnish future fish suppers! 

Salicornia and the marshy backshore with the current causeway

The Knap –  the lake, lido and limestone pebbles

Ascending the slipway onto the Knap one is immediately aware that the coast here has a much more genteel and relaxed feel about it.  Immediately behind the seafront immaculate public gardens surround a large artificial lake, the inspiration for Gillian Clarke’s poem ‘Cold Knap Lake’.  This poem, which captures Clarke’s haunting childhood memories of the lake, alludes to a very different, more chilling experience than ours.  Even the sizeable population of ducks and swans seemed to be enjoying the peace and calm of the Knap that day, silently huddling in groups around on the water’s edge.  Previously one of the largest cold-water lidos in the UK, there have been campaigns to rebuild the attraction, but, despite considerable celebrity and community support, these have not been successful in contrast to similar efforts at Clevedon on the other side of the Estuary.  However, I was to find out later that there are indeed new plans afoot for this area: an exciting local community scheme has been proposed to breathe new life into the iconic but somewhat dilapidated Old Lifeguards Building to create The Reef Coastal Exploration Centre (see inset below).

Knap Lake at Cold Knap

Y RÎFF/THE REEF: COASTAL EXPLORATION CENTRE, COLD KNAP – This community scheme hopes to transform this old building which was originally the cloakroom for the Knap Pool Lido in the 1920s before it became the home of the Rhondda (Cold Knap) Lifeguard Club. Plans include: A new up-to-date space for the Rhondda Lifeguards Club, offices for the Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre and an educational and community space. Find out more at: https://yriff.org/

Whilst the lake is a key attraction at Cold Knap for visitors and the many of the locals residing in the smart residential areas behind the seafront, it was the long pebble beach of gleaming white round limestone pebbles that appealed most to us.  This stunning, long, steeply-shelving beach stretches in a great arc from the Knap around the bay towards and beyond Porthkerry to the west.  This impressive natural feature is a reminder of the power of the sea and winter storms on beaches which are exposed to incoming southwesterlies.  We contemplated the incredible strength of the winter storms which had created the beach and each of the ridges on the beaches seaward side. We feared what future climate change might mean for this beach system, given the road and cliff will not allow the beach system to roll back.   Indeed, all the beaches we’d visited on our walk suffer from this same issue, making the problem of coastal squeeze a real likelihood.  No wonder that the community is being encouraged to get involved in the monitoring of the nearby beach at Whitmore Bay through the CoastSnap Project.

Storm beach at the Knap

The CoastSnap Project – ‘CoastSNAP, developed by the University of New South Wales, has become a beacon of community engagement and environmental stewardship. Over the past year, 3000 public-contributed photos have flooded in, capturing the ebb and flow of our dynamic coastlines. These snapshots serve as vital puzzle pieces, validating coastal surveys and informing our understanding of change in the face of rising sea levels. From storm events to the condition of coastal defence assets, CoastSNAP empowers us to protect our shores collectively.’  (Gwyn Nelson, WCMC). Find out more: General CoastSnap website: https://www.coastsnap.com/, CoastSnap in Wales: https://www.wcmc.wales/coastsnap

CoastSnap site at Barry Island

Walking across the pebbles of the more-or-less flat upper beach, our attention soon was diverted to watching the wind surfers who had presumably also conquered the demands of the descent of such a very steep beach on the seaward side!  Knowing that there is a National Coastwatch Institution station at nearby Nell’s Point (see below), we could relax watching thrilling acrobatics of fearless wind surfers who seemed to be enjoying the challenges associated with the increasingly choppy seas.   We also admired the pretty flowers of the many plants along the backshore which provided welcome bright dashes of colour against the grey-white pebbly beach. These include the occasional mauve native marsh-mallow alongside much more dominant plum and white valerians, presumably escapees from nearby gardens.

Wind surfer’s acrobatics on the beach at Cold Knap

National Coastwatch Institution (Nells Point) – ‘NCI Nell’s Point opened in 2017. Volunteers keep a daylight watch over the coast for anyone/vessel in difficulty and raise the alarm to Milford Haven Coastguard. Watchkeepers also respond to requests for information from the Coastguard on possible casualties etc. Sully Island causeway is a good example of how folks get into difficulty as it covers over at about half tide and folks unaware will be cut off. So, the watchkeepers at Nell’s Point will inform the coastguards who will arrange a rescue. Over the last 5 years or so there has been a significant increase in both water users and the type of personal watercraft used. Open water swimming, in particular, has increased greatly around Barry with new clubs and societies being formed.’ (Nick Rodgers, Barry). Find out more: National Coastwatch Institution

Flowers on the backshore at Cold Knap

No introductory visit to Cold Knap would be complete without viewing the site of the old roman villa, a late third century ‘mansio,’ thought to have been a guest house for travellers.  Set neatly and strangely in line with the modern neighbouring apartment properties, the floor plan of villa was very clear to us –  with over twenty rooms arranged around a courtyard, this was no ordinary B&B!   Given its proximity to the coast at the time (the gardens on the Knap are thought to have been an inlet of the sea), it’s likely that many of its visitors would have come by sea rather than by land although the A48 lies along the route of an acknowledged roman road.  Archaeologists suggest that the Romans would have needed many stopping points along the Bristol Channel given the capability of their boats at the time.

Roman villa at Cold Knap

Over the hills and not so far away, to Porthkerry

After our gentle stroll around Cold Knap we were in for some more strenuous exercise. The antics of a group of energetic sea gulls which were riding the thermals were, however, a most welcome distraction as we ascended the steps and steep grassy slope above the Knap.  As we continued along the coastal path towards Porthkerry, I was reminded of my first outing here after the initial travel constraints of COVID.   The view from the top of the hill of the wide expanse of the Bristol Channel offshore at the time had been quite stunning, almost shocking. Today, it was just a little dull given the greyness of the cloud cover and sea.  However, we were shortly into the beautiful deciduous woodland which hugs the coast and were soon admiring some of the majestic and mature trees which are so prized here. 

All too soon, we were descending an even steeper slope and longer set of steps down to Porthkerry Country Park.  With no time to look for the pirate treasure which legend suggests lies hidden beneath the Golden Stairs, and tired from our earlier exertions, we only made a brief visit to the pebbly shoreline.   Looking back along the storm beach to the Knap, we admired the impressive cliffs which surround the bay, reminiscent of those further west along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.  However, even I did not have the energy to explain the geology at this point, so we made our way to the café for a very late lunch.  Crossing quickly over neatly laid out boardwalks and glancing at the many interesting information panels along our route, we soon realised that we’d really need to have another visit to really appreciate the attractions here.  So, we just sat outside and ate our well-earned lunch and enjoyed the view of the impressive Victorian viaduct which dominates the valley here, trying not to contemplate our return up those not so Golden Stairs.

View towards Cold Knap and Barry from Wales Coastal Path

Seagulls enjoying the thermals!

Porthkerry beach with information panel

The Victorian Viaduct at Porthkerry

Final thoughts­

Another fascinating coast where there is such diversity of shoreline within a relatively short distance.  Even on a relatively dull day, the seaviews of the islands and Somerset coast on the other side of the Channel are most impressive and so, why not sample these Barry delights along the Wales Coastal Path?   If my writing hasn’t tempted you so far, then I’m sure the perspectives of three very proud Barry locals, provided below, will inspire!

Whitmore Bay on a previous sunny day!

Simon is a civil and structural engineer by training and spent 20 years with consultants delivering multi million pound commercial and educational development across the UK and abroad. This also included the company acting as expert witnesses for maritime insurance companies and port refurbishment. He was appointed by Cambridge City Council as the first Sustainable Drainage Engineer in local government and worked in a multidisciplinary team on over a billion pounds worth of growth in the sub-region. He was an early proponent of this nature based approach to flood risk management. Elements of Simon’s work informed the development of the Flood and Water Management Act and he actively promoted the approach at national and international conferences, providing oral evidence at the Water All Party Parliamentary Group. He was a member of one of the first catchment partnerships and collaborated on delivering fish passes and other improvements on the River Cam. He was Honorary Engineer to Hobsons Conduit Trust Charity.

Simon Bunn, Vice-Chair of SEP

What are the walks about?

Although I’ve been associated with the Severn Estuary Partnership for years, since taking over as the Chair of the SEP Management Group and retiring from my academic post in Cardiff University, I’ve been keen to explore the shores of our Estuary further and to share my thoughts and photos in a monthly blog/posting.  Over the next twelve months, through a series of monthly walks around the Estuary, I hope to cover at least one section from every local authority’s shoreline.  As part of this project, I hope to meet people from around the Estuary and find out what makes the Estuary so special to so many.  Hopefully, it will inspire you too to get out and explore our Estuary too and share your observations and thoughts as well! 

If you’ve any suggestions for particular sections I should visit or people I should talk too please do get in touch through the SEP email (Severn@Cardiff.ac.uk)! 

View from path towards Penarth and Cardiff

April 2024 Walk: Penarth – Lavernock Point (Vale of Glamorgan)

To start off my series of walks, I had the good fortune to walk the Penarth to Lavernock Point stretch of coast earlier in the month with Heather Green, from Arizona State University.  Based in Cardiff University for the next few months, Heather is working around the Estuary with SEP and others on an interdisciplinary art project examining and celebrating the ecology and culture of our Estuary.

The Cliff Top Path

We started our walk along the cliff top path at Penarth, where the famous French impressionist painter, Alfred Sisley captured the character of this dynamic coast with its unique geology and spectacular tidal range well over a hundred years ago. Unlike the painting, there was constant hustle and bustle along the cliff path as we strode alongside dog walkers, young family groups and others enjoying the coastal vistas – well at least, until we reached the end of the tarmacked path.  This marks the end of a stretch of open green space fronting some impressive, spacious and highly sought-after detached houses.  Beyond this, we had the path to ourselves and were able to enjoy vistas across the estuary through occasional openings in the woodland.  However, along the entire path there were frequent reminders of the active, eroding nature of the cliffs, something we were to experience first-hand later in the day.

Lavernock Point

At Lavernock Point we ventured into the graveyard surrounding the little limestone church of St Lawrence. Founded by the monks of St Augustine’s Abbey across the Channel in Bristol, this was once the parish church for the manor of Cosmeston and associated medieval village. Now, its new neighbours are a small new housing development and the popular Marconi Holiday Village, with self-catering chalets hugging the cliffs to capture ‘spectacular views across the Bristol Channel.’

We reflected on how much the community here must have changed over the centuries, but how the whole land/seascape might be transformed further by some more ambitious proposals for tidal energy generation in the Severn, most notably the previously discussed ‘Cardiff Weston’ barrage, extending from this point across the Channel to Brean Down. We await the findings of the Western Gateway’s Independent Severn Estuary Commission which will ‘re-examine the potential for a world leading tidal energy scheme’ to see if and what will be proposed for the Estuary.

We were reminded of further estuary connections and great technical breakthroughs as we read the bronze plaque commemorating Marconi and Kemp’s historic achievement of 1897.  At this very point, on 13 May 1897, Marconi transmitted the first-ever radio transmission across open sea to Flatholm. 

The foreshore at Lavernock Point

Carefully traversing the cobbles and rocky shore platform at Lavernock Point, we were treated to broad open views across the estuary to the islands and beyond as well as hidden treats in the innumerable rock pools and on the rock ledges themselves.  As someone who occasionally likes to attempt landscape photography, the views across the Estuary always fascinate me.  The ever-changing tides, sea state, weather and offshore boat/shipping activities make for endless photographic opportunities, even if they’re not always realised!  Today, it was a particularly calm still day with little offshore activity although there was some distraction as the occasional but somewhat elusive oyster catcher flew by.

However, it was the ecology and geology of the ­rock pools and ledges and the artistic forms, textures and micro-seascapes created by them which were our focus on the foreshore today.  As Heather is particularly interested in our rich intertidal areas which are only revealed at low tide, we spent awhile, and with varying degrees of success (at least on my part), trying to capture these hidden worlds photographically.  In the slightly hazy mid-afternoon sunshine, the silvery mucus/slime trails of sea snails (molluscs) made intricate and complex abstract patterns on the rocks.  Innumerable limpets and white beach lichen encrusted the harsh environment of the rock ledges. There was also added visual interest from occasional periwinkles, oyster shells and whelks. The colour of some bright red shiny shells, really ‘popped out’ from the underlying wet grey limestone slabs. As the tide was still receding, we were also able to witness the ever-changing worlds of turbid shallow rock pools in the mid-shore which were supporting the delicate feathery branches of floating ‘Coral Weed’ (the red seaweed, Corallina officinalis) and various small brown, branching wracks.   

The similarities between some of the living molluscs on the shore and those from around 200 million years ago, now fossilised in the rocks and pebbles on the beach, was staggering.  The analogies continued – we were looking at our own mini-‘Jurassic Park, comprising alternating beds of lighter coloured limestones and dark shales from the Lower Lias (Jurassic).  These rocks were formed in a former marine environment, the configuration of which was controlled by an ancient Bristol Channel Basin.  Perfectly-formed fossilised ripple marks in some of the rock slabs lay strewn across the beach were lying on top of- or at very close to -ripples made only hours before our visit in the muddy sands of the foreshore.  The occasional impression of an ammonite, now of course long extinct was a reminder of the very different world of 200 million years ago.

The beach walk back to Penarth

Fortunately, we had a lovely calm day in which to explore the hidden gems of the beach and cliffs as we walked back from Lavernock Point as the tide began to turn.   This is a much-celebrated stretch of geology culminates at its southern end in the amazing sequence of rocks at Penarth Head which has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.  Unfortunately, on this visit we didn’t have time to explore Penarth Head itself or the site of the ‘dragon robber,’ meat-eating dinosaur (Dracoraptor hangigani), which was only discovered ten years ago close to Lavernock Point.  However, we were able to still appreciate some of geology of the foreshore and cliffs as we walked back in time, traversing the even more ancient rocks of the Triassic. The distinct and brightly-coloured red and grey green mudstones of this stretch of coast are the remains of lake sediments laid down when this part of the ‘estuary’ was experiencing hot arid, desert-like conditions – certainly, not like those we experienced on our walk!  Attractive pink and white gypsum forms distinctive, discontinuous bands in the cliffs along here, but given the active erosion that afternoon, we had to make do with just examining the large pink and white lumps of it which had recently fallen onto the beach.  Interestingly, there was a relatively small and short-lived industry just east of Lavernock Point, based on this mineral.  Alabaster, as it is more commonly known, was mined here from the 1872, and supplied many of the fine buildings of Cardiff with an ornamental stone particularly for indoor use.  Indeed, the main staircase of Main Building in Cardiff University, where the Severn Estuary Partnership Office is housed, is adorned with an impressive display of pink alabaster!

Apart from the lumps of alabaster on the beach, we had further reminders of active cliff and beach processes, including armoured mud balls, curious rounded balls of mud clad with small jagged stones, which were scattered across the foreshore.  Alongside the gentle noise of the sea lapping up on the beach, there was a constant ‘swish’ as slivers of shaley materials slid gently from the cliff profile.  Then, a great ‘thud’ sounded as a dining table-sized slab of limestone crashed onto the upper beach!   Unfortunately, the event was all over in a few seconds and, as I rushed to get my camera, all that remained was a small cloud of rock dust!  A combination of undercutting from the base of the cliff, the weathering effect of tree roots intruding into the joints and cracks of the rocks of the upper cliff and the impact of our recent extremely wet weather certainly were making their mark that afternoon as we witnessed a number of further mini-landslides, all of which eluded my camera skills.   As we walked further towards the seafront at Penarth, the need for human intervention for controlling these erosive processes became ever more apparent.  Toe-protection structures eventually made way for full sea defences in front of the RNLI lifeboat station and the promenade beyond, confirming the need for the Hold the Line shoreline management policy for this northern section of our beach walk.

Overall Impressions

Back on the esplanade in Penarth as we sipped much-needed beverages at one of several establishments, we reflected on our experiences from the walk.  Although I’ve walked this stretch of coast innumerable times before, introducing it to Heather had made me realise what a very special, unique sea/landscape this is.  There are not only breath-taking views across the Channel, but also hidden worlds and amazing ‘natural art’ in the rocks and rockpools.   Heather, whilst coming from the contrasting – and to us Severn folk, the much more ‘exotic’ tidal landscape of the Gulf of California – also seemed impressed with our ‘finds.’  Later commenting on some of her first impressions of our muddy shores, she highlighted the sense of mystery and the layers of history which have created our special shores. 

FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS WALK

If you want to do this walk along the Wales Coast Path, make sure you’re prepared for the weather and please take note of the tides before you go, ensuring you do the walk along the beach on a falling tide. Suitable footgear is also essential on the somewhat slippery and large cobbles, particularly on Lavernock Stony Beach. 

If you want to find out more about this stretch of coast, check out the ‘Coast and Pier Walk’ – Sully to Penarth Pier Walk (5 miles / 8 km). See: https://assets-global.website-files.com/602452bf511ad639c3e8aab6/605ded4492408acf33e52ebc_5-Coast-and-Pier-Walk-online-leaflet-English.pdf

Further sources of information

Cosmeston Country Park and Medieval Village – https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/enjoying/Coast-and-Countryside/cosmeston-lakes-country-park/Cosmeston-Lakes-Country-Park.aspx

The dinosaur discovery at Lavernock Point – https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/jan/20/welsh-dinosaur-bones-confirmed-as-new-jurassic-species

Marconi and Lavernock Point –

https://www.visitthevale.com/inspiration/whats-the-vales-link-with-marconi;

South Wales Geologists’ Association leaflet on the Penarth-Lavernock Point coast — http://swga.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Walk_Penarth.pdf

Western Gateway and the launch of the Severn Estuary Independent Commission – https://western-gateway.co.uk/western-gateway-launches-severn-estuary-commission-cardiff#:~:text=The%20estuary%20is%20home%20to,of%20the%20UK’s%20electricity%20needs

Heather exploring the rocky coast at Lavernock Point

View from cliff top back towards Penarth (from a previous even sunnier walk)

The plaque celebrating the first-ever radio transmission across the sea

View from Lavernock Point across to the islands

Foreshore worlds near Lavernock Point

Some finds on the beach – red mudstones, pinky white gypsum (alabaster) and armoured mudballs

Active cliff processes along our beach walk

Evening at Penarth (Jan 2023)

Do you have a passion for working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to drive positive change in coastal project development and coordination? An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic individual to join the Severn Estuary Partnership (SEP) team as a Projects Coordinator.

SEP is a dynamic Coastal Partnership based in Cardiff, hosted by the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Cardiff University. Our mission is to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, port authorities, fishermen, farmers, and local communities, to enhance the management of the Severn Estuary.

We are seeking a dedicated Projects Coordinator to play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful execution of SEP’s initiatives. As the Projects Coordinator, you will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to develop and coordinate projects that contribute to the sustainable management of the Severn Estuary.

The successful candidate will have experience of partnership working, engaging and managing stakeholders and great influencing and negotiation skills to help steer delivery of projects. You will have the aptitude to think strategically, while keeping on top of the detail. Excellent written and verbal communication skills will be needed, and brilliant inter-personal skills will enable you to work with people from different specialisms across different channels and situations.

Severn Tidings, our annual magazine, has just been published! This years edition includes articles written by a wide range of contributors from all around the Severn Estuary. We’ve got articles on litter, coastal erosion and risk management, the England Coast Path, saltmarsh restoration, coastal communities and much more! Take a look by clicking the link below.

If you are interested in contributing to our next edition, please do get in touch at severn@cardiff.ac.uk.