๐๐๏ธSouth Wales Trails has been one of the biggest parts of my healing journey through grief.
The mountains โฐ๏ธ, the trails ๐ฅพ, the waterfalls ๐ฆ and the coastline ๐ have given me space to breathe, process my grief ๐, clear my mind ๐ง and rebuild myself both physically ๐ช and mentally โค๏ธ loss of my father my ๐
Every walk, every run, every climb has reminded me just how powerful nature can be. ๐ฟ
But this visit left me angry... absolutely fuming. ๐ก
A place that normally brings me so much peace was covered in litter. ๐ฏ
๐ฅค Plastic bottles
๐๏ธ Food wrappers
๐ฅ FOUR disposable BBQs
๐ Inflatable pumps/boats /paddle boards
๐ Rubbish scattered across one of the most beautiful places in South Wales.
I spent around 40 minutes filling bags with rubbish and honestly could have stayed much longer. โป๏ธ
I met a lovely local gentleman who walks there every day with his dog ๐. He told me that since the heatwave โ๏ธ and the increase in visitors, the amount of litter has become heartbreaking. ๐
Every day he carries a bag up and takes a bag of rubbish home.
Today, I joined him. ๐ I carried filthy rubbish back too... but it barely scratched the surface.
In all my years of running ๐โโ๏ธ and hiking ๐ฅพ across the Welsh mountains, I've never seen it this bad.
This isn't a post attacking everyone. ๐ Social media often gets blamed for encouraging people to visit these places, but many of us come here because nature helps our mental health ๐ง , our physical health ๐ช and, for people like me, our healing from grief. โค๏ธ
We love these places because of what they give us... so let's show them the respect they deserve. ๐ฟ
Sharing locations I love to encourage living a healthier life and loving Wales ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ also but this visit I was in absolute shock.
๐ Please take your rubbish home. โป๏ธ Better still, if you can, pick up a few pieces that aren't yours.
Leave nothing but footprints. ๐ฃ
Take nothing but memories. ๐
Let's protect the beauty of Wales for everyone, now and for generations to come. ๐๏ธ๐๐
Body Positive
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๐๐ผโโ๏ธ๐ฒ Trail Runner /Welsh Walker
๐ฆ Cold Water Adventurer
๐๏ธโโOnline Strength Classes
๐ Mum/Personal Trainer
๐ช๐ผ AN Coach fuelled by @appliednutrition
17/07/2026
๐ SAVE THIS South Wales Vale of Glamorgan Heritage Coast walk for this summer! ๐๐ฅพ
If you're looking for one of the most beautiful coastal walks in South Wales, this is it.
Yesterday emotions were high and with my little girl's final day in junior school, I had a lot of nervous energy and emotions to process. So I did what always helps me most... I got outside and moved !
Starting at Ogmore-by-Sea, I followed the breathtaking Glamorgan Heritage Coast to Dunraven Bay, Southerndown, before turning around and walking all the way back.
๐ฅพ Distance: 6.28 miles (there and back)
โฐ๏ธ Elevation: 504 ft
๐ Bonus: A refreshing sea dip at Southerndown Beach on the way back!
Afterwards, I refuelled with breakfast at The Greywhite Cafรฉ at Southerndown Farm the perfect reward after a morning on the coast. โ๐ฅ
Think dramatic limestone cliffs, hidden coves, fresh sea air and some of the best coastal views Wales has to offer... and the best part? It's rarely crowded.
My little girl has now finished junior school and is off to high school. Watching her become fluent in Welsh has made me incredibly proud. โค๏ธ
Days like this remind me why movement is so much more than exercise. It helps clear your mind, manage emotions, and appreciate what's right on your doorstep.
This coastline is one of the many reasons I'd be so sad to ever leave Wales. ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ๐
Save this post for your next adventure, tag your walking buddy, and let Wales blow you away.
17/07/2026
Richard Ashcroft. Tom Meighan. Cardiff Castle. Britpop at its very best ๐ฌ๐ง๐ธ ๐ค๐ฐโค๏ธ
๐ค๐ฐ Do you know relevance 4.7.2025 on the T-shirt ๐?
Seeing Richard Ashcroft at Cardiff Castle was absolutely incredible. The atmosphere was unreal. Fred Perry, Adidas, classic trainers... my kind of crowd. I felt like I fitted right in.
No need to Shazam this artist or his songs. If you know, you know. Richard Ashcroft's music has stood the test of time, and with the Oasis reunion bringing Britpop back into the spotlight, it felt like the perfect summer gig following Oasis Live 25.
This is my kind of concert!
And honestly, I don't think there's a better place to watch live music than Cardiff Castle. Definitely my Favourite!
Belter of a night even though my husband was told he looked like Noel Gallagher ๐ multiple times !
Tom (Kasabian) the support act was on fire ๐ฅ !
12/07/2026
David Gray โจ ... ..25 years later... and White Ladder still has the power to stop time. ๐ฟโจ
It was one of the first albums I ever bought, and I still have the original CD.
Last night, David Gray took Cardiff Castle back in time. From the opening song to the final encore, every lyric unlocked a memory. For one night only, I was back in my little flat, single, carefree, singing every word like it was the early 2000s. ๐โค๏ธ
The tribute and bow to Bonnie Tyler was a real highlight. My husband actually used to serve Bonnie in Marks & Spencer, Swansea, when he was a university student!
Massive credit to DEPOT Live too. Cardiff Castle has to be one of the most spectacular concert venues in the UK, and the atmosphere was electric from start to finish.
If you've got tickets to one of the remaining shows this summer, you're in for something special. ๐ถ
๐ Pin/Save .. You have accidentally found Pandoraโฆ but itโs actually Waterfall Country, South Wales ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ
This place honestly feels like something from a movie. ๐ฟ๐ง I didn't want to leave today..
Welcome to Waterfall Country where todayโs adventure was the Four Waterfalls Trail from Pontneddfechan.
Everyone I met was so happy enjoying the waters and feeling of Pandora vibes ๐
A 6.88 mile trail personally for myself through the woodland, rivers and some of the most incredible waterfalls Wales has to offerโฆ (I went in five times in different places ) But you can make the distance much shorter I extended as I was running.
And the waterfallsโฆ crystal ๐ฎ Clear ..
๐ Sgwd Clun-Gwyn
๐ Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn
๐ Sgwd y Pannwr
๐ Sgwd yr Eira
๐ SAVE THIS FOR YOUR NEXT HOT DAY which is NOW !
๐ Four Waterfalls Trail
๐ฟ Waterfall Country, Pontneddfechan
๐ Gwaun Hepste Car Park (behind the cafรฉ)
๐ฎ CF44 9JF
๐ฝ๏ธ Pubs/cafe for food and drink
๐ฝ New Toilet Facilities and Car parking !
The perfect Welsh escape:
โ๏ธ Natural air conditioning in the woods
๐ฆ Cold water dips to wake you up
๐โโ๏ธ A proper adventure
My adviceโฆ donโt just walk it. Take your time, explore, and pack your swimmers because those waterfall dips are something else ๐
Take care (water shoes and safety ๐ near the drops ) This place is amazing, but no picture is ever worth risking your safety ๐ near the dalls. Respect nature, stay aware, and make it home with incredible memories. ๐๐
Walesโฆ you really are beautiful ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ and so much I want to explore !
10/07/2026
๐ Four Waterfalls Trail, Waterfall Country, Pontneddfechan, Neath, South Wales ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ
๐ฅ SAVE THIS for the next Welsh heatwave! I'm telling you Skip the beach... THIS is where you need to be when Wales heats up! ๐โ๏ธ
This has to be one of the most incredible trails in South Wales... Today I covered ;
๐โโ๏ธ 6.88 miles Trail running ๐จ
โฐ๏ธ 1,132 ft of climbing
๐ฆ 5 refreshing wild swimming dips
๐ 4 spectacular waterfalls
I didn't want to come ๐ซด home ๐ ๐
You'll discover: ๐ Sgwd Clun-Gwyn ๐ Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn ๐ Sgwd y Pannwr ๐ Sgwd yr Eira
๐
ฟ๏ธ New Visitor Car Park over ( 136 spaces) ๐ Behind Sgwd Gwladys Cafรฉ ๐ฎ Postcode: SA11 5NR
๐ก A few tips before you go:
๐ Wear trail shoes with good grip. (Wet paths with mud even in this heat!
๐ฉด Pack water shoes they're a game changer for the river crossings and rocky pools.
โ ๏ธ Some sections are very slippery, especially around the waterfalls.
๐ Always keep a safe distance from the edge of waterfalls, know your limits, and never let a photo be worth the risk.
I'm a safety ๐ Steve I always respect the power of the water and make sensible decisions while I'm there.
Also the cafe and pub ๐ป serve incredible food! (New park ๐๏ธ for children not yet open )
08/07/2026
Made in Wales ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ .....I think it's safe to say I'm the Rhondda Valleys' biggest fan. ๐ชญ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ
Scorchio today ๐ฅ ๐ฅต ๐ฆ
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