Project Lighthouse

Laugharne to Cardigan

Date:	11th – 19th August 2018
Distance	198 miles
Ascent	15300ft
Lighthouses	St Annes, St Annes Head, Strumble Head & Fishguard
Riders	Emily, Jack & Me

It wasn’t a great start. I turned around to see Jack sprawled across the road after catching the edge of the tarmac, the bike jack knifed because of the trailer. I think we had pedalled 400 metres. He was fine, a few scrapes and a big hole in his new jacket. The rest of the day went better, except for the incessant rain. Lovely riding the sea edge into Tenby. First night was in Manobier YHA perched high on the cliff tops.

The weather had cleared by the morning. Just to add a bit of interest we were also pulling a kayak. We reached Freshwater East and went for a morning paddle, trying and failing to surf the waves back into the beach. Feeling invigorated we pedalled on to Freshwater West winding our way the through the sand dunes. Lovely. One of the reasons for taking on this challenge is that we love going to the ends of the earth. West Angle Bay was next, before heading east along Milford Haven, one of the deepest natural harbours in the world.

We set off the next morning from Pembroke Dock, past the refineries and back out into the countryside. Coffee in Dale before riding out to St Annes Head to bag our first lighthouses of the trip! Emily and Jack decided an hour on Marloes Sands was required, so I detached the kayak and pedalled freely onto the headland in the warm summer sun, why on earth was I pulling a boat? The view over to Skomer & Skokholm Island was stunning. Back together, we hitched up the Kayak and headed over the hill and into Broad Haven for a couple of days. We walked over the cliffs to the Druidstone Hotel for the feast and the memories.

Back on the bike, back pulling the kayak. We are in familiar territory. Druidstone, Newgale, Pen Y Cwm and on to St Davids: population 1600, the smallest City in the UK. The youth hostel is 5 miles out of the ‘city’ at the base of Carn Llidi a perfectly formed mini mountain with spectacular views.

The youth hostel is a tough place to leave. It is beautiful. This is what all youth hostels should be like. Down to Porthgain for the best fish and chips then a stop off at Abercastle harbour for some kayaking, its a great place with coves and caves to explore. We chose a bridleway down the Aber Mawr it was a swamp that we had to drag our kit through. Pushing on to Stumble Head we were able to dump our belongings at Pwil Deri YHA before heading on to the lighthouse.

The final day took us through Fishguard and on to Newport. Jack took the Kayak out on the estuary whilst Emily and I chilled in the sun. Some big, steep hills here. Poppit Sands YHA was a welcome sight.

The next morning I dragged myself up early to cycle via Cardigan over the peninsula to collect the car. For the record, the kayak was a ridiculous idea.