Tuesday, May 10

Morfa Bychan

Morfa Bychan is a small, secluded bay straddling the coastal path between Amroth and Pendine and owned by the National Trust. There is no habitation and the only vehicle access is down a single-track lane through a narrow wooded valley. Today there is nothing to disturb the natural tranquillity of the area, but in 1944, this sleepy inlet thundered and echoed to the crash of  artillery shells exploding onto its coastline, as the allies practiced for the D-Day landings. The reinforced concrete walls used as targets are still prominent in the valley, complete with their shell damage.

The bay at Morfa Bychan.
 
These concrete walls are not the only man-made structures in Morfa Bychan, as, in the photograph, the more observant of you may notice the pumping station owned by Welsh Water (Dwr Cymru) , discretely constructed to blend seamlessly into the magnificent landscape around it.

Neolithic burial tomb with vies over Pendine Beach.

More appealing however are a series of neolithic burial tombs high on the western slopes above the pumping station with magnificent views over Pendine Beach. It's the sort of place that I would like to spend eternity. In all there are three or four still visible  above the surrounding vegetation but sadly their huge capstones are no longer supported. If you are feeling energetic you can also walk to the hilltop on the opposite side of the bay and find the remains of an iron-age hillfort on the summit.



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