Start:
Shepherds of Parkmill
Finish:
Shepherds of Parkmill
Distance:
6.1 miles
Walk Length:
3 hours
Walk Difficulty:
3 (Difficult)
Parking:
Paid limited parking at Shepherds
C0nsiderations:
Always exercise caution when crossing roads and navigating steep paths.
See Green Cwm Loop from Shepherds Stores for an extension to this walk.
Enjoy exploring!
Start from the Campsite, head out to the road turn right then almost immediately take your first left leading downhill. On your left are the slopes of Notthill.
As the track swings left and downhill, its surface becomes rougher. In front, there opens a wide view of Three Cliffs Bay.
Continue to the base of the track and onto the sandy-shingle edge of Pennard Pill. Look for herons and waders feeding between this point and the sea. Cross over the stepping stones onto the opposite bank.
Looking up the valley, you can see the ruins of Pennard Castle high on the right-hand side.
Walk towards the far side of the valley, following roughly the line of the shingle-sand bar. This avoids the damper areas where salt-tolerant plants abound.
Buzzard and kestrel are often seen; also wood pigeon and green woodpecker in Notthill Wood on the left.
Follow the valley upwards towards Parkmill. You can make the steep climb up to explore the Pennard Castle ruins and the nearby chapel.
As the stream nears Parkmill, you’ll pass a damp area supporting clumps of marsh marigold in Spring and later, purple loosestrife and meadowsweet. Follow the path through the scrub/woodland and look out for long-tailed tits.
Continue above the stream through the wood. The path drops down to the water. Cross the footbridge and follow the narrow path 40 meters to the main road. (Beware, traffic!)
Shepherds is a General Stores in the village of Parkmill. Turn left along the road. On the right, you’ll see the buildings of the old water-driven mill, which gives Parkmill its name. The mill-wheel is still in place.
Go along the main road for about 250 meters. Opposite the road to Parc le Breos, turn left down the track through a gateway.
Take the clear track that winds uphill through North Hill Wood. This track was the original road before the new road was cut through in the first part of the last century.
At the top of the wood, the track continues between farm field banks supporting many wildflowers.
The track passes North Hills Farm leading to Three Cliffs Campsite.