OUT & ABOUT
Upper Killay Pond
S N A P S H OTS O F
SWA N S E A B AY Tranquil beaches. Hidden corners. Unexpected views. Join photographer RICHARD HAMMOND as he explores some of Swansea and Gower’s coast and countryside. This month he visits Dunvant, Killay and Upper Killay...
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his month we are visiting super suburbia Dunvant and the Killays.
Clyne Valley until you reach the Railway Inn Public house, which is where we will begin.
So why come here? Isn’t this a place you merely drive through on the way to Swansea or from Swansea to the Gower? Isn’t this simply all bricks and mortar? No, it’s more like bricks and water.
Clyne valley is criss-crossed with well-maintained routes and pathways and is a naturally beautiful area. The route from Blackpill up to Killay is probably the best maintained as it’s tarmacked and used by many people for walks, jogging and is very popular for cycling. The footpath follows the track bed route of the former London Midlands and Scottish (LMS) railway from Swansea Victoria to Shrewsbury and is also the location for the first of our ponds. Around a mile up from Blackpill on the path on the left hand side you’ll find this lovely pond quite popular with anglers. It has small pontoons, and many birds and wildlife visit it, so it is a good place to sit and watch or take photographs.
Both Dunvant and the Killays are sprinkled with the most beautiful ponds and small lakes teaming with rare wildlife and plants. Most of these water features were created as a result of a thriving brick manufacturing industry in the area years ago. Today we are going to visit these ponds and waterways and discover the fascinating but sometimes tragic history of the area and the other thing that there is plenty of...pubs! So how do you get to Killay and Dunvant? Well you can hop on the number 21A, 21B, or Gower Explorer 116 and 119 and jump off at Killay opposite the Black Boy Inn or at Dunvant Square. Alternatively drive up through the Uplands and Sketty until you pass Olchfa School and reach Killay. If you wanted a good walk you could start from Swansea along the sea front until you reach Blackpill, cross at the pelican crossing and walk up the pathway through
Continue along the path and you can either walk onto Dunvant passing the Railway Inn or take a right turn deeper into Killay marsh. Killay Marsh routes after heavy rainfall can become muddy but the scenery is beautiful with fast running rivers, trees, wildlife and vegetation and every so often picnic benches dotted around which are very welcoming. Along the pathways you will notice old bricks protruding at regular intervals and if you look closely you may see the word Killay impressed in to them.
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4/22/2016 1:32:58 PM