Our 'cottage near the sea'

This was our holiday home until we moved to Carmarthenshire, and is now available for others to enjoy.

Built in about 1863 (we think), the terrace of cottages - then called Silver Row - was constructed for workers in the local silver and lead works (now the nearby boatyard).

Burry Port itself only really came into existence in the 1850's, following the silting up of Pembrey harbour and the creation of a new harbour a little way down the estuary. In the last 30 years, the town has gradually given up its industrial heritage, and more and more people are discovering its fantastic location.

Saturday, 20 August 2011

Shifting sands

Lazy day, watching the rugby etc., and we needed some fresh air to blow away the cobwebs, so we drove down to Burry Port, and parked by Pembrey Old Harbour. We were the only ones there, but then it was about 6pm.

As we climbed over the old harbour wall onto the west beach, the tide was quite a way out, and you could see how the tides in the estuary have moved the sand around. The sandbar seems to be getting bigger and the back part of the beach has more stones showing.

If you look carefully at the stones you will lots of them with bubbles frozen in them. These are really copper slag from 100 - 150 years ago. I wonder if they used this material as a barrier to protect the sand dunes, or whether 19th century industrialists simply dumped it? In any event, you can certainly find some interesting bits to use for a paperweight!


It also looks as if someone is farming mussels in the stream behind the sandbar. I wonder who it is - and whether they are allowed to do it?

Having walked to the end of the beach, we walked out past the lighthouse to the end of the (new) harbour wall. Strangely, there was a campavan parked alongside the lighthouse. As we got closer, we saw a handwritten notice-board outside it saying that they were radio hams trying to communicate with other hams throughout the world, and it was some king of special day, in which lighthouses played a part. They had a very tall aerial strapped to the lighthouse.

No camera, so I couldn’t take a snap for the blog. Have to use an old one.  (Our lighthouse must be one of the most photographed, as it so small and cute.)


Back past the yacht club, and we were intrigued to see how much it costs to ‘park’ one’s boat in the marina - about £800 a year apparently, even for the smallest boat.

Then past the ‘Lighthouse Cafe’ - which is a long overdue facility alongside the harbour, but it really does need a bit more imagination by the owners!

The ice cream van had gone from the car park by that time, so we couldn’t treat ourselves, and we decided that our waistlines voted against a walk over to Barry’s chippie for a tray of chips, and instead took the healthy option of walking back to the car along the coastal foot/cycle path.

Monday, 4 July 2011

Beautiful July day


West beach - tide in
 What a gorgeous day, and the tide was right in - we couldn’t resist popping down to the harbour to take some photos. It would have been nice to sit on the beach all morning.

I noticed that they have introduced a lower charge for 1 hour’s parking (55p).

We also went round to Pembrey Old Harbour (where the parking is free), just to see if the tide was high enough to cover the harbour, but it wasn’t. There has only been one occasion when we have seen it under water, so you can see why they had to move trade to the "New Pembrey Harbour" (i.e. Burry Port) in the 1850s!

Pembrey old harbour (silted up)
Lots of people enjoying the day - there was a canoeist landing on the east beach, a few cyclists trundling past, and several holidaymakers out for a stroll.

Thursday, 23 June 2011

Forget the car ...

When we used to drive down to the cottage for the weekend, what we loved to do was park outside, and know that we didn't need to use the car until it was time to go home (unless we wanted to).

You can stroll up to Station Road (Burry Port's 'High Street') and call in the Co-op for a few provisions and a newspaper, and then pop into Jenkins the bakers (next door but one) and buy a loaf - I can recommend the pasties and (if there are any left) a fruit bakestone!

In between the two is Mr Jones the butcher, and you might want to buy something for the barbecue.  [You may have heard that the Welsh can sing - Mr Jones' son (John Owen-Jones) is the current Phantom in Phantom of the Opera.]

Then a gentle stroll back to the cottage, and choose one of the three bridges that cross the railway line - I like the 'Hornby Dublo' one on the platform itself.

After a cuppa and a slice of bakestone (with butter and jam), hopefully sitting in the courtyard garden (which can be a real suntrap), it could be nice to amble down to the harbour and see if the tide is in.