Outdoor Sports News - with PembrokeshireSport.co.uk

Teaching trio tame Pembs Coastal path

Three young Pembrokeshire teachers have just spent the early part of their summer holidays testing themselves to the limit as they successfully completed their walk of the complete Pembrokeshire Coastal Path to raise money for Epilepsy Wales.

Adam Raymond, Ryan Evans and Rhodri Barlow have all been touched by the illness in their families and decided that it would be a great idea to walk the 189 miles from from Amroth to Poppit Sands and set themselves the challenge of completing their journey in ten days. In the final analysis they actually managed it in nine days but readily admit that it was the most difficult challenge they had ever undertaken, with very sore feet, covered in big blisters, as their reward for raising £1,000.
 

Memorable moments

Adam, who plays cricket for Haverfordwest and football for Ton Pentre, teaches at Gwaun Celyn Primary School in Church Village, near Pontypridd, and told us,

“The first day, when it was scorching hot was a real challenge as we completed 24 miles from Amroth to Freshwater East but we wanted to get a good start – and the walk around Stackpole Quay was another tough trek for me.”

But there were memorable moments to help take away the sore feet, like the morning when they woke up after camping on the lawn in the beer garden at The Freshwater Inn to find Lisa Rose Williams waiting with mugs of tea, bacon butties – and even a wedge of cake each!

“It was magic,” said Ryan, who manages Johnstown Football Club in the Carmarthenshire League and is a teacher at Rhyd y Gors School in Carmarthen, “and it was such kindness that provided the boosts we needed. We were also blessed with good weather because we had little rain.”

Sore feet and a tough finish

The intrepid trio spent four such nights under canvas, a couple of nights at a house in Rosemarket owned by Rhodri’s dad, and three nights with Adam’s parents at Chez Raymond in Fishguard, where a tasty barbecue was their reward after some very long days.

Ask them about the worst thing in such a trek and they were unanimous – it was the sore feet. Rhodri plays cricket and football for Haverfordwest Cricket Club and teaches at Rhiw Sir Dafydd in Oakdale (Gwent), suffering the worst with huge, raw blisters on heels and under toes.
 

“Our feet were soon in tatters,” he said, “but we just had to grin and bear it. The worst moments for me were near Little Haven - but the other lads kept me going with a mixture of concern and telling me to just get on with it!”

The last leg of their epic journey was from Newport to St Dogmaels and all readily admit that this last 16 mile stretch was another tester.

Adam added, ..
“We spent the previous evening watching Haverfordwest County play Newcastle Emlyn and since I had played for both teams we were given a lot of attention. Announcer John Hughes also helped our cause with a few words about us at half time so as well as enjoying the match we also received some donations from well-wishers!”
 

And finally . . .

Now that their challenge is over the trio are now considering another test next Summer and one such trek could be to complete the ‘Three Peaks’ of Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England) and Snowdon (Wales). But that is in the future and all three can rest on their laurels a little now, with special thanks to families and friends for their wonderful support.

“It was brilliant,” said Adam in conclusion, “and we wouldn’t have missed it for the world. We have raised funds for a great charity in Epilepsy Wales – and we have all lost at least a stone in weight as something of a bonus!”
 

Adam, Ryan and Rhodri’s schedule:

Day One: Amroth to Freshwater East

Day Two: Freshwater East to Angle

Day Three: Angle to Milford Haven

Day Four: Milford Haven to Marloes

Day Five: Marloes to Newgale

Day Six: Newgale to St Davids

Day Seven: St Davids to Abermawr

Day Eight: Abermawr to Fishguard

Day Nine: Fishguard to Newport

Day Ten: Newport to St Dogmaels