In and out the dusty bluebells

Having finally found another good bluebell wood in Kenilworth where we live now last weekend, I thought I would share our favourite bluebell walk in Swansea, an annual outing when we lived there.

The walk starts at a small car park at the top of Mill Lane. If you travel from Swansea to Mumbles on the coast road, the entrance to Mill Lane is at Blackpill,opposite the lido, and just before the entrance for the Woodman Pub and Clyne Gardens (see later). The car park is a fair way up, on the right, opposite the entrance to Clyne Castle (which used to be a student hall of residence, and has now been converted to luxury flats).

From the car park, take the unmade track on the left which climbs through the woods. After about half a mile, you need to take a clear left hand fork again (you should be able to see bluebells on your left up the hill by then). If you follow this track round to the left as it climbs, you will effectively walk round in a circle and back along the top of the hill. The best bluebells are along this walk at the top, and combined with the new foliage on the beech trees, it always takes my breath away.

Towards the end of the ridge there is a steep drop to the left of the path (take care with small children, although ours always negotiated it without any trouble). You can either follow the steep path down beside this, which will take you back to the original track (turn right to get back to the car park), or you can continue on through the bracken, where the path joins a larger footpath, which you can then follow downhill to take you back to the car park entrance. Either way the walk takes about half an hour.

The other tracks from the car park are well worth an explore at other times of the year, and if you cross Mill Lane from the car park, and head through the iron gate about 50 yards down, this will take you into Clyne Gardens, a must visit for garden lovers in the spring, and lovely at any time.

Hope you enjoy!