Hill End to Spaniard Rocks & Back: Step-by-Step Part 1

Warning sign at Hill End car park, Gower

Leave only footprints sign at Hill End, Gower

Leaving the dune path and reaching the beach

Looking south towards Worms Head at Rhossili, Gower

Looking north towards Burry Holms at Rhossili, Gower

Sandy hollows scooped out of the shore at Rhossili

Sandy tidal hollow filled with natural debris

Water-filled sandy hollows on Rhossili beach, Gower

Dead starfish on the sand showing underside

Dead starfish on the sand showing top side

Dead starfish on the Rhossili strandline

Close-up of dead starfish on the Rhossili strandline

Strandline deposits with seashells and starfishes

Strandline deposits with seashells and plant debris

Driftline patterns of black particles on a sandy beach

Natural patterns of black drift particles at Rhossili, Gower

Hydroids and fucoids on the strandline at Rhossili

Dead common starfish with rayed trough shell and Pharus legumen on the Rhossili strandline

Congregation of gulls on the sand at Rhossili

Looking seawards from the outfall of Diles Lake on Rhossili beach

This is the first part of a walk I took along the beach on April 7th, 2017. It shows the images in chronological order, step-by-step as I progressed along the shore. Starting at the Hill End car park on the tip of the Gower Peninsula, I took the short path through the dunes to Rhossili beach and turned right (north) towards the Spaniard Rocks which lie near the tidal island of Burry Holms. The tide was out and the beach had been scooped into hollows by the retreating waves. The sand was covered with fine black coal particles, plants stems, and wood fragments with many seashells and dead starfish making patterns on the shore. Young gulls and crows were feasting on the strandline debris.

You can click on any picture to see the whole gallery in enlarged format.

6 Replies to “Hill End to Spaniard Rocks & Back: Step-by-Step Part 1”

Robn says:

April 12, 2017 at 10:00 pm

Hi, I love your pics. Come to caspersen beach Florida for breathtaking pebbles with holes. We live in ga but go to caspersen beach to look for shark teeth. (Love it) robin …. find peebles and spray with clear spray enamel!! Beautiful to display in your home…

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winderjssc says:

April 13, 2017 at 9:18 am

Thank you, Robin. I just love pebbles too.

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aidymcglynn says:

April 14, 2017 at 12:12 pm

Loved that series of shots Jessica. The starfish are great – I’ve never seen so many washed up like that.

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winderjssc says:

April 15, 2017 at 6:23 am

Thank you, Adrian. Starfish strandings are not uncommon events over here but sometimes they hit the headline news. Not this one. My pictures may be the only documentation of their passing.

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Monster Mermaid says:

April 19, 2017 at 12:51 am

This is a lovely idea for a series of posts..I might steal it! 🙂

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winderjssc says:

April 19, 2017 at 7:26 am

Thank you, Clare. Yes, it is sometimes good to post something subject specific and narrowly focused – but it is also nice to give a full flavour of an experience by treating it more extensively like this. I’m pleased that you thought the format OK.

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