I can’t believe it’s almost a year since I visited Cwm George. Luckily, I now live much nearer to this magnificent woodland so I’ll definitely be going back more often. I had a long walk here on Thursday with my friend Hilary, chatting and botanising and soaking in the beauty of the wild garlic and the bluebells and so much more.

This walk, called Salmon Leaps, is one of eight in the Vale of Glamorgan for which there are downloadable pamphlets available (see here for this one). Locals say there haven’t been salmon in these streams for years but don’t let that put you off. Ours was a variation of the routes in the brochure but with much of the same picturesque scenery. Let me show you me some of the highlights …

Crossing the Cadoxton River (well, stream, really)

The beeches of Cwm George, carpeted with swathes of wild garlic

Looking across farmland to the village of Michaelston-le-Pit

A weir, with a small lake behind, on the upper Cadoxton River near Cwrt-Yr-Ala (where the salmon are supposed to leap)

Heading in to another woodland, Cwm Penllwynog, and, below, some of its beautiful bluebells

Wildflowers lined the hedgerows as we headed back towards Dinas Powys along Beauville Lane

More woodland – this is Coed Twyncyn