Ray’s Cobs Mumbles and Gower Pleasure Drive – ‘a good day out had by all’

This Swansea drive, which took place last Sunday on May 4th and is organised by Ray (above), has probably the most intriguing name of all the drives in the UK, except - perhaps - if you are a Swansea ‘Jack’, in which case you would know that the Mumbles Road is a long road that runs alongside the beach in Swansea Bay on the Gower peninsula. And everyone knows what a cob is - don’t they?

 John from the Romany Heritage Facebook page was there to report and has kindly let us use some of his excellent photos.

Ray’s Cobs, Mumbles and Gower Pleasure Drive last Sunday was excellent, and we met up with Ray at Bon-y-maen and then drove down to the drive start at The Old Duke in Swansea …  writes John.

The cart I am on was driven by Steve Ashby, who organises the Bournemouth Horse Fair & Drive, and is pulled by Bluebell. I did not do an exact count but estimate that about 50 yokes were on the drive.

We left around 11.30am and drove through Swansea out to the first stop at West Cross on the Mumbles Road, which is a good stop with views across the bay.

From there we went to Bracelet Bay, with its beautiful scenery, there was food available, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the sunshine.

From Bracelet Bay we went back down the Mumbles Road and on to the Swansea Beach at Black Pill for an exciting drive down the beach leaving at Sketty Lane for our next stop at Singleton Park and the 'Pub on the Pond'. From there we returned to our starting point at the Old Duke.

A very good day was had by all, the drive was well organised by Ray as always, a pickup truck took a large water supply to every stop.

For more photos, from this and other Romany Gypsy and Travellers fairs, drives and events, head on over to Romany Heritage Facebook page!

John from Romany Heritage for the Travellers Times

(All photo and video credits are John from Romany Heritage. Lead photograph: Ray at Bon-y-maen)