Spotted this in the local paper whilst in Swansea last week:
10:00 - 09 October 2006
Regarding your article headlined Druid calls for Red Lady's return (Post, September 26).The ancient skeleton found in Paviland Cave on the Gower peninsula lies safely in an Oxford University.
However, there is a replica of this find in Swansea Museum. It is a travesty, however, that Paviland Cave - perhaps the most historic site in the whole of Britain - is inaccessible to anyone who cannot traverse a very difficult rock face.
I visited the site last week and the only available path which circumnavigates a precipitous curve in the hillside is less than a foot wide on very loose scree leading to a steep scramble over cavernous rocks. It is extremely dangerous and there are no warning signs for the public. The alternative route is from the top of the cliff down a rope.
If this is an example of how we nurture our historic sites, perhaps the skeleton is better off in Oxford.
Many of the eroded paths to the beaches in this area aren't much better. Aren't there now government initiatives to provide access for all?
Perhaps the footpath officer in our local council should take a trip to Austria and see how they maintain and exploit their tourist attractions.
Mrs G Davies
Gowerton, Swansea
When I were a lad, there was no footpath, the only "safe" access was at low tide. Didn't stop me and my mate Howyll though...
Glenn
