In my own footsteps

The weather was expected to be great for the weekend, but I came down with a cold during the week, which put the brakes on my walk plans a little bit!

We stayed at the Star Bunkhouse in Bwlch, which is about 12 miles W along the A40 from Abergavenny. Compared to our recent YHA experience, this was lovely - cosy, clean, comfy, with hot showers, etc.

Frog Spawn
Saturday Mar 21st: 9 miles, ascent approx 400m (map OS Outdoor Leisure OL13).

From Bwlch, 5 of us followed the Beacons Way NE and briskly up to the top of Cefn Moel. Leaving the Beacons Way, we continued N on a bridleway to Myndd Llangorse. Here we caught up with some of the others out on a "bigger" walk. After late elevenses, we all headed for the trig point via a track, where we went our separate ways. After passing slightly to the W of the summit, we turned NE on another track for about 1/4 mile and then sharply S on the E slide of the summit.

We passed a couple of small ponds by the track close to the summit and stopped to inspect frog spawn in various states of life and death and spotted a few tadpoles as well. After 3/4 mile S along this track, we dogleggged E on a bridleway to a cairn that marked the path (bridleway) SE to Pen Tir. To look at some more ponds, we strayed E of the main track and stopped for lunch by one of these near the summit. It was a gorgeous afternoon so we had a long relaxing break with skylarks singing above us.

After inspecting more frog spawn we headed roughly SSE down from the top of Pen Tir. At the boundary at the edge of the open moorland of the hilltop, we doglegged NNW briefly along the edge of an old earthwork and then followed a sunken trackway SW for about 1/4 mile. Arriving at a small tarmac lane, we rejoined the Beacons Way, which we followed by road and footpath to Cwmdu on the A479. We stopped for refreshments and more sun in the roadside garden of the Farmers Arms pub.

Ready for the last section of the walk, we recrossed the river via the Beacons Way (retracing our steps briefly), and then followed the road S parallel to the river down to Felindre. A the S end of the village, we turned W at the T-junction for a couple of hundred yards and then continued in the same direction on a footpath (over Clarach Brook).

Fuelled by fruit sherbets, and encouraged by Emma C's singing and thoughts of chilli for dinner, we continued SW on the footpath crossing a patchwork of fields, climbing towards Neuadd-fry, and then Tre-graig. Here we picked up the byway SW and then W back for the last 3/4 mile back to Bwlch for a nice cup of tea. A lovely day!

Roaming on a Roman Road
Sunday Mar 22nd: 9 miles, ascent approx 250m (map OS Outdoor Leisure OL13).

Today, 4 of us set off under a lovely blue sky, for a walk up to Llyn Syfaddan (Llangorse Lake), the largest natural lake in Wales (ie, not a human-made reservoir). Following the A40 NW, I was looking for a footpath to Castell Blaenllynfi, but turned N too soon. Deciding not to turn back, we climbed a wall and a couple of barbed wire fences in Bwlch Wood and made our way down a steep wooded bank, to emerge into an open field and then onto the B 4560 about 1/4 mile N of the A40.

Having worked out where we were, we went NW on this B road for 1/4mile and then turned W toward Castell Blaenllynfi. Where the road barnches NW and SW, we went SW for about 1/3 mile to join a bridleway thatr followed the route of a Roman Road. We followed this NW and then NNW, climbing up to the summit of Allt yr Esgair. There had been an iron-age and then a Roman fort here, which would have commanded excellent views of the Usk Valley below us to the W. To our NE, the lake below, where there had been another ancient settlement, reflected the blue sky.

We followed the track down hill and beyond as it turned WNW, eventually meeting a road E of Pennorth. About 2/3 of a mile of quiet country road ESE was followed by a footpath N to Tymawr Farm. From here we headed E briefly and then N again toward the S shore of the lake. Turning E for just over half a mile, we heard a buzzard mewing and then saw a pair of them circling above the trees ahead. There was a bit of a cool breeze, but we found a sheltered spot and stopped for lunch looking out at the lake, near the church at Llangasty-Talyllyn.

After a quick lunch (some of us were going home that afternoon), we took the road SW by the church, and soon picked up a footpath which we followed for about 1/2 a mile across fields, SSE and then SSW, to rejoin the road (another quiet lane) at Home Farm. From here, we made swift work of the 2-3 miles SSE along the lane back towards Castell Blaenllynfi. A wiggle on the road brought us to a footpath heading roughly S for a 1/4 mile to the A40.

The last 1/2 a mile SE along the A40 through Bwlch delivered us back to the bunkhouse for tea, macaroons, Sunday papers, and goodbyes for some.

A lovely weekend!

Off to the Brecon Beacons on Friday for a long weekend, staying at Bwlch near Crickhowell. The weather forecast looks very good, so I'm hoping that we can go for a nice high walk on Saturday or Sunday...

Map: OS Outdoor Leisure, OL 17

Last weekend saw a few of us head off for 3 days' walking in Snowdonia. We stayed at Betws-Y-Coed youth hostel, which we all thought was a bit scuzzy and definitely not up to the 4 stars it is given by the YHA.

The weather provided some challenges: ice, snow, gales, hail, and rain; nevertheless, we had a great time!

Halfway Up Snowdon (Fri 6th Mar): 5.5 miles, approx 400m ascent, time approx 5 hrs.

We started from Pen-Y-Pass car park (opposite the youth hostel on the A4086)and followed the Pyg track up over Bwlch-Y-Moth with Crb Goch to our W and then our N. On the way up the rock steps and track we icey, which made for slow and tricky going. As we got higher, compacted and frozen snow didn't help either. By the time we reached the junction with the Miner's track, conditions under foot and building cloud, and the fact that we were being passed by people wearing crampons, dissuaded us from our goal - conditions coming back down from the summit by our chosen route would have been outside our collective comfort/safety zones.

We stepped and slipped down to Glaslyn through fresh snow, with some skilfully aimed snowballs on the way to cheer ourselves up. After stopping for lunch by the ruined buildings at the side of the tarn and we entertained ourselves by testing Kaz's emergency shelter.

We followed the Miner's track back down, conditions on the track soon became easier and by the time we reached the causeway at Llyn Llidaw the ground was pretty clear. In a hop and a skip we were back at the car and heading to Llanberis for tea and treats at Pete's cafe and shopping at Joe Brown's (I bought a new hat).

Llanberis - Lost Plus Extreme Pooh Sticks (Sat 7th Mar): 6.25 miles, approx 400m ascent, time approx 5 hrs.

The weather was a touch warmer than Friday and slightly sunny, but showers, hail, and strong winds had been forecast. We set off from a few hundred yards down the hill from Llanberis youth hostel and headed up(SW) past the hostel, leaving the road to continue in a silimar direction for another 1/4 mile of footpaths. At a junction with a bridleway we turned SE, rejoining the road for a short distance, before continuing on the track where the road ends, still going SE.

We crossed Afon Hwch and continued S and SSE on the same track past ruins of farm buildings and onwards along the side of a broad valley (marked Maesgwm on the map). After a stop for coffee, etc, te sky darkened and the wind picked up. We donned waterproofs as the dirzzle grew heavier and the wind stronger. As we neared the saddle ahead and above us(Bwlch Maesgwm), we were passed by a few groups of walkers coming down from higher ground ahead.

The wind showed no signs of abating as we reached the bwlch (which is Welsh for pass). Our next objective was Foel Goch, the first of 3 tops we had planned for the day. In the wind and drizle Kaz took a bearing and we made for the top, passing just to the S of it.

Our next target was Foel Gron, which we reckoned we would reach by folowing an apparent boundary fenc on the map. In poor visibility we followed the boundary down from Foel Goch. After awhile, we realised that fences were appearing in odd places and that e had been going down hill for too long. Also as the clouds cleared a bit below us, we saw an unexpected tarn below us. Reconsideration was needed! After a hard think, some bearings, and a good look at the map, we worked out where we were. We had almost doubled back on ourselves, heading N and NNE from the top of Foel Goch toward Cefn Drum and were looking down on Llyn Dwythwch.

The weather was pretty grim and Mont Eilio to our NW was obscured by cloud, so we opted not to retrace our steps, but to press on back towards Llanberis. Afer ccarrying on for another half mile, we stopped above Llyn Dwythwch and got out the emrgency shelter. It was freezing, windy and wet and we were glad of a bi of respite and a sheltered lunch.

Fully replenished we headed N/NNE across the hillside and down to Tyrn-Yr-Yelgerth and then onwards to rejoin our outward track. Rather than retrace oursteps, at Ford Brithdir, we took a footpath NE to cross Afon Arddu. The bridge was a lovely spot and presented an opportunity for Poohsticks. We played only 1 round, which Tina won - she was duly crowned Extreme Poohsticks champion!

Continuing roughly N, we followed the river as far as the Mountain Railway. After crossing the track (no trains running), we soon reached a road ans wiggled down hill as far as the end of Llanberis high street (?) and then turned up hill back to the car.

Hot showers all round when we got back to the hostel. The drying room filled to overflowing as walkers and climbers returned from a stormy day in the hills and made for the pub. We had a navigational post-mortem, comparing the map we had used to the latest version. Our error was immediately clear - Doh!

Crafnant Valley from Trefiw (Sun 8th Mar): 8.25 mles, approx 550m ascent, time approx 6 hrs.

We started the day with a very short stroll up to Llyn Idwal from Idwal Cottage, but having almost got blown over a couple of times, we opted for something more sheltered for the rest of the day. We headed N from Betws-Y-Coed to Trefin on the W side of the Conwy Valley.

We parked at the car park in the middle of Trefin, crossed the the bridge over Afon Cranant(heading N on the B5106) and headed W and up hill for less than 1/4 mile. We recrossed the river and picked up a footpath (W) along the S bank of the river, crossing again near Gymannog.

Heading W along the road, we passed Gelli-lydan and entered the SE corner of Gelli Plantation. Finding our path proved a challenge and we had to hack our way through overgrown brambles, going up hill and eventually joining a track going WSW, emerging from the woodland near Lledwigan.

Pssing the farm, we followed the track zigzagging up, heading roughly NW onto moorland. Turning gradually W, we headed for the E side of the top of Pen Y Graig Gron. Stopping for a breather at a junction of 3 fences, we had a coffee break as the cloud came down and the hail started.

We climbed a stile heading NW and then turning SW on a path N of the hilltop. We passed a small pond on very boggy ground in head-on hail, following a wet and heathery path along a fence line. Dropping down to the top of a valley, we climbed a fence and followed a line of old fence posts S and down hill across very wet ground, reaching a forestry plantation after about 1/4 mile.

In the relative shelter of the trees, we stopped for lunch, seeing our first other human since Gelli. The path S through the trees was very boggey and we picked our way down hill avoiding the worst of it. Soon the path improved and we walked down through the trees over a light covering of snow/hail. Careful navigation gradually brought us down to the track along the N side of the Llyn Crafnant reservoir.

At the E end of the reservoir, we picked up the road for a short distance NE, and then continued in the same direction on the footpath, turning SE through a disused quarry. Eventually we reached the N end of Llyn Geirionydd, where we stopped for a snack by the monument.

Following the road and then the footpath NNE, we walked above the old mine workings on the valley side. After about a mile, the path curved E and we followed it on the hillside above the river for about another mile. reaching a road, which wended our way E down hill to the main road in Trefiw.

It had been a long day, and we rewarded ourselves with that evening with roast dinners and beer.

Sunday Mar 1, 2009: 9.5 miles, ascent approx 220m (Map: OS Explorer 123)

It stayed dry despite the drizzly forecast. After a delayed start, four of us enjoyed a lovely day out following a route that was essentially a big circle around the Long Man of Wilmington (East Sussex).

Startng from the market cross in the centre of the cloyingly picturesque village of Alfriston, we followed the South Downs Way over the footridge across the river Cuck. Where the SDW met the road, we left it and continued ENE across fields on a footpath, rejoining the SDW (bridleway) near the next road crossing. From here we followed the SDW up over Windover Hill to Jevington.

Taking the road N through Jevington (a bit scary as no pavment or verge in places on this fast and twisty road), we opted not to stop at the Eight Bells. Shortly after avoiding the pub, we left the road to follow the Wealdway towards Folkington. The route from Jevington is a byway that leaves the road heading roughly NW to start with, and which actually runs all the way to Wilmington, if you fancy that...

Anyway, towards Folkington we were all getting peckish so we had lunch in the churchyard, which I liked, but I don't think anyone else did much. I think this place is worth another visit.

After lunch, we rejoined the byway towards Wilmington, passing through woodland. At the junction where the byway and the Wealdway part, we stayed on the latter (a bridleway), passing SW below the Long Man and then N to the road 1/4 mile away. We stayed on the Wealdway going N-ish along the road as far as the church. After admiring the lovely bee and butterfly window inside and the wonderful 1600-year-old yew tree, we took the footpath out of the back of the churchyard, heading W/SW over fields to Milton Street. We kept on in roughly the same direction, across fields and roads to reach the river at Long Bridge.

From Long Bridge, a 1/4 mile stroll downstream along the river embankment brought us back to the SDW at the footbridge by Alfriston. Here we retraced our steps back to the market cross and went for refreshments a the Smugglers' Inn.

No Photos this time - I was too busy yakking and looking at the scenery.