Another walk for training so a fairly flat long distance one that I can do fast. Well that was the intention. I was going to do some of Kerry ridgeway and join up lots of bits that I’d done before but when I looked at the map I couldn’t help but throw a new bit in and make a 15 mile circuit. It was a beautiful and peaceful walk and one that Iam eager to do again in better weather. Starting from the picnic site I walked westward along the ridgeway. Right, I made a mistake….. I checked the weather before I left and, in town, it was actually quite nice, muggy but ok. The forecasted rain had not materialized either so I put on my summer walking shoes and left my coat behind because it is only a pain when it gets too warm. Plus, I only had summer in mind but of course up on the ridgeway it can be very different and it was. The ground was very, very wet – the first bit of track not too bad but extremely sheep pooey. Once on the fields the grass was sodden and the clouds above, not that far above, looked ominously drizzly. My feet got wet with in first 2 miles, I could have rung them out, well my socks at least. Talk about getting cold feet – but I decided that the worst was past and I would stride ahead. Lesson – always wear walking boots and don’t assume it is summer in summer time, when in Wales. So anyway, taking the public access track from near the Two Tumps, a pair of bronze age round barrows (burial sites), that takes you to the source of the River Teme and round the south side of Cilfaesty Hill past High Park on to Panty Hill. The views of ‘The Ring’ from here are fantastic, on the other side of the young Teme valley but I didn't take a photo because it was spoilt by fly-tipping. Finding a lovely path then, a bit of a green lane, down to Lluest which looked like it might have once been a dwelling, all that is left now is some stone rubble and a barn but a beautiful south facing setting. It is places like this that I love to imagine what once was. It’s not necessarily the dereliction that I like but the rush of imagination and being absorbed for a few moments in a different era. There was a stream at the bottom which I did a flying leap over and then continued up the track to a small chapel which looked like was in the middle of a conversion project into a house, possibly needing a boost of some kind. From the sharp bend in the road, where there is a lovely old red phone box, I took a lane almost directly south to meet up with Glyndwr’s way. What I really like about doing new walks is that you can look at the map and plot and plan where to go, estimate the contours and imagine the countryside but it is only when you are actually there walking it that it all takes shape; the fantastic views, the beautiful quaint old lanes, ancient trees and of course, most of the time, the only sound being the birds. This part of Glyndrw’s way was really beautiful with views, quite misty, either side down to little hidden valleys, one of which called Crochan Dingle. The only person I saw on this whole 15 miles was a farmer where the path went through his farm. The dogs were making a racket, so much so that I hesitated about walking through the farmyard. The dogs didn’t appear but the noise was so intimidating that I didn’t trust that the dogs wouldn’t get out of where they were once they saw me. The farmer turned up on his quad and reassured me that they were in fact in a kennel. Once in Felindre and over the River Teme I took a foot path back NW ish to the little lane up to Walk Mill. I was relieved that the path was clearly waymarked but I was just over the border into Shropshire! The paths from Walk Mill up to the Anchor I had done a few times before so I felt like I was on the home straight. When I first walked past the tumble down Walk Mill I dared to go inside and took a picture of the quaint cast iron stove, the second time I walked past there was a big dead sheep in the shed, this time it looked completely different - well on the way to being a proper dwelling. The path turns into a track where you get really good views of Castell Bryn Amlwg, a site of a castle of the 12th and 13th centuries. So, from the Anchor up to the Kerry pole and back along the Ridgway to the picnic site. I heard a cuckoo on the way too, which always makes my day, and a kite came swooping down over me as well. I really enjoyed this walk, bang on 15 miles, bang on 5 hours, extremely undulating (very hilly in that case), varied and outstanding countryside and I only saw (apart from passing traffic which was minimal) one person. Very peaceful! ..... (and all with wet feet)
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Aran Fawddwy has to be my favourite mountain. When I am there, as with many places in Wales, I really do wonder why there is any need to adventure further afield. Another reason why I love it, is because you can see this mountain from the top of the Vastre (the road from Kerry to Newtown) – on a clear day you can see the contours and shadows and appreciate its vastness as it stands proud of all surrounding hills. It is higher than Cadiar Idris (893m) at 905m and in my opinion more beautiful, has a satisfying varied climb and is a lot less busy. This time, my 6th time up there, I took my mum, niece, and husband. I’m very proud of my mum – she is getting towards 77 and still climbing mountains. We can all aspire to that – lots of fresh air and keeping active. So many book are published and so many programs produced on how to keep fit and healthy. We can read it all, watch it all, but let’s face it – just keep active, get lots of fresh air and eat a balanced, healthy diet. It was a misty start and I had already decided that if the visibility was just too bad (and it can be very changeable) once we reached the first plateau, that I would say turn back and not be too disheartened. The climb up the side of the stream is good fun and at times takes some concentration, the mist and dew had made it very slippery in places. Taking your time is key, not only to avoid wrong footing but to enjoy the whole experience – stopping and turning round to take in the ever impressive views. As we climbed further up towards the mist, the mist itself seemed to get higher too and thinned a little, although when we arrived at the plateau we still couldn’t see the little lake up there. From here taking a right turn, it is an undulating climb, some of it very boggy but boards in places to keep above the water. I think a combination of the mist, dampness and heat rising from the peaty bogs gave the gnats a chance to have a field day - we got bitten repeatedly and this meant that stopping for longer than 2 minutes was really impossible. Blue sky! Patches started to appear and little windows opened up to glorious views. The heat from the sun beamed down and we now had a very good chance of getting to the summit, getting the views that are out of this world and not getting bitten while having our picnic at the top. And that’s exactly how it turned out and we could clearly see Bala Lake. We chose a lovely spot to have our lunch, watching the patchy shadows of the clouds passing over the many hidden valleys and contours of the peat bogs. The way down gives a fantastic position to see the whole horseshoe of Aran Fawddwy and although it can get a little tedious because it is only down and down it is worth taking your time on the descent too, stopping to take in the view of the horseshoe and of Cwm Cywarch, the valley where the start is, and to give your knees a rest if you suffer from achy knees. Highly recommended and it is just as beautiful at any time of year. What a beautiful walk I have done this week. Straight from the door of my house, onto the Severn Way doing an 11mile circular to Gregynog and back to town. I did it in 4 hours exactly so that was good going and a good workout because the terrain between here and Gregynog is very undulating, in fact someone said to me recently that that particular part of mid wales is like the whole of wales squashed into just a tiny area. I had done all of the footpaths before, it was just a matter of joining them up. There were a few cow encounters on the way but with one diversion and just being bold, everything was fine. So, starting on the Severn Way I walked up through Hendidley wood, where the blue bells still look magnificent and up over the Bryn to the Fachwen pool, always a beautiful spot for a snack break. Didn’t see the turtle today but shortly afterwards I did see a hare – that made my day. The Severn Way, after the pool takes you up on to some high ground with fantastic views of the Severn valley, over to Devil’s elbow and the hills above Llandinam. The scenery is stunning all the way, little old roads, gorse, marshland, then blue bells, pretty gullies – it really changes every half a mile. Leaving the Severn way near Bwlch-y-ffridd I took a mixture of footpaths and bridleways to Blackhouse common. On the way up I stumbled upon a lone wild Orchid. What a find! Blackhouse common has, I think, become one of my favourite places so I had a very quick lunch stop here before making my way to Ty Du, a very tidy little farm, and onto the lane. There is a footpath from here that goes into the wood on the south side of Gregynog which I’ve used before and Gregynog would be a great lunch stop if you wanted to make a whole day of this beautiful walk. Today, though, I continued clockwise and found the footpath which has a nice new bridge over Ieithon Brook. Then there were cows! So turning round at the nice new bridge I found another footpath that took me to Coedtrefe Farm. The farmer and his dogs here are always very friendly. From here south, there are a couple of lovely old green lanes and again the terrain and scenery changing and something new to see and take in all the way. At Black Well I turned left to take a foot path that goes steeply up the back of the Bryn, through a willow plantation and out on to Pen-Shwa lane and then a foot path that takes you down across the fields to the hospital road. A walk I’d highly recommend. I wanted to do a bit of territory that I hadn’t walked before so got the maps out and planned a 12mile circular starting at Bwlch–y-sarnau. My drive over from the Llan dod road to Bwlch–y-sarnau was beautiful and I felt really excited about my walk. Parking at the community hall was very convenient, and I noticed that they have a seasonal Glyndwr’s Way café there. So all going well…. Have to say though that I was disappointed with the first third of the walk, which was the Glyndwr’s way bit. I’ll try a different circular next time, maybe south of Bwlch-y-sarnau. I trudged a long a flat and very boggy track through a forest before meeting a lane that took me further north but then on to a very dull forestry track (never keen on them). At last reached the open access land and took the bridleway eastward up high on to Crugyn Llwyd for my lunch stop. I was baking by this time; the track had been very sheltered and as I turned right on to the bridleway there was a very welcomed breeze to cool me down. Fantastic views – usually I know exactly what I’m looking at and name most of the hills but not today, all new. There were a couple of Kites swooping high above and below them a Kestrel hovering a bit and then it would move on. Although the bridleway wasn’t marked the field boundaries were as the OS map (me being a map freak) so I could find my way quite easily. That is one of the best bits for me – finding my way; looking out for landmarks, boundaries, tree plantations and so on… I knew that on the high ground there was a break, of only a matter of metres, in the bridleway but I wasn’t expecting to see an actual sign saying ‘no bridleway’ (bearing in mind that there hadn’t been a waymark in the first place). Maybe an indication that someone has annoyed a farmer along the way - so, so long as I went round the inside of the perimeter of the open access land and re-joined another bridleway it would be fine. Hmmmmm easier said than done and finding the new one took some time but got there in the end. I think if I did it again, but anti-clockwise, I would sort it. Going south now and heading towards Fowler’s Arm Chair and stone circle - I’ve tried to find out more on this but I think little is known except that there was apparently a giant called Fowler. Unfortunately the circle is on the other side of the fence to the path but I nipped over to have a look, there was no one about and I hadn’t seen a sole yet. Just as I was leaving the field a tractor came round the corner and friendly dog. The farmer gave me a friendly wave, thank goodness. Next bit, back through a forest to go back down into the valley. I could hear a mechanical machinery noise going on and low and behold I came face to face with a wall of stacked tree trunks. Thankfully there was a very helpful chappy on a grabber type vehicle who said yes the bridleway was diverted and sent me in the right direction. So back along the side of the valley to Bwlch-y-sarnau feeling very warm in the sunshine and already planning my next walk – south!I wanted to do a bit of territory that I hadn’t walked before so got the maps out and planned a 12mile circular starting at Bwlch–y-sarnau. My drive over from the Llan dod road to Bwlch–y-sarnau was beautiful and I felt really excited about my walk. Parking at the community hall was very convenient, and I noticed that they have a seasonal Glyndwr’s Way café there. So all going well…. Have to say though that I was disappointed with the first third of the walk, which was the Glyndwr’s way bit. I’ll try a different circular next time, maybe south of Bwlch-y-sarnau. I trudged a long a flat and very boggy track through a forest before meeting a lane that took me further north but then on to a very dull forestry track (never keen on them). At last reached the open access land and took the bridle way eastward up high on to Crugyn Llwyd for my lunch stop. I was baking by this time; the track had been very sheltered and as I turned right on to the bridleway there was a very welcomed breeze to cool me down. Fantastic views – usually I know exactly what I’m looking at and name most of the hills but not today, all new. There were a couple of Kites swooping high above and below them a Kestrel hovering and then moving on. Although the bridleway wasn’t waymarked the field boundaries were as the OS map (me being a map freak) so I could find my way quite easily. That is one of the best bits for me – finding my way; looking out for landmarks, boundaries, tree plantations and so on… I knew that on the high ground there was a break, of only a matter of metres, in the bridleway but I wasn’t expecting to see an actual sign saying ‘no bridle way’ (bearing in mind that there hadn’t been a waymark in the first place). Maybe a sign that someone’s annoyed a farmer along the way - so long as I went round the perimeter of the open access land and re-joined another bridleway it would be fine. Hmmmmm easier said than done and finding the new one took some time but got there in the end. I think if I did it again, but anti-clockwise, I would sort it. Going south now and heading towards Fowler’s Arm Chair and stone circle. I’ve tried to find out more on this but I think little is known except that there was apparently a giant called Fowler who sat on a chair. Unfortunately the circle is on the other side of the fence to the path but I nipped over to have a look, there was no one about and I hadn’t seen a sole yet. Just as I was leaving the field a tractor came round the corner and a friendly dog. The farmer gave me a nice wave, thank goodness. Next bit, back through a forest to go back down into the valley. I could hear a mechanical machinery noise going on and low and behold I came face to face with a wall of stacked tree trunks. Thankfully there was a very helpful chappy on a grabber type vehicle who said yes the bridleway was diverted and sent me in the right direction. So back along the side of the valley to Bwlch-y-sarnau feeling very warm in the sunshine and already planning my next walk – south! ,Even though I do a lot of walking I still need to train for the cross wales walk. I find that relatively short, fast and hilly walks really helps along with some more lengthy ones too. I shall be walking with my sister Katie again this year; we are usually the same pace but Katie is doing The London Marathon this year so I think she might have upped her walking speed - I better get training. We didn't take part last year but did all 4 years previous to that.
Yesterday I went to Rhayader to do a short, quick and hilly walk. I could have taken some great photos but left my phone in the car so all I have to show you is data from my garmin. I was very pleased with my time because I had to do a fair amount of map reading on the way, that takes up time. It was one big steep climb on the way out towards Elan Valley (and there was a cyclist way up ahead - mad!), up to a bog and then back a slightly different way. Beautiful scenery and views. 6.7miles 2hrs 25mins A torrential start to today but met everybody in the carpark for the litter pick at 10am, organised by Walking Newtown. It was meant to be last weekend, I think to coincide with Sring Clean Cymru but because of the snow it was postposed the until today. It was a really good turn out, so some went into Dolerw and some of us stayed on the town side of the river and made our way down to the skate park. Sue Newham from Newtown Town Council provided us with all the gear and off we went to pick, pick, pick. What a lot of litter!! We did a 1.5hr stint and collected sacks upon sacks, all sorted out for glass/plastic and cans/litter. A few less plastic bottles to get into the river and find their way down stream and eventually into the sea! Generally I tend to think that bridleways are going to be better marked than footpaths. Well not today – completely wrong, never the less a walk that took me right into the wilderness and with a bitter east wind it really was a Siberian experience. I was on a mission today to go up Graig y Lyn-mawr. It has a trig point of 485m and I have looked out towards it many times from Bryn Du. I parked up in Adfa and walked towards Carmel caravan park, past the fishing pool and up as far as the first cattle grid. On the way I stopped to talk to a friendly, old farmer (and his dog) who was giving some hay to his sheep, He had lived in the small farm across the fields, Ty Hir, all his life (born and bred) and has gone to school in Adfa. He said so much had changed but he seemed happy. We were both happy that it was dry at last even if it was freezing. Up at the cattle grid I bumped into another friendly farmer and I decided to check with him where the bridleway went from here because it really wasn’t clear. The conversation went like this. Is there a bridle way from here? Yes Ah right, does it go up to the right, alongside this fence? Yes Ah right, great, thank you. Don’t open any of the gates, mind. Climb over them. Oh I will, I always do. And mind you climb over the hinge end. Oh I will, I always do. Cus it’s me that ‘as to mend them. I’m always very careful. I thanked him very much for his help and went on my merry way. He was a bit economic with his words but helpful all the same. I think we both found the conversation quite funny. It was very boggy in places, as usual, but not too bad. The scenery really was getting magnificent and I wanted to take so many pictures. I had really good views across to Mynydd Cerrigllwdion. Then things got tricky… there were no waymarks, the field boundaries didn’t tie up with the map and I got cold from checking the map sooo many times. All good fun though. I needed to find the bridleway that would take me south, over Graig y Lyn-mawr which eventually I did but there were so many tracks up there, a shame really. It looked like it was a place to come up and have a spin in a four by four. The hill must have so much history- there are so many ancient sites marked on the map which are all bronze age burial/ritual sites. A pity the surrounding land is getting churned up. The geology of the craggy top would be very interesting too, I’ll try to find out. I was very relieved to reach the trig point, the return journey was going to be a lot, lot easier. Views down to the lakes were spectacular. At the lane I turned left and walked up to where a track takes you to the other lake but this time I was taking a foot path to the left. I wasn’t expecting this to be even marked but here was a shiny new gate and then another, and then another, and then another all the way back across the fields. The path went through a group of cairns and right up close to the foot of the wind turbines. First of all the path was just below the peak of Mynydd Cerrigllwydion and I felt quite sheltered but it soon opened out and I was head-on into the bitter east wind. Easy all the way back. 12.2 miles – freezing, fun and exhilarating. I knew the weather wasn’t going to be brilliant today but what I love about Wales, Mid Wales, is that I still find it stunning even if it is raining or windy, hail, whatever – sometimes it only adds to that exhilarating feeling when you are outdoors. That’s what it was like today. I set off from Gregynog Hall and went north from the rear of the hall through Great Wood. I love Great Wood and I wish I had known it was there when my children were little. We visited Gregynog many times but played on the lawns at the front. So if you haven’t been to Great Wood, it’s a must - a magical place. Then along the lane that took me up to Firhouse Sheepwalk. As soon I went through the gate on to the track I knew this was going to be a fantastic walk - the land is so rugged and unique to Mid Wales. To add to the atmosphere, a hunt was taking place, hunting for what I'm not sure, but the calls from the hunting horn, carried by the wind, made it all quite surreal. At the next gate I took a pic of the view looking back, it was very satisfying, even today. I turned off on to a track called Borfa-hafod Firs that takes you down to an old quarry. On a new walk, you can sometimes underestimate what fantastic views you are going to get and from this track the views of the Severn Valley were breath taking. I love it when this happens – it’s like finding treasure and I immediately want to share it with others. From the quarry I knew the bridle way very well, having walked it many times when I lived up in Adfa and many times since. The bridle way takes you right up on to Bryn Du across open access land. The weather up here is rarely what it’s like on lower ground and so up I went into the mist, onto what really is the middle of nowhere. Thankfully it was all very familiar to me but I probably wouldn’t recommend doing this if you’d never been there before and definitely not on your own, like me. The track was well used by possibly tractors or quads and extremely boggy in places, there is the odd waymarked post but today I could only see about 20 yards in front of me and the wind was so strong and noisy. It really was very exciting. I was looking out for Llyn y Tarw, a beautiful lake with a small island that has a colony of terns. When I’ve been up here before the terns have seen me and made a din but today I couldn’t even see across to the island, never the less, it was exhilarating to suddenly come to this mass of water in the mist. Time for a snack and a drink but today wasn’t a day for hanging around for too long. So onwards onto the track that takes you to the main bridle way which runs across the ridge of Bryn Du. It was quite eerie - I could hear the wind turbines but I couldn’t see them first of all, then the mist cleared and, like them or loathe them, there they were. I came off this track further on and headed down towards Gwgia Reservoir. On the way down I could see back across to Borfa-hafod Firs –I think it’s always nice to see where you were earlier on in the walk, satisfying. Gwgia looked as lovely as ever with its little dam, boathouse and causeway, one of my favourite spots and good diversion to miss out some road on the way back. There is a pretty little lane from the dam back to the Bwlch -y-ffridd road, and then taking the lane back to Gregynog, via Great Wood. 11.6 miles 16/1/2018 Welshpool to Castle Caereinion - including part of Glyndwr's Way - 10 miles there-and-backRead NowI wanted to do this walk there-and-back so that I knew it really well, but really it’s a walk designed to use the light railway between Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion – catching the train from Welshpool and getting off at Castle Caereinion, walking over Y Golfa on Glyndŵr’s Way. The start of my walk from Welshpool, taking Glyndŵr’s way from the Raven Pub, took me through some very smart, well-kept park land. There is something about walking early on a Sunday morning, and today was particularly still, it was so quiet and tranquil – perfect. Glyndŵr’s Way is a long distance trail of 135 miles forming a meandering loop from Knighton to Welshpool. The oak trees in the park land, scattered across the fields, either side of the lane lead that up to Llanerchydol Hall, were magnificent and I'm sure would look even more beautiful in early summer. I didn’t know this hall even existed - certainly hidden away. It is privately owned and was built in 1776 by David Pugh - a local man who had made he fortune selling tea in London (he also owned Aberbechan Hall). I noticed an ice house near the back of the property, apparently there are two, possibly joined. Very intriguing, and imagine having enough ice on the rivers and ponds to fill these things. To be able to preserve food and, so they say, enjoy ice creams in the summer must have be high tech in its day but I expect only to be enjoyed by the gentry of the big halls. The lane continued and eventually became a track at Home Farm and just passed here, gradually getting higher, the views were fabulous although visibility could have been better. I followed the well-marked Glyndŵr’s Way all the way to open access land / Welshpool Golf course and took a foot path around the perimeter. On the way, though, I detoured to the Trig point on Y Golfa where 360° views can be enjoyed, shame about the clouds but it was still very colourful and I had buzzards and kites souring above me. There is a fort on the footpath to look out for. Then the path follows the edge of the open access land down into the valley and to the main road, crossing the little railway and over fields to Castle Caereinion, all fairly well marked. The village used to have a castle and there is a mound in the churchyard which they say could possibly be the remains of some sort of fort. The village its self was very quiet and petty, the shop was shut but outside was a rack with the papers in and a little old post box – all very quaint. There is a pub too which would have made a good lunch stop but I was too early for lunch so walked to the station where I had my packed snack and coffee on the platform bench (no trains today!) and then I walked all the way back. 10 miles all together and all done by 2.15 in the afternoon! What a fantastic walk, one of the best I’ve done recently. I feel very excited about this one. Really impressive scenery and included 3 trails – pretty good for a 7.5mile circular. Starting from Bishop’s Moat, which was a short drive from Mellington Hall, up to a cross roads where the road intersects the Kerry Ridgeway. There is a small motte and bailey there, the mound still very much intact – it was built in round 1120 (so about 400 years after Offa’s Dyke was built) by the Bishop of Hereford and was later possibly occupied by Llywelyn ab lorwerth in 1233. The weather in the morning had been really stormy - snowing at one point, so we hadn’t started the walk until the weather had eased. The wind was still bitter walking south but a good uphill towards Reilthtop to meet the Shropshire Way warmed us up. The Shropshire Way, going west from here, took a lane that turned into a lovely old avenue of trees - a green lane with fantastic views down into the river Unk valley. We continued to walk the Shropshire Way through Knuck Wood following the river Unk northward and then it veers west still following the meandering river, or I think a tributary to the river Unk (actually I’ve just looked it up – it was the river Unk). The Shropshire Way intercepts Offa’s Dyke at Churchtown, a quiet little place tucked right down in a steep sided valley. From the south side of the valley we could clearly see Offa’s Dyke climbing straight up the hillside opposite. An amazing and spectacular sight. We came across a big old sow and her 5 comical piglets at a small-holding in Churchtown. The Friendly farmer told us that he hadn’t expected them to survive in the awful, wet, snowy weather, but I think he’d done a jolly good job, they looked as happy as anything. A coffee stop and a lump of Christmas cake at the church before the steep incline of Offa’s Dyke. The views of Churchtown Hill and Stevens Dingle were amazing even on an overcast day like today. The climb was certainly worth it and my mum, who was with me today, is in her mid-seventies so if she can do it….. Incidentally, if you haven’t read a previously blog – Offa’s Dyke was ordered to big dug by King Offa – king of Mercia from 757 to 796. The trench is always on the Welsh side for extra defence. The trench is still there as too is the dyke. Then almost straight down into the next valley following Offa’s Dyke but before that, a short plateau where we had 360 deg views. I just love it when you get views like that and can hardly see any civilization – gives me a wonderful sense of passion for walking and the stunning countryside that’s on my door step. The stream in this valley must be a tributary to the river Unk, then, as it doesn’t seem to be named on the OS map but joins the Unk at Mainstone. So then crossing a substantial foot bridge over a bursting stream and up into Nut Wood where we took a bridle way NE back to meet the Kerry Ridgeway. It’s road from here but I noticed that all the way along adjacent to the road runs the old ridgeway track – a pity that it’s not a foot path. On our left we passed Caer Din, an iron-age fort. I couldn’t resist running up to the top to see the views even though the light was fading by now. A great spot for a picnic and that’s one thing recces are for, to find all these memorable and ideal locations. Brilliant – I can’t wait to walk it again! |
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