The walk itself today was the best I have had for many trips with a cool breeze and good late summer sunshine. Photography was good too with 360 degree views on the summit and great light for near images
More Images from Walk
Thursday 10 September 2009
Trip Report: Berwyn Ridge
Back to an old favourite. A Couple of weeks later than last year as wet under foot but far better weather. The route over the Berwyns circling Cwm Maen Gwynedd has been covered in this blog before. So today I will focus on parking and access neither of which a re any better. There is still room for 3 cars by the stream but both access roads are now showing signs of breaking up quite badly.
The walk itself today was the best I have had for many trips with a cool breeze and good late summer sunshine. Photography was good too with 360 degree views on the summit and great light for near images
More Images from Walk
The walk itself today was the best I have had for many trips with a cool breeze and good late summer sunshine. Photography was good too with 360 degree views on the summit and great light for near images
More Images from Walk
Saturday 5 September 2009
Trip Report: Revisting the Radnor Forest
Its a while since I have got out but with a little time to spare and the weather improving I took a chance on the rain holding off and picked up an early autumn loop en route to my fathers home in Hereford.
Luckily I left it late as the forest was full of rally cars earlier in the day. overcast weather made for poor photos and the route is well described by me previously.
Luckily I left it late as the forest was full of rally cars earlier in the day. overcast weather made for poor photos and the route is well described by me previously.
Tuesday 18 August 2009
Trip report: Cefn yr Ystrad
Cefn yr Ystrad is the sore thumb of the beacons, set well to the south of the main ridge it is a neglected mix of rough moorland grazing and quarrying. There are easy walks in from the East using quarry roads but the more interesting route is up from Ponsticill to the SW of the summit.
Parking is possible near the treatment works then an easy track climbs up underneath the Brecon Mountain Railway. Then by way of a series of tracks you can make your way to the summit. I say can advisedly as it is easy to stray to one side and leave yourself with lots of work to do. For the geocachers there are a couple of chaes to have fun with en route.
From the summit the view is worth the climb so make sure its a good day.
From the trigpoint you are pretty much retracing steps but a faint path is soon visible it you head just off a northerly line
more images
Parking is possible near the treatment works then an easy track climbs up underneath the Brecon Mountain Railway. Then by way of a series of tracks you can make your way to the summit. I say can advisedly as it is easy to stray to one side and leave yourself with lots of work to do. For the geocachers there are a couple of chaes to have fun with en route.
From the summit the view is worth the climb so make sure its a good day.
From the trigpoint you are pretty much retracing steps but a faint path is soon visible it you head just off a northerly line
more images
Friday 24 July 2009
Trip Report: Pen Rhos Dirion circular
Parking at the top of the Gospel pass is easy in winter. Not so on a summer Saturday lunchtime. Fortunately I grabbed the last space and with a small pause to sort out kit I was off once more on a clockwise circuit.
Going underfoot was a little damp but the placed stones on Offas Dyke reduced the severity somewhat though the drop down to Capel y Ffin was far from present. The beauty of this walk though is the contrasts in views and the warm sun set the northern views off perfectly at the end of the day.
Going underfoot was a little damp but the placed stones on Offas Dyke reduced the severity somewhat though the drop down to Capel y Ffin was far from present. The beauty of this walk though is the contrasts in views and the warm sun set the northern views off perfectly at the end of the day.
Wednesday 4 March 2009
Trip Report : Garreg Las
Garreg Las and the trigpoint on Carreg yr Ogof make for an interesting yet problematic trip. The peak bagger will pass the trig by opting for the long walk in from the SE or the shorter but no less demanding crossing from the west.
There is however a third option.
Take the back roads to the church at Llanddeusant with its youth hostel and find a parking spot. The lane S from the church has one by the river bridge but its not good if very wet.
Continue up this road then track up onto the open hillside. Save this for a clear day as the going is not always the most obvious and the views east across the Carmarthen Fan make the day. Heading just west of south the trig point eventually appears then its onward over featureless ground to the twin cairns of Garreg las.
Its possible to continue from here but the way back is by no means direct from any of the other tops. Instead retrace your steps taking in the view to the north as you head back to your vehicle.
More photos from this trip
There is however a third option.
Take the back roads to the church at Llanddeusant with its youth hostel and find a parking spot. The lane S from the church has one by the river bridge but its not good if very wet.
Continue up this road then track up onto the open hillside. Save this for a clear day as the going is not always the most obvious and the views east across the Carmarthen Fan make the day. Heading just west of south the trig point eventually appears then its onward over featureless ground to the twin cairns of Garreg las.
Its possible to continue from here but the way back is by no means direct from any of the other tops. Instead retrace your steps taking in the view to the north as you head back to your vehicle.
More photos from this trip
Wednesday 11 February 2009
Trip report: Fan Fawr
On a dry summers day with no wind Fan Fawr is a stiff but easy 40 minutes from the Storey Arms car park. Add in the remnants of the winters heaviest fall of snow and you can allow another half hour and a good use of crampons especially in descent.
None the less the walk remains simple and a great break on the way home from a meeting in Cardiff.
All photos from this trip
None the less the walk remains simple and a great break on the way home from a meeting in Cardiff.
All photos from this trip
Saturday 7 February 2009
Trip report : Pen Plynlymon Arwystli
There is something about Plynlymon in the snow, perhaps its the central location with the extensive views or perhaps it just so easy to get to a point you can walk from. Whatever it is it a gem.
Route descriptions are superfluous on this occasion as the route from Eisteddfa Gurig has featured before but for a change I cut back and dropped into the valley far higher up than normal.
Other photos from this trip
Route descriptions are superfluous on this occasion as the route from Eisteddfa Gurig has featured before but for a change I cut back and dropped into the valley far higher up than normal.
Other photos from this trip
Thursday 8 January 2009
Trip Report: Corn Du and Pen y Fan
Having taken a break, had lunch in the car met up with a friend we repositioned our vehicles at Pont ar Daf in the toilet car park half a mile south of storey arms.
From here there is what only can be described as a motorway to the summit. A dead easy walk for even the most remote happy couch potato in summer the intermittent layers of ice and slippery rock means a degree of respect is required at this time of year.
The only decision to be made is which first Cord Du or the Pen. We opted for the former as we had no plans to descend via Tommy Jones Memorial today and a good choice it was too. The cloud stayed with us for the first top but as we toasted my 40th birthday with a glass of chilled pinot noir (grabbed a red not a white by mistake) a few breaks began to appear to both north and east and we were treated to the imposing vista of the photographs.
After a careful retrace to the first col the descent was down on the motorway to round off a thoroughly enjoyable day
All photos from 8th January
From here there is what only can be described as a motorway to the summit. A dead easy walk for even the most remote happy couch potato in summer the intermittent layers of ice and slippery rock means a degree of respect is required at this time of year.
The only decision to be made is which first Cord Du or the Pen. We opted for the former as we had no plans to descend via Tommy Jones Memorial today and a good choice it was too. The cloud stayed with us for the first top but as we toasted my 40th birthday with a glass of chilled pinot noir (grabbed a red not a white by mistake) a few breaks began to appear to both north and east and we were treated to the imposing vista of the photographs.
After a careful retrace to the first col the descent was down on the motorway to round off a thoroughly enjoyable day
All photos from 8th January
Trip report : Cerrig Gleisiad/Fan Frynach
I don't often make a habit of repeating walks within 6 months but I made an exception here all be it in reverse.
With 3 hours spare before meeting up for an afternoon walk I decided to spend the first half of my 40th birthday in the hills around the Cerrig Gleisiad reserve and what a choice it was too.
First up the frost and snow made for steady going up the ridge but it soon became apparent that not only was the cloud laying with a small temperature inversion and the sun was breaking though.
sure enough on the ridge sun and cloud interacted and nature gave me a moderate quality Brocken Spectre as a birthday present. The route itself was as easy as ever and remembering to take the left of the two diagonals off Frynach itself cut the corner down into the reserve. A lovely start to a great day out
Other photos from this walk
All todays photos on Flickr
With 3 hours spare before meeting up for an afternoon walk I decided to spend the first half of my 40th birthday in the hills around the Cerrig Gleisiad reserve and what a choice it was too.
First up the frost and snow made for steady going up the ridge but it soon became apparent that not only was the cloud laying with a small temperature inversion and the sun was breaking though.
sure enough on the ridge sun and cloud interacted and nature gave me a moderate quality Brocken Spectre as a birthday present. The route itself was as easy as ever and remembering to take the left of the two diagonals off Frynach itself cut the corner down into the reserve. A lovely start to a great day out
Other photos from this walk
All todays photos on Flickr
Trip Report: Y Gryn
Originally planned today as a stop on descent from the higher Beacons and instead opted for the quick out and back so as to avoid any ice on the rocks off the summit of Corn Du.
I've blogged about the route before so all that is left are the photos.
All todays photos on Flickr
I've blogged about the route before so all that is left are the photos.
All todays photos on Flickr
Wednesday 7 January 2009
Trip Report: Cader Idris
If you asked most people to name two Welsh Mountains most would say Snowdon and then be stumped but a few would add Cader Idris as an immediate second choice.
Cader is an old friend for me I first climbed in in 1988 as a student leading a group of local scouts and its now almost reached the list of summits I have visited in every month of the year.
Today it had a few surprises for me, the first a whacking great £4 parking fee at Minfordd. Exit straight away and park in the layby halfway up the pass.
The next was how much fun it is to walk with a dog having been joined by a fried with a gorgeous pointer. The walk itself was classic Cader. Its a while since I climbed Gau Graig first and and this and Mynydd Moel were the aim for the day I left the layby and cut across hillside to the fence leaving two well wrapped up plane spotters on the ridge. From here its a straight climb up to the summit along the fence for the most part but occassionaly veering off to the right most notably at the obvious talus pile as you find a track thought the rocks.
The track finally bring you out on the much underrated Gau Graig, a little pimple walked the other way but a great viewpoint and sense of achievement after an hour.
The walk now unfolds before you heading West along the northern Cader scarp. This is a walk not to be rushed but neither one that overstresses the body despite appearances.
Passing the cairns of Mynydd Moel the trigpoint finally bursts into view against a foreground of white powder snow.
The other benefit of walking this way is that you are almost always facing the sun and at -9degress C on the way to the start that was more than welcome today. However sooner or later you have to drop into Cwm Cau and its shadow and sheets of ice on the hanging valley part of the path.
The final descent is via the woodland on the hillside wooden steps were added several years ago but they are starting to show signs of wear. For some the wood is broken and for many the gravel and soil has been washed out leaving an inch or more to trip the unwary descentant.
All told it was nice to revisit an old friend and nicer still to take a direction that I have tended to ignore in the past
More images from today
All todays photos on Flickr
Cader is an old friend for me I first climbed in in 1988 as a student leading a group of local scouts and its now almost reached the list of summits I have visited in every month of the year.
Today it had a few surprises for me, the first a whacking great £4 parking fee at Minfordd. Exit straight away and park in the layby halfway up the pass.
The next was how much fun it is to walk with a dog having been joined by a fried with a gorgeous pointer. The walk itself was classic Cader. Its a while since I climbed Gau Graig first and and this and Mynydd Moel were the aim for the day I left the layby and cut across hillside to the fence leaving two well wrapped up plane spotters on the ridge. From here its a straight climb up to the summit along the fence for the most part but occassionaly veering off to the right most notably at the obvious talus pile as you find a track thought the rocks.
The track finally bring you out on the much underrated Gau Graig, a little pimple walked the other way but a great viewpoint and sense of achievement after an hour.
The walk now unfolds before you heading West along the northern Cader scarp. This is a walk not to be rushed but neither one that overstresses the body despite appearances.
Passing the cairns of Mynydd Moel the trigpoint finally bursts into view against a foreground of white powder snow.
The other benefit of walking this way is that you are almost always facing the sun and at -9degress C on the way to the start that was more than welcome today. However sooner or later you have to drop into Cwm Cau and its shadow and sheets of ice on the hanging valley part of the path.
The final descent is via the woodland on the hillside wooden steps were added several years ago but they are starting to show signs of wear. For some the wood is broken and for many the gravel and soil has been washed out leaving an inch or more to trip the unwary descentant.
All told it was nice to revisit an old friend and nicer still to take a direction that I have tended to ignore in the past
More images from today
All todays photos on Flickr
Monday 5 January 2009
Trip Report : Radnor Forest
I've blogged before about the delights of the hills above New Radnor. They are close to home for me and with a 3 and a bit hour walk time are an afternoon walk even in the depths of Winter.
And winter it was on new years day. The bright sunny sky of the day before was replaced with a blanket of freezing fog. Grey and atmospheric to the core.
Also freezing to the core as I found to my cost when the tube on my water pack froze solid after first use.
Route wise the only thing to add is that the path onto Great Rhos that appears to disappear on the map is now very distinct and goes to thing a couple of hundred metres of the trigpoint so there is no need to bash through the heather for a direct approach.
Other photos from this walk
Flickr archive
And winter it was on new years day. The bright sunny sky of the day before was replaced with a blanket of freezing fog. Grey and atmospheric to the core.
Also freezing to the core as I found to my cost when the tube on my water pack froze solid after first use.
Route wise the only thing to add is that the path onto Great Rhos that appears to disappear on the map is now very distinct and goes to thing a couple of hundred metres of the trigpoint so there is no need to bash through the heather for a direct approach.
Other photos from this walk
Flickr archive
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