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.
Showing posts with label powys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label powys. Show all posts
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, 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
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
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
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Trip Report: Gwastedyn from Rhayader
It had been a while since I have been out in the hills, work, weather and a series of small bugs have rather got in the way.
So with another cold stopping a trip onto the Drygarn I thought a short circuit of the hill overlooking town was a good bet for a couple of hours out.
Gwastedyn is to Rhayader as Skiddaw is to Keswick. Standing proud above town and within easy reach, so much so that the annual hill race is a feature of carnival week.
The walk from town is an easy circuit of about 1.5 hours if pushed 3 if lazed.
Head off down south street from the clock and keep on past he old toll booth (after first turning) residential home (2nd) and old workhouse no a nice hotel after the third. The path now becomes a roadside verge before turning off at the 2nd right of way sign on the corner.
A track leads up though the wood before bearing off to the left out onto the open hillside as your fence meets others coming up from the farm. The going is easy underfoot cut across the farmland for the next fence on the slope then curve around the headwaters of a small stream that drains the area below the summit.
Keep "climbing" to the ridge fence but don't cross it instead turn right over one more fence that climbs the hillside to the summit cairn and commemorative beacon basket.
The second summit lies a couple of hundred metres away over one good and one not so good fence and a little rough grazing / bracken. Despite this it is worth the visit as it opens up the southern vista far better that the beacon summit.
From there head back to the ridge fence and follow this and a footpath back to the minor road above Gaufron and follow this then the A44 back to Rhayader itself.
Walk past both houses I have owned in town back to the clock tower and your start point.
If you miss the path and drop too early don't panic so long as you are on the Rhayader side head for the track between Bryn Du and Esgair-rhiw and follow this via the latter back to the road taking care to use the gates on the way down
Views of Gwastedyn
Views from Gwastedyn
So with another cold stopping a trip onto the Drygarn I thought a short circuit of the hill overlooking town was a good bet for a couple of hours out.
Gwastedyn is to Rhayader as Skiddaw is to Keswick. Standing proud above town and within easy reach, so much so that the annual hill race is a feature of carnival week.
The walk from town is an easy circuit of about 1.5 hours if pushed 3 if lazed.
Head off down south street from the clock and keep on past he old toll booth (after first turning) residential home (2nd) and old workhouse no a nice hotel after the third. The path now becomes a roadside verge before turning off at the 2nd right of way sign on the corner.
A track leads up though the wood before bearing off to the left out onto the open hillside as your fence meets others coming up from the farm. The going is easy underfoot cut across the farmland for the next fence on the slope then curve around the headwaters of a small stream that drains the area below the summit.
Keep "climbing" to the ridge fence but don't cross it instead turn right over one more fence that climbs the hillside to the summit cairn and commemorative beacon basket.
The second summit lies a couple of hundred metres away over one good and one not so good fence and a little rough grazing / bracken. Despite this it is worth the visit as it opens up the southern vista far better that the beacon summit.
From there head back to the ridge fence and follow this and a footpath back to the minor road above Gaufron and follow this then the A44 back to Rhayader itself.
Walk past both houses I have owned in town back to the clock tower and your start point.
If you miss the path and drop too early don't panic so long as you are on the Rhayader side head for the track between Bryn Du and Esgair-rhiw and follow this via the latter back to the road taking care to use the gates on the way down
Views of Gwastedyn
Views from Gwastedyn
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Trip report: Y Gyrn
The final leg of the day hardly seems like a real walk more like a 40min stretch of the legs.
Directions couldn't be easier cross the stile keep walking on the track till just before it drops into the valley. Follow a muddy path to your left and keep going to the fence high point is about 50m from the stile.
Retrace get back in the car and move on.
more photos
Directions couldn't be easier cross the stile keep walking on the track till just before it drops into the valley. Follow a muddy path to your left and keep going to the fence high point is about 50m from the stile.
Retrace get back in the car and move on.
more photos
Trip Report: Fan Fawr
Second of three brief walks today, having moved the car up to Storey Arms it really is a simple up out and back to get to Fan Fawr. The climb itself offers no real issues though care is needed in bad weather to make sure you don't miss the nondescript summit.
With time to spare I stretched my legs a bit to take in the trig point and the sun and cloud made it worth my while (see above).The final benefit are the two upland geocaches though at time of writing the one near the trigpoint is temporarily disable on account of my finding it doing a swimming pool impersonation.
More photos from today
Trip report : Fan Frynach
Heading north on the A470 with a couple of hours to spare then why not take a break at the Cerrig Gleisiad nature reserve and wander within the Cwm or round its edge.
Plenty of options abound but with good clear sky and fluffy cloud I opted to walk into the cwm and pick up the moraine track before heading out just below the summit of Fan Frynach. Carrying on round the rim I took in Gleisiad and then headed back to the start on the steeper sE rim of the valley.
Highpoint of the day was a late dragonfly then it was on for an up and down of Fan Fawr
more photos
Plenty of options abound but with good clear sky and fluffy cloud I opted to walk into the cwm and pick up the moraine track before heading out just below the summit of Fan Frynach. Carrying on round the rim I took in Gleisiad and then headed back to the start on the steeper sE rim of the valley.
Highpoint of the day was a late dragonfly then it was on for an up and down of Fan Fawr
more photos
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Trip report: Waun Rhyd, Brecon Beacons
The eastern end of the main Beacons chain offers up some of the most interesting walking. Away from the crowds of Storey Arms the views remain but in a more tranquil setting.
Two cars make the most of this area as like today you can park one at the lay-by on the Talybont reservoir (if unoccupied by the army, it was busy today) Then follow the well trod path up over Allt Llwyd. Pausing above the col Wayn Rhydd takes on a more dominant role than normal (see above) but is still and easy climb to the plateau. Care is needed at this point especially in mist but a direct line brings you to a summit that is little more than some scattered stones.
Pick up the track that skirts the northern edges and take in the equally unimpressive top of Bwylch y Ddywallt before heading SW then S to come out at the car park at Blaen y Glyn.
The reverse route saves 200m climb but the views are better for the extra effort.
more photos from walk
Two cars make the most of this area as like today you can park one at the lay-by on the Talybont reservoir (if unoccupied by the army, it was busy today) Then follow the well trod path up over Allt Llwyd. Pausing above the col Wayn Rhydd takes on a more dominant role than normal (see above) but is still and easy climb to the plateau. Care is needed at this point especially in mist but a direct line brings you to a summit that is little more than some scattered stones.
Pick up the track that skirts the northern edges and take in the equally unimpressive top of Bwylch y Ddywallt before heading SW then S to come out at the car park at Blaen y Glyn.
The reverse route saves 200m climb but the views are better for the extra effort.
more photos from walk
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Trip Report : Camlo Hill
For drivers heading out on the A44 east of Rhayader Camlo hill is the ridge to the north of the main road at the head of the wide valley on that lovely long overtaking straight.
For the walker it is an easy circular from the back side thought the forestry above Abbeycwmhir. On this occasion it was a short day out with friends and our respective children.
Small bits of road walking break up a mix of open hillside and forestry paths. A pleasant afternoon walk with a mix of wide ranging views and the Abbey ruins to look at on the way back. And of course don't forget a pleasant pint in the Happy Union
More photos
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