The Vale of Ewyas pics

Last February I did a couple of walks in this valley described here and here. These had been trips down memory lane for me as it was in this valley in the Black Mountains that I walked up my first mountain back in 1999. I came back to this valley on a number of occasions in the following years but hadn't been back since 2002 until the beginning of this year. Well, the day after I went over the Brecon Beacons I had planned on visiting Hay-on-Wye (a magical place for any bibliophile) but on the way there I drove through the Vale of Ewyas and took a load of pictures.

The first picture is of Llanthony Priory where the first of the two walks I did last February started. In the background is Cwm Bwchel leading to Bal-Bach, the route at the start of my walk.


The next picture was taken in the field below Pen-y-Maes overlooking the small hamlet of Capel-y-Ffin. The chapel that gives the hamlet its name can be seen at the bottom of the valley. The spectacualr glacial valley can be seen stretching away in the distance. Both walks undertook in February passed through Capel-y-Ffin while I stayed at the Capel-y-Ffin Youth Hostel not far from where this picture was taken.

This next picture was taken at the top of the valley at the Gospel Pass looking back down the beautiful valley. The road through the valley can be seen on the right leading up to the pass. The Gospel Pass tops 538m making it one of the highest roads in Britain, higher than any road in the Lake District. The second days walk last February passed this spot on my way between Twmpa and Hay Bluff.

The final picture is of Twmpa with Rhos Dirion behind shows the dramatic way the northern end of the Black Mountains ends suddenly falling steeply down into the Wye Valley. The second walk passed over both of these hills.

I have a great love of this valley and the whole of the Black Mountains because of the role they played in my developing experience of Hill walking. I will never tire of these mountains. They hold a special place in my heart.

The Brecon Beacons

Last Tuesday I decided that I would venture further out than just Beacon Hill and go for a walk in Wales. The place I chose was the Brecon Beacons, an area I have walked several times in the past, though not recently. Five years ago I walked over the Beacons for the first time and I walked over them again three years ago, I have not been over since but I didn't actually see anything this time.

I parked up at the top of the road from Talybont Reservoir at the car park at SO 0560 1755 and headed along the road following the Taff Trail through Taf Fechan Forest to Neuadd Reservoir. Both previous times I was here the reservoir was empty; indeed the map shows it as being empty. I guess it was found to be too small for their purposes so they abandoned it and built the bigger Upper Neuadd Reservoir further up the valley. Today this abandoned reservoir is full as I suppose it usually is in the winter. I crossed the dam and headed straight up the side of the valley. The path was very muddy and was badly eroded near the top as can be seen from this picture taken at the top. I was now almost completely enveloped in the clouds as I made my way along the top of the ridge above Graig Pen Ddu. Slowly trudging along I had no way of knowing how much further I had to go and it seemed to go on forever. When I reached the 824m top above Craig Gwaun Taf I thought I was at Corn Du, but that idea was soon dispelled as the path continued on down to Bwlch Duwynt and up on to the top of Corn Du. I was so relieved when I eventually reached the top I stopped and had my lunch.

Once rested and refreshed I headed off again for the short hop over to Pen y Fan, the highest hill in the Brecon Beacons and usually a magnet for walkers, but in these conditions there wasn't a single person on the summit. After taking a couple of pictures of the summit cairn I headed off along the path down Craig Cwm Sere and up to Cribyn. After this exertion another descent down Craig Cwm Cynwyn followed leading to Bwlch ar y Fan. One more ascent lay ahead of me up onto Fan y Big before the long walk along the top of Craig Cwmoergwm and Craig Cwarelli. All this ridge walking was rather dull in this weather; with no views I was forced to settle with plodding along the paths with nothing to look at but my own feet. There was little variation in the terrain and it all became rather monotonous. Eventually I arrived at Bwlch y Ddwyallt and turned sharply right to head down the path above Graig Fan Las. From here it should have been a short walk over Craig y Fan Ddu back down to the car. That is not how it turned out.

After crossing the stream, Blaen Caerfanell, I veered off west away from the edge of the slope following a path that seemed quite clear, but actually wasn't as clear as the path I had been following. When I reached the Pile of Stones and Cairn marked on the map at 047189 I realised I was heading in the wrong direction so turned south and following another faint path. It was soon clear to me that something was still wrong because I wasn't losing height as quickly as I should have been but I still blindly followed the path as it veered back over to the west and picked up the Nant y Groesydd. Thinking this was the Nant Bwrefwr I happily followed it and when I arrived at the edge of Taf Fechan Forest I thought I was going in the right direction, thinking that this was the edge of the Talybont Forest. My belief was sahttered when I crossed the track from Bwlch ar y Fan and arrived at the Filter House for the Neuadd Reservoir. At this point I didn't know where I was. Eventually it sunk in how stupid I had been, and so shaking my head in disbelief I slowly made my way back along the Taff Trail to my car.

I guess this incident shows how easy it is to get lost in cloudy weather, especially if you aren't careful. If only I had used my compass a little more and not blindly followed the path ignoring all the signs around me that showed I was going in the wrong direction. As soon as I headed away from Blaen Caerfanell on the wrong path I noticed I was moving away from the cliff edge but I did nothing about it. I just assumed I was going in the right direction without actually making sure. This time I got away with it, the path I was following wasn't dangerous and I was easily able to make my way back to the car. The worst result of my diversion was that it was almost dark by the time I got back to my car. Not really a major disaster. Next time I may not be so lucky. This is certainly an incident I need to learn from.

Beacon Hill & Bradgate Park

With the whole week off work I felt I had to go for a walk somewhere but I couldn't think of anywhere to go. It came to Monday morning and I still couldn't think of somewhere to go, which was annoying as the weather was perfect. In the end I decided to visit two of the highest hills in Leicestershire, neother being particularly high in the grand scheme of things but still nevertheless the best my county has to offer.

To start the walk I parked in the village of Woodhouse Eaves and then walked to the Beacon Hill Country Park. Beacon Hill is a Bronze Age settlement with views from the top round 360 degrees, plus in addition to this are many interesting things for people to see all around the park including a Native Tree Collection, a Labrinth and woodland walks. I really like the place and visit it a least a couple of times during the summer. After the walk through the woods on the lower slopes I climbed up onto the 248m summit. The views included most of north Leicestershire including the town of Loughborough and Bardon Hill, the highest hill in Leicestershire but also the biggest quarry! After wandering around the summit I descended the western rocks and visited the Old Man of Beacon Hill, ie a face formed in the shape of the rocks. I hadn't really seen this face before so it was quite a surprise for me to see how distinctive the face is. Descending further from here I headed through the West Beacon Fields, again somewhere I hadn't been before. This is a young wood with a large number of information boards for visitors to see just how useful and important trees are.

Leaving the West Beacon Fields I joined the road at the cross roads and proceeded south along the road to the Hunts Hill car park for Bradgate Park. Anyone who lives in Leicestershire knows Bradgate Park, it is one of the the most popular tourist attractions in Leicestershire attracting thousands of visits throughout the year. I have been here countless times over the years in all weathers and at all times of the day or night. Unlike Beacon Hill the park is totally undeveloped having been given by one Charles Bennion in 1928 to "the city and county of Leicester that for all time it might be preserved in its natural state for the people of Leicestershire."

Climbing the hill directly ahead of me I arrived at the Old John Tower, a folly bizarrely crafted in the shape of a beer mug, for reasons that are shrouded in legend. For me this tower typifies Leicestershire and will forever a hold special plave in my memories after all the many times I have visited it. The paltry 212m height just does not do it any justice for its views across the bracken-covered park and across the City of Leicester. Passing through a small spinney I climbed onto the companion summit that is crowned with a War Memorial before descending the hill down into the village of Newtown Linford. After buying lunch I walked back through the park on its many paths that criss-cross all over, passing Bradgate House, the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, the nine day Queen.

At a lesser hill top (a giddy 178m high) I took many pictures of the views around 'Old John' with its two summits. As I descended the hill I was surprised to come across a small herd of deer. There are a lot of deer in Bradgate Park, but they usually keep away from the tourists so it was a surprise to find so many of them together. After taking even more pictures I left the park and walked through Swithland Wood back to Woodhouse Eaves and my car. It was a very simple walk but it showed that even Liecestershire can provide some interesting walking.