Llandeilo

This was another day to catch the autumn colours and a walk in Llandeilo area to include Tregeyb Woods and the trees within the Dinefwr estate was deemed worthwhile.

Route

We found a free parking site adjacent to the Llandeilo firestation and walked through Pen Lan-fawr.  This small park has a fine bandstand and contains the large trees which can be seen as you approach Llandeilo Town.

From there we walked into the town and across the Afon Tywi via the shaky footbridge.

We walked south east next to the river courtesy of a permissive path which leads to the minor road to Fairfach. Our route took us into the new plantation which celebrates the battle of Trafalgar and just by a carved otter we had early elevenses.

Now the squelchy bit started through the Woodlands Trust, Tregeyb Wood.

In places there is a welcome boardwalk but with strange gaps in between. There were still lots of fungi about with examples of candle snuff, sulphur tufts, beech polypores, turkey tails, earth balls and "others".

At another minor road we headed back towards Fairfach.

At the cross roads we headed north to cross the impressive stone road bridge, again crossing the Afon Tywi.

An interpretation board tells us that there were a number of bridges built in this vicinity.  History also shows that lessons have still not be learned when estimates are compared to actual costs!

Immediately after the bridge we turned down a path which leads past the now abandoned church of  Llandyfeisant (click) and near here we stopped for lunch.

The unforecast rain now began!.  Still by the time I put on all the gear it stopped, typical.

We were now in the Dinefwr Park and headed for the castle which is free to enter and gave good views of the surrounding countryside and of the colourful trees.

 More rain fell but again short lived. We then headed downhill towards Newton House and through the parkland back to the car.

We came across the following road sign which struck a note!

Westonbirt

A trip to Westonbirt had been on our wish list for some time and with the weather looking good for Saturday 27th October my wife,myself and good friends Merv and Dianne set off for a 2 hour drive the arboretum.

Clearly hundreds of others had the same idea and car park was filling up.

A picture paints a thousand words and the following will allow me to stop typing.

We returned home via Ross on Wye where we had a lovely meal.  On the river bank were a party of canoeists camping for the night - a cold one I would think.

Mynydd Llangendeirne

My neighbour, Paul had not visited Mynydd Llangendeirne, the hill which is visible from our homes and so the plan was hatched.

Route

We walked from Llanddarog past Is Y Llan and down to Cwm Isfael and turnd left. The lane is over covered with trees all starting to take on their autumnal colours.

Mynydd Llangendeirne on its north side is dominated by a quarry and from time to time we had to squeeze into the hedges to avoid the lorries which came and went.

Shortly after passing the quarry entrance we turned left at a footpath sign and headed onto a quiet path which led up onto the common.

We looked down into the quarry which is gradually eating the mountain side.  I have lived here for 33 years and the quarry seems to have been busy all that time.

The path led us to the trig point which was clearly being looked after as it had been repainted in recent times.  From here there extensive views to Carmarthen, Tumble, the Great Glasshouse in the National Botanic Garden of Wales and in the far distance Tenby.

We retraced our steps back down the lanes but turned right onto the road to Porthyrhyd. We left the road on the footpath which passes GlanYr Ynys Farm and up into Llanddarog passing the local primary school.

Day 7 - Hindscarth and Robinson

Our last day was planned to finish on a high with a Newlands horseshoe.

The forecast was good and held true. The walk would take in Hindscarth via Scope End, onto Littledale Edge and return via Robinson.

Route

We parked the car near Newlands Church and then headed for Scope End via Low House Farm. There were good views north and we could see walkers ascending our proposed down route from Robinson. 

There was alittle hand on rock as we climbed higher to Hindscarth with a couple of false summits to face.  

At the top we had lunch in the cairn as there was a cold wind blowing. Following the food we walked beyond the cairn to look down the Honister Pass and to Buttermere.  In 2010 we were walking this area and looked again at Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks.

The Navigator was considering whether to alter today's plan and instead of Robinson return via Dale Head as there is less descent and reascent but that summit was regularly covered in cloud and we stuck to our (his) plan.

The walk along Littledale Edge was fine and the hills to the south of Buttermere gave possible plans for another year.

The pull up to Robinson went well and as we walked north west we could see our base at Keskadale Farm.

Up to now the walk  was relatively easy but the terrain changed on the descent to Blea crags.  This was an awkward downward scramble on slippery rocks not at all pleasant.  It was slow going with a sigh of relief when flatter ground was reached.

The rest of the walk was  down High Snab Bank and back to the car via Low High Snab.

Overall a good 7 days of walking with my knee behaving as I would wish.  Just the 7 hour drive home on Saturday.

Thanks to Mrs Bob for letting me out to play, to Mrs Navigator for the stew and of course to The Navigator for getting me around safely.

Day 6 - Borrowdale

Cloud was low again although it did clear as the day went on.

The walk today was in Borrowdale with a look at Lodore Falls.

Route

We left the car at the foot of Cat Bells and walked down to a perfectly calm Derwent Water. 

As we headed alongside the lake we came across a class of youngsters about to embark in kayaks and canoes and so far they were dry - it surely won't last!  As a canoeist it did look a good day for paddling and perhaps exploring  the River Derwent.

There were more people out and about today enjoying the Autumn colours. We crossed the  footbridge across the Derwent and followed the signs to the Lodore Falls which runs behind the hotel of the same name.

There was a good flow over the falls and a picture was taken before the steep pull up the hillside. We had lunch by the ford shown on the OS map and down came the rain! Still it didn't last long and by the time we were walking it had stopped.

We crossed over the river at the footbridge and started the descent with more falls to view. 

 We diverted onto Shepherds Crag for good views of Borrowdale and came out onto the road at High Lodore.

A break was taken alongside the river near Grange bridge.  We stayed on the road through Grange until we met the path at Manesty.  here we walked the path (the one just above the road) back to the car.

The thing to remember in the Lake District that even in bad weather when the tops are covered in clag there are plenty of low level walks.