Llanfynydd and the Cothi Valley

With "The Navigator" whale watching in the Azores it was left to Alan Richards, well, a walk from his book, to guide us on a walk in the Llanfynydd area of Carmarthenshire.

Route

Paul and I were joined by a new retiree, Chris and his dog Daisy the latter who behaved impeccably, and the former who is still in need of training.

Despite remembering to recharge my camera it spent all day on the Welsh dresser at home.  So any photos which may appear below are through the kindness of Chris and Paul.

The route gave some excellent views of the Cothi Valley and in the far distance we could make out Carmarthen Fans and further still Pen y Fan and Corn Ddu.

Steep path out of Llanfynydd

Top of the path with views

Under foot the going was quite muddy in places, with one path described by Mr Richards as also being a waterway, he was not wrong.

Bluebells

Track leading down towards Brechfa

Bracket fungi

Gorge

Stream leading to Afon Cothi

We liked this property

Path alongside Afon Cothi

Sustainable lawn mower

Llanfynydd Church

Penllegaer Woods

I have wanted to visit this area for some time but was not sure if the journey would be worthwhile, thankfully I was pleasantly surprised.

Penllegaer Woods

For company I took Finn and Custard, dogs belonging to the owner of the rescue centre, Many Tears.

I had no idea where to walk so just followed a path ( maps are available from the cafe and information centre). Bluebells were still in bloom with their blue haze throughout the woods.

 The dogs soon found somewhere to cool off as we followed the river downstream.

The path can be followed down to Cadle in the south but I spotted some stepping stones to take us across the river. Now it is not easy to to step from stone to stone with a dog on a lead who had no intention of being on the stones but thought it easier just wade across!

We came across a lake and then took the higher path back to the cafe where it seemed a good idea to have a chocolate drink.

As I now had the relevant leaflet we walked down to look at the falls and the recently installed Archimedes Screw.

We now headed back up on the other side of the river where I spotted a bench and thought it was time for a rest. I stretched out but before I could shut my eyes Finn was giving my face a good lick and any idea of shut eye disappeared and so we walked back to the car. Most unfairly they slept all the way back.

These woods are well worth exploring.

Garn Goch

Another walk without "The Navigator", although the walk decided on was one previously led by him back in December 2012.

Paul had expressed a wish to visit the Iron Age hill fort at Garn Goch and looking at my archive I found a previous walk in the area and off we set.

Route

We parked near the new bridge over the Afon Sawdde and walked through Felindre and along footpaths and bridleways which led us to Bethlehem village.

Cobbled farmyard

Red car graveyard

A nice renovation

From here we followed the Beacons Way which led us to Garn Goch. Just up from the parking area is memorial stone to Gwynfor Evans, From there we walked on to look at Y Garn Fach and Y Garn Fawr.

Looking to the Tywi valley

Animal pound (ffald)

Memorial Stone

This whole hill fort covers a large area and must have taken a huge human effort to build the defensive walls. Lunch was taken here before walking down to the lane and paths which led to the path below Trichrug which gave good level walking and eventually back to Felindre via narrow lanes.