Gelliwen Carmarthenshire

With a good forecast on offer Paul and I decided on a walk and as "The Navigator" was not involved we had to resort to a walk made up by another.

I have frequently referred to books by Alan Richards which describe some excellent walks in Carmarthenshire and today we chose a route from volume 2 based on Gelliwen.

Route

As usual it was a varied walk with green lanes, minor roads and forestry trails giving good views.

We did have one"interesting" section where the route took us steeply down to a brook but unplanned by the author we had some huge downed trees to clamber over and under.

A lunch break was had at Llanwinio Church and hopefully the "residents" did not mind our using a plinth for a seat.

Throughout the walk spring was clearly in the air with birdsong constantly in our ears and the annual appearance of spring.

On our way back to Gelliwen we came across a local resident who said we were the first walkers she had seen for a considerable period She lived in a lodge which served the now ruined mansion of Panthowell Should we ever want to visit the ruins we could walk through her garden a friendly type.

Mynydd Llangorse

We drove to Bwlch today and then along a minor road to a car park near Tremynfa.

Route

Our route followed the Beacons Way heading north and then onto Mynydd Llangorse with views of Llangorse Lake. This lake has the only crannog outside of Scotland and Ireland

We had lunch almost at the end of the ridge overlooking Mynydd Troed and down into Cwm Sorgwm.

From here we headed south east down along another ridge taking in Pen Tir and then a steep descent to Felindre. On this section of the walk we came across a number of trees with mistletoe growing on them.

The route turned west leading back to the car.

Aberedw

Andy was heading home tonight and so "The Navigator" chose a route which would be on Andy`s way home.

Route

It was cloudy today but no low mist as yesterday. We parked in Aberedw and then walked along a path adjacent to the Afon Edw

Our route then took a north easterly direction before starting the climb north and then north west to spot height 416 where we had lunch by a frozen pond.

From here we continued to Aberedw Hill our highest point and then south back to Aberedw village forming a horseshoe of a  walk.

Fan y Big

The weather was not looking so kind today but hope springs etc.

We drove through Talybont and up towards Torpantau. Already the mist was hiding the higher slopes and made it difficult to find the parking spot and so we parked just off the road.

Route

The route was up straight away passing a string of waterfalls.

As we climbed the snow became thicker and once again we stopped to put on the Microspikes.

A few years ago Andy and I backpacked in this area and we recognised our overnight camp site near the top of the climb.

Today it was hard to see over the high cliffs which in places had small cornices forming.

We met one runner who explained he had a meeting in Merthyr but was finding time for some fresh air. Perhaps his meeting was about time management!

We walked along Graig Fan Las and then cut the corner and headed for Bwlch Y Ddwyallt and onto Craig Cwareli. Here the wind made the low temperature quite chilling. The mist gave occasional glimpses of Pen y Fan and Corn Ddu.

Lunch was had behind an outcrop and then onto Fan Y Big.

We backtracked for a short distance and headed off onto the Beacons Way meeting up with our outward track before the descent back to the car.

Pengenffordd - Y Das - Waun Fach -Pen Trumau

As Andy still has to work for a living his smile today being a Monday was very wide!

From Pengenffordd we drove up a narrow lane thankfully ice free  to our starting point.

To try and slow Andy down we sent him up a small hill to view Castell Dinas while we commenced the climb up the ridge, Y Grib.

Part way up "The Navigator" and I put on our Microspikes which stayed on most of the day. The weather was perfect with little wind, blue sky and snow underfoot.

Near the top of the ridge we came across what seemed to be an abandoned dirt bike but it was soon claimed by a farmer who sped off down hill with two collies.

At the top of the ridge we turned left and headed towards Y Das where we stopped for lunch looking down a steep valley.

After our break we turned south east towards Waun Fach and then south west to Pen Trumau.

It was a long way down to the valley but unfortunately back up again to the car.

Chartist Cave

A walk with a touch of history today. We were heading for the Chartist Cave on Mynydd Llangynidr.

Route

On leaving the car in Llangynidr we started the climb  following Cwm Claister. Following a coffee break we soon hit the snow which in places saw us sinking up to our knees. Despite the snow we were shedding layers.

The cave is not obvious when approaching from the north but there was a well trod path in the snow which led us to the entrance.

We turned west with distant views of Pen y Fan and then headed down overlooking Cwm Crawnon back to Llangynidr.

Boughrood - Mynydd Fforest - Llyswen

This year`s February week away was based just north of Brecon. As well as "The Navigator" we were joined by my brother-in-law, Andy who stayed until Wednesday evening.

The forecast for the week was looking at least to be dry for most of the week, the best one can hope for at this time of the year, in fact we did very well.

On our weeks away we try to have a walk on the day of travel and as we were all within about two to three hours away our first walk was a long half day.

Route

We met at the bridge over the Wye at Boughrood and walked upstream passing Hells Hole rapid a river feature I knew well from my canoeing days.

At Trericket Mill we cut inland and commenced the climb which took us eventually to Mynydd Fforest.

The descent passed Brechfa Pool and then onto a steep path (some may say a river) down to Llyswen and back to the car