Sunday 20th March

There is no denying that weather is important. I went to Wales this weekend with Andrew, and we had glorious sunshine all day on Saturday, making excellent conditions for climbing Fan y Big, Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du. There were lots of other walkers there (which was great to see) and I enjoyed overhearing several conversations about a variety of subjects including which biscuits have the most calories (Tesco's value Custard creams apparently). There were plenty of younger people on the hills and I heard one excited 7 year old on Pen y Fan asking his mum if it was much further to Corfu (meaning Corn Du!!)


Approaching Fan y Big

 

Something like an inuk shuk

We walked 12.5 miles on Saturday and our final ascent was 3,300 ft. We realised that our long walks in the New Forest are good preparation for walking in Wales. During a long day in the New Forest we usually cover about 17 miles, and our total ascent is often close to 3,000 ft, testimony to the numerous hills and ridges, and general lack of flatness, that characterise south Hampshire.

I was delighted when Andrew told me he had bought Pate, cream cheese and ham to have in our rolls!!

Sharing the summit of Pen y Fan (and the ham, pate and cheese. Yummmmm!)

The only problems we encountered on the Saturday consisted of a minor falling out due to Andrew leaving his boots behind at the premier Inn at Merthy Tydfil - requiring a mere one hour delay in starting our walk... and Andrew getting a blister on his heel. Some might call that divine retribution but I suppose that would be mean.



The reservoir at Neuadd



This plane crashed in November 2010 south of Pen-y Fan at Grid Reference SO005206 (OS Landranger 160) and at a height of 824 m. Apparently the pilot walked away unscathed. It makes a good picture and was quite a sight. I don't know what will happen to the plane; I guess it might end up as a national heritage site... 

An Ogham stone?

On Sunday we walked at a lower altitude amid some of the open countryside in the foothills of Pen y Fan. I found the scenery lovely and it was nice to feel you could just wander anywhere without worrying about cliffs. There were also much fewer people around which I prefer.
We found an old inscribed stone on the map, and located it using Andrew's GPS (I suppose I have to grudgingly admit they do have their uses). I think it is an old Ogham stone, as there were deep grooves along one edge. I have tried to photograph it.

The Brecon Valley railway

It doesn't get much better than this. We were just mooching along by the railway when there was a loud toot, and sounds reminiscent of "Ivor the Engine".  Before we knew it this lovely steam train appeared, going slowly enough for us to take several photos of it. If only my grandpa had been there - he loved trains.

Heading for Corn Du

On Sunday (today) we walked 8.8 miles and ascended 1,873 ft. Then home to Wiltshire via Amesbury (to collect my car). It only took 3 hours from Merthyr Tydfil to home and we are both determined to go walking in Wales more often. What a fabulous weekend.