On the Berwyns with the LDWA

13 January 2013

Another LDWA event took us into the snow-covered Berwyns. It was one of the group’s Social Walks, led by Mike and was a great introduction for us to this interesting area, only just over an hour’s drive away.

The forecast was pretty good for the morning as we assembled at Llanygynog, and it proved to be a really bright, crisp start just after 9am. We were a bit disconcerted to see so many ice axes among the LDWA group, and even more alarmed with the helmet and long ropes snaking out of one pack. Fortunately, the rope merchants were a pair of climbers and not part of our group!

We headed first up Craig Rhiwarth. And when I say up, I mean straight up the loose slate which had a handy covering of ice. A nice challenging start!

The former slate and lead mine on Craig Rhiwarth.

En route Mike took us into the opening of the former slate and lead mine, and after a fairly precipitous clamber up the rest of the ascent we got to the hill fort at 10.30am after 2.5km with great views south and east. 

At the top of Craig Rhiwarth having survived the icy slate climb.

The next target was a stone circle which we reached shortly after crossing a couple of fences and the stream. An impressive avenue of stones led into the circle with around 18 stones, one for each of the group to sit on for lunch. Nice to have some Christmas cake left to enjoy on the mountain. It was now around midday and we had gone just under 7km.

Time for lunch at the Rhos y Beddau Stone Circle.

As soon as we set off after lunch the weather started to turn with clouds submerging the earlier cheery sun and the first flakes of snow falling. We were also now deep in the infamous Berwyn heather which is apparently one of the bugbears of climbing this range. 

Climbing up with the pointy Moel Sych in the distance.

A steady tramp took us to the top of the slope where we joined the ridge path along to Moel Sych. Here the snow was almost a foot deep in places but the track may have been easier to walk than normal as the frozen surface was somewhat easier than the underlying bog. We got to the summit cairn around 1.30pm, 10.5km. 

At the Moel Sych cairn.

There was now a choice, head across to Cadair Berwyn and back, or go straight down towards the waterfall. The consensus was to do the latter as the weather was pretty sharp on top, and in the light of the fact that we only just got back before dark, it proved to be a good decision.

The descent from Moel Sych was again frozen over bog, but I managed to find a weak spot and sunk almost to my knee. Oh well, wet feet for the rest of the trip. Obviously that was why Mike had advised gaiters - need another trip to The Outdoor Depot.

It was fairly steady down to Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall until we got to the steps which were absolutely treacherous, made more interesting by one of the accompanying dogs running up and down with us. We stopped in the shelter at the bottom for a final cup of coffee. 

Pistyll Rheadr waterfall.

The route then took us over the footbridge - stopping for a couple of photos of the impressive falls - and along a woodland path. We were then lulled into a false sense of security by the level and easy path, but we then noticed those ahead of us going uphill again. Having not expected to be climbing again, this was a real trudge up a track and onto the edge of the ridge. Once it became fairly level again it was fine though and we then had a lovely descent into a beautiful valley behind Craig Rhiwarth.

All downhill and back along the lane to the car park which we reached at 4.25pm after clocking up over 21km.

First run on first day of year

Sue managed to capture me as I passed our house.

A healthy start to the New Year. I decided some weeks ago to attempt my first fell run on the Morning After event. Having originally mis-read the instructions I became a bit concerned when I realised it was 5 miles, not 5km, so had to extend the training regime to get the distance up to that level.

Thanks to Jim's blog, one of the Mercia runners, I knew the route and managed to complete in the previous week and was aiming to get round in under an hour on the day.

I did have two brief running partners for the training, but neither were very keen on the cold and the mud so I ended up working solo.

The start of the run was a bit chaotic with a huge crowd gathered outside the police station in the town. I didn't actually hear the start whistle and neither did anyone around me but we saw people moving and followed quickly. On the way up Sandford Avenue there were strange noises coming up behind me and I was then passed by a dog dragging a runner behind him, one of many canine competitors in the race. There was also a penguin just ahead of me and a couple of very young boys who I didn't imagine would complete the course.

The route goes up through Rectory Woods with a couple of climbs and then on the track along to cross the Burway. Once on the level here, I took a quick drink on the go and was feeling pretty good although still a long way to go. A nice fast descent into the valley and then along to the track up past Stanyeld. I had run up this slope when training but there was a bit of congestion here so ended up walking with everyone else until we got near the golf clubhouse. back running we crossed the second hole and down into Cwm Dale.
passing some neighbours at the bottom who were marshalling we then had the steepest climb up to Novers. I had not done this before, even on a walk, and although it is tough going, once on the top there is a good run down into Batch Valley.

A stream at the bottom meant a quick leap and then another short climb onto the track out of the valley to get to Cwm Dale a second time. I passed the photographer just before the final drop down into the valley and managed not to grimace too much. The penguin was still ahead of me - and the two boys, although on reaching Madeira Walk I upped the pace and managed to get ahead of the youngsters and their mums. As I passed home, Sue popped out of the car and somehow managed to get a good photo of me in full flight. 

Nearly there now and the thought spurred me on to finish strongly in the cricket field. Just under the hour with a 57.25 finish! The first 5-miler under my belt and keen for more.

A hidden treasure and ponies behaving badly

15/12/12

This was a walk we had postponed a couple of times and thought we might not manage before Christmas, but a decent forecast and good progress on Christmas shopping meant we could get out for the day.

Enticing sign seen at the start of the walk.

We parked near Mitchell’s Fold stone circle and headed on the track opposite past Corndon. A mixed flock of redwing and fieldfare spotted in the field.

We didn’t really have a precise route planned and thought we could make it up as we go. Seeing a good path up to Corndon we decided to divert up there first. It is certainly an easier ascent from this side than we are used to on the Hike, but still a decent climb. From the top we kept close to the fence and alongside what the map shows as woodland but is now a field of felled stumps. The path took us back down to the track opposite Lan Fawr where we turned left towards Roundton. 

Former woodland on top of Corndon.

Corndon summit.

Track towards Lan Fawr.

Rainbow over Lan Fawr.

Near Corndon Cottage.

We diverted across a field to Corndon Cottage and then past the Malt House and onto the lane. The entrance to Roundton Hill is well marked with a Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust sign and there is a well marked track to the top via the crags. At the summit we met Paul from Maldwyn Harriers who was setting out the track for the next day’s Corndon 3 Peaks run. Sounds like one for the future.

Towards Roundton.

At summit of Roundton.

Crags at Roundton.

Roundton Hill.

Crags on Roundton.

We got a bit lost on the descent, following the wrong arrow but eventually found our way down and saw the highland cattle that Paul had pointed out from the top. They look fearsome with huge horns but seemed unperturbed in a mixed group a bull alongside two calves as well as several females. Paul had marked out a return track along the bottom but we decided we had time to complete the final hill, Todleth. After a couple of wrong turns we identified the track up the hill, where there is an open grassy summit. We continued on towards Churchstoke in sight of Harry Tuffins, now owned by the Co-op. 

Highland cattle at Roundton.

We returned along the road through Old Churchstoke and Priest Weston, but unfortunately the Miners Arms here was not open so we missed out on a drink. A 17% incline sign was not terribly welcome and it was a tough slog back up to Mitchell’s Fold. So tough in fact that we felt the need to stop off at the Stiperstones Inn on the way back and very glad we did as it was a great pub and the shop lived up to its reputation as a great treasure trove where you can buy anything you need. We might even return for the Boxing Day Devil’s Chair Dash!

Path to Todleth hill, looking back towards Roundton.

Pond on Todleth.

Approaching Todleth summit.

On our drive home it was getting dark over the Long Mynd and we came across a group of ponies. Sue wanted some photos so we pulled up and wound the window down, but this was obviously a signal for the ponies to investigate as two of them came right up to the car and stuck their heads through the window. They were presumably looking for something edible as the pair did have a go at chewing the wiper blades and one of the door handles as well as rubbing their bum on the bonnet.

The Miners Arms at Priest Weston.

Marauding ponies on the Long Mynd.

Head right through the car window.

Perhaps this mirror is edible?

Back on the stones

1/12/12

Our first return to Stiperstones since the Long Mynd Hike was a walk with the Shropshire Wildlife Trust as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations. Led by Jan McKelvie, the walk went over Stiperstones and through two of the trust’s reserves, Brook Vessons and The Hollies.

As we had passed this way lots of times we were keen for a chance to actually find out where the reserves were, although we realised that we had been within yards of one of them on many occasions.

Jan and her colleagues stopped to provide information along the way, including the very helpful identification of red grouse poo. The stones were as hard-going as usual, although I am not sure that the suggestion from one of the group that there should be a ‘proper path’ with tarmac or concrete is likely to get much support.

The path diverted near Shepherd’s Rock down towards Brook Vessons. This was a very muddy stretch on the remnants of an old track which leads to a ruin of one of the former squatter cottages. The area was a thriving little community when mining was prevalent with the workers making the daily trek across the hill and down to Snailbeach. The trust has identified lots of ‘veteran trees’ (a new term for me) and wants to preserve them, even though they might not be the ‘natural vegetation’ here. A path leads up from here back to the path from Stiperstones and emerges at the back of the Blakemoorgate cottages that have been restored. 

Blakemoorgate.

We had lunch in the shelter of the cottages as the group had keys and it gave us a chance to have a look inside both restored buildings. 

Second restored cottage at Blakemoorgate

Next stop was The Hollies which is in fact just along the path before the track down to Upper Vessons Farm and Eastridge that we knew well from the Hike. This is one of the trust’s most recent acquisitions and includes several hundred ancient trees. It is believed they were planted to provide winter feed for livestock. A prickly snack perhaps but the upper leaves are much less spiky apparently and as an evergreen, they provided a good winter food source.

The Hollies.

The trust is in the process of inspecting and tagging all the trees and has fenced some to prevent the sheep nibbling the bark. Another new concept for us was ‘cuckoo trees’, where rowans grow within a holly and eventually split it apart. The rowan is not long-lived however, as reserves manager Carl explained, and the holly eventually recovers and regrows from the base. He pointed out a good example of a ‘cuckoo’.

Lord's Hill Chapel.

We then headed on the path down to Snailbeach and stopped briefly at the Lords Hill Chapel, which features as the vicar’s home, God’s Little Mountain, in Mary Webb’s Gone to Earth.

The final stop was Snailbeach mine where the volunteers had put on tea and Christmas cake before the minibus ride back to the start at The Knolls car park.

View across to Wales with snow-capped Berwyns in distance.

On the way down to Snailbeach.

How many times for you have to climb Pen y Fan for a clear view?

25 November 2012

Our second day in the Beacons followed a very pleasant night at at the Bear in Crickhowell, thoroughly recommended.  We had thought about a walk in the Black Mountains but in the end decided to try the walk we had originally planned the day before and go up the north face of Corn Du and Pen y Fan. The phone GPS guided us pretty close to Cwm gwdi car park and we guessed the last half mile. On arrival at 10.00 we noticed the remains of broken car windscreens on the ground suggesting the place is visited by car thieves, so we parked with some trepidation but hoped that it would be too busy on a Sunday for a thief to get a clear run. 

Our route took us back to the entrance to the car park and then left along the lane for a mile or so. We turned left again after crossing the stream and headed up past another parking area and onto the fell. After skirting the farm we emerged onto the hill up towards Corn Du. The morning had started off pretty fine and we should have been able to see both mountains ahead but the top was shrouded in cloud. 

Cwm Llwch.

A soon as we got to the steeper section it started to rain so I had to get full warterproofs on again. Sue had started out in hers. The rain got more unpleasant as we got higher and there wasn't much time to admire the small lake that came into view below the summit. We eventually made it up to the obelisk which was erected in 1902 to mark the tragic loss of a five year old on the mountain, Tommy Jones. 

We contemplated turning back at this stage but decided that we should plough on and made it on to Corn Du just ahead of a couple carrying a very small baby who was evidently starting Marillyn-bagging at an early age. Our second consecutive day on Corn Du and we still couldn't see a thing. Oh well, on to Pen y Fan, maybe that will be different. It wasn't. How many times do you have to climb Pen y Fan before you are granted the pleasure of its 360-degree views?

Our route could now have continued on to Cribyn and Fan y Big, but since we couldn't see a thing we decided to leave that for another day and, having consulted our compass, took the path to the north off Pen y Fan which has quite a steep and unstable start but becomes a decent if boggier path below. 

The route was quite straightforward for some time and included some light downhill jogging and then we veered to the left as we needed to keep going roughly north. The path now became very faint for a while and we thought we'd lost our bearings but managed to find the route that led directly down into Cwm gwdi car park and found the car and thankfully no sign of the glass breakers. It was now just before 2pm so it was probably a good idea we hadn't  taken the longer route as in these shorter winter days we could easily have ended up finishing in the dark. 

Another wet and somewhat muddier day in the Beacons but we will certainly be back for more. 

Ominous cloud formations higher up.

Llyn Cwm Llwch.

The Tommy Jones Obelisk.

Once again, clearer on the way down.

Bracken on hillside back to Cwm dygi car park.

Eerie light over Brecon.