Llangattock Escarpment

We took advantage of a sunny morning to squeeze in a walk before the rain arrived in the afternoon. Once more we referred to our "Jarrold Short Walks" book and picked a three and a half mile walk around the Llangattock escarpment near Abergavenny. The escarpment was a site of extensive limestone quarrying in the 19th and early 20th centuries and so the walk was dotted with intriguing small ruins and spoil heaps. It must have been an incredibly tough working environment, exposed to the elements while undertaking hard physical labour. Although yesterday was very sunny and mild for early March there was a biting cold wind on the exposed upper paths. One can only imagine the rigours of quarrying there mid winter.

Our walk started off easily enough along one of the old tramways, now the wide grassy path in the photo. Worryingly it soon veered off down a steep narrow path to the woods below. Worrying, as I was thinking about the climb back up that we would have to do! Fortunately the route up was more gentle though bracken covered hillside and woodland. Back on the upper levels we stopped to chat to two women who had walked up from Crickhowell. One had lost a glove and we agreed to drop it off at the Crickhowell Tourist Information Centre if we came across it.

Further on was the sobering site of about twenty freshly placed bouquets together with a photo and tributes to a young man who had died. I assume he had lost his life either climbing the cliffs or possibly caving in the area. It made me realise how much one life can affect so many other people. It was very moving.

Anyway laid beside one bunch of flowers was the woman's glove. So once back to the car we headed to Crickhowell which was a couple of miles off our route home. It was suprisingly satisfying to be able to hand the glove in at the information centre. Hopefully it's now back with its owner. We also benefitted as, instead of calling into a supermarket on our way home, we were able to buy some nice interesting local cheeses and home made sausages from the family butcher shop and fresh bread at the bakers. We arrived home, just as the rain started, feeling very pleased with a morning's exercise, successful shopping and having done our good deed for the day!

Elvie