Preseli Walk

With a cloudless sky at the caravan we decided on a gentle walk in the Preseli's today. LB has strained his knee so it had to be gentle. We parked at Bwlch Y Gwynt (Windy Pass) and strolled to the summit of Foel Eryr. It was decidely muddy with gathering clouds overhead. There were extensive views from the top but a bit hazy so not particularly good for photos. Anyway as it was getting chilly without the sun we decided to abort the rest of the walk and headed straight back to the car! A short walk but pleasant. Once off the hills the sun reappeared so we went back to the caravan and spent most of the afternoon catching up with everyone who had arrived for the weekend. Bank Holiday weekends are great here as the site fills with friends old and new. We're looking forward to a very sociable couple of days now.

Elvie

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

Signs of Spring?

After our lovely relaxing holiday LB and I spent all last week recovering! We were quite exhausted! Today we felt we were nearly back to our normal selves so decided to get back into the routine of country walks. A gentle one to start seemed in order so we consulted our walks book and chose a 3 mile one around the village of Merthyr Mawr. This place is famous for its nearby sand dunes, including the largest dune in Europe but our walk took us through the woods and around farmland. I must admit it's not the most interesting walk we've done and in places was quite boggy but it was a nice start to resuming normal exercise and gave our leg muscles a good work out. The walk started and finished at Candleston Castle, a 15th century fortified manor house which is now just a ruin.

We had the pleasure of a weak sun throughout the walk and with new lambs, catkins and these crocuses about there were definate signs of spring. Rather strange really considering that two weeks ago we'd had the heaviest snow for years and were in the depths of winter! Of course LB and I missed it as we were basking in a tropical summer! Anyway lets hope it truly is an early end to winter as we want to get out and about as much as possible.

Elvie..

Welsh Wildlife??

It's strange what you see on a Sunday walk in Wales. We went for a 2 1/2 mile stroll in the Tawe valley from the Craig y Nos Country Park following a route in a book of walks. First we came across the emus in a field of fake neolithic stones and later on passed a llama!



It was, however, a very pleasant stroll although a little on the cold side. Starting on a north facing slope, we were in deep frost. ( A bit different to Egypt!) Crossing the Tawe on this icy bridge and walking over the riverside fields brought us to the other side of the valley and into the sun.








There is some beautiful scenery and lovely walks in this area. We are rather prone to whizz through on the bikes so we have today made an early New Years resolution to get out walking more regularly, weather permitting.

Elvie