Monday 31 July 2017

Monday 31 July. Rhayader to Newbridge-on-Wye

We left The Crown at 9:30am  on a sunny morning but with plenty of cloud about and showers predicted. We set off down West street and crossed the Wye before turning south and heading uphill for our first climb of the day. We started on road and crossed to track. The hill was low, ~235m, but supplied reasonable views near the summit and on the way back down to the Wye. We crossed the Elan via a swing bridge just before it joined up with the Wye.






We then had a steep climb to near the farm Cefn, at 380m, before a steep descent to Llanwrthwl, where we picknicked on a park bench. We then followed a wooded road beside the river, gradually climbing to continue as an old coach road with a impressive stone drywall. The road moved up and away from the river before returning down to it near the turn off to Tycwtta farm.











We then started the final (modest) ascent of the day up to near Cefncoed. We left the road here, via a gate where Shiel took a small rest, before setting off across farmland to pick up the road down to Newbridge. Although there were many signs the orientation of the familiar 'black on yellow' arrows was poor and there were no clear foot tracks on the ground to help. We also had a slight problem with sheep baa-ing our way.





We crossed the Wye in Newbridge about 3:55pm and headed north beside the A470 to get to our b&b, Wernhir Farm.

Sunday 30 July. Rhayader

We took a rest day and did a couple of local walks around the town near the rive Wye. There were showers on and off all day, sometimes heavy.





We had a tasty Parsnip Crumble at the Crown Pub., the B&B where we were staying the night.It is shown below. It was very crowded when we arrived as they were holding a beer festival.


The last photo shows the town clock at the junction of North, South, East and West streets.




Sunday 30 July 2017

Saturday 29 July. Llangurich to Rhayader.

We left our b&b at Llangurich in fine but overcast weather about 9:30am. Miraculously we managed to dry out our things using 4 spare bath towels, supplied by the landlady, and a single bathroom towel rail heater!

Although the weather was clear when I tried to take my first photograph this morning, it looked very cloudy indeed on the photograph.  Water had condensed on the inside of the window of the cell phone camera! I had to put the lens window on Shiel's warm cheek to evaporate the water.

It was a great, if hard walking day today. There were two big hill sections separated by a section beside the Wye.






The hill sections were tiring but provided one with extensive views from the summits. On top of the first hill there was a gate, on its own, with no fence either side of it.




We had to use Shiel's tablet to navigate today as I also believe yesterday's moisture as put an end to my GPS receiver.











We were walking for about 8 hours including 3 stops. I think we are slowing down!!!!

Photographs will be added later when I have time, and an app. to shrink them. They have been selected.

Friday 28 July. Cwmbiga to Llangurig.

We bade a sad farewell to our b&b at Cwmbiga in light rain and headed back the way we returned on Wednesday but this time we climbed up into the watershed of the Wye valley. Had it not been raining heavily I think the views would have been much better than they were.


We followed the river down the valley, as it gradually picked up tributaries, passing lots of partridge feeding stations on the way. Large patches of ground in the valley appeared to have been excavated to make some kind of vehicle arena for off road driving (Sweet Lamb Complex). A sad sight for the headwaters of the Wye, if you are a walker at least. We joined the road, A44, near where most of the 'Sweet Lamb' infrastructure seems to be located.





After crossing the A44 you can take an upper route through forest or a lower route beside the Wye. We chose the latter. We followed the river route to near Glangwy. It was heavy rain now and the way was quote muddy and boggy. A small stream bridge was almost overgrown with vegetation and another bridge requires a bit of vegetation clipping back. Futher along a tree had fallen across the path but it was possible to get around it. On a fine sunny day it would be a beautiful walk.








The Wye path climbs again after Glangwy so one can get good views presumably but with the poor visibility, and as we were drenched, we took the road into Llangurich. I think this was my wettest walk ever. Even with pack covers and waterproof bag liners many things got wet.

Thursday 27 July. Cwmbiga to Staylittle.

We did a short side trip today to a hamlet called Staylittle about 3 miles down the road from Cwmbiga. The weather was largely fine and sunny with the odd short sharp shower. On the way we passed twitchers with cameras and telescopes in a small layby. They were watching a pair of osprey with a single chick. They have just recently returned to nesting in the area.

After icecreams at Staylittle we returned to Cwmbiga by the quiet  road. A much better day. Rain forecast for tomorrow.




Wednesday 26 July. To source?

We left Cwmbiga at 9:45 am in steady rain heading up last year's route to the source of the Severn. The weather cleared slightly on the way up, hence a reasonable photograph, but then the rain and wind worsened.



It was cold and windy and wet as we passed the turn off to the Severn source on the way to the Carreg Wen.



We followed this route heading for Pumlumon Arwystli (740m) but visibility was atrocious, wee could not see from one direction pole to the next. Forr safety we headed east to pick up the forest bounday fence and climbed up, passing through a gate to the summit.







We had planned to follow along the ridge line fence down to 724m and a point up above the source of the Wye but the weather was terrible and visibility was very poor so we opted to loose height quickly down the edge of the forest.




Part way down, around 1pm, it gradually started to clear and we ffound our way by forest tracks to the top of the Wye path which we then followed back to the junction between it and the Severn Way and thence back to Cwmbiga which we reached at 5:45 pm. A long, wet and cold day.





Friday 18 August. R&R Chepstow.

We spent today sightseeing in Chepstow, definitely worth a visit! The castle must be one of the best preserved in the UK. There are two tour...