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.