The forecast was for another sunny (or rather not raining) day, so Sue and I took the opportunity for another day out. The plan was to complete the next section of the Wye Valley trail above Rhayader starting at Gilfach nature reserve. We would follow a route from the Kittywake books, that went through the reserve then around the back of Yr Wylorn up to Blaen y Bwlch. From here up to Garreg Lwyd and then the wind turbine field at Gwastad, before dropping to Dolhelfa-ganol farm. Over the river adn back along the Wye valley trail.
We parked at the first area beside the reserve welcome hut, and had a look at the local map. This showed a "local" path that walked over the side of the slope of Yr Wylorn (purple track).
The track started opposite the sign and climbed gently up the grass through the heather and bracken.
Around the rib coming down on a traverse path - this was very churned up by the passing of animals who chose it in preference to the hillside.
Back down to the road below and along it to the branch to the old farm house. Over a cattle grid continuing to the driveway to Pen-rhiw farm, and up it.
Follow it to a junction, and bend around it on a farm track up to a cottage. Opposite we could see the paths up to the ridge I had followed last week.
From the cottage the track traversed and climbed up the side of Yr Wylorn. The track merged with a second farm track as it moved up the valley.
The track climbed up to a shoulder where it opened out to "improved" grasslands rather than the scrub on the way up.
Across the meadows (marked as Blaen y Bwlch). Up here the wind was a bit stronger and quite biting.
Back into the open access land (more scrubby) and the wind farm turbines came int view.
Looking aback along the ridge showing where we had come from. Then we left the main path and cut up the side of the summit cone to reach the top of Carreg Lwyd.
Looking over to Elan valley
Looking north to the lower hills.
Back down to the main track and continuing along to the wind farm.
Picking up the maintenance track through the windfarm, then following the main access track down the slope.
We eventually found a site for a lunch stop sheltered from the wind opposite a small waterfall coming from a large pond.
The track continued down to the farm on the side of the A470. Over the busy riad and down a minor road that led steeply down to the river Wye.
Crossing the river at the same time as several canoeists paddled under. Then along the road to a junction where we met the Wye Valley trail. This climbed a steep slope up and around a house in a wide U turn.
This back road followed parallel to the river passing Safn-y-coed.
The road meandered along the side of the slope. A couple of gates to get through would provide discouragement to vehicles.
Where the valley narrowed and the road climbed up through a petrified wood, before the Wye valley trail split off through some grass scrub. Meeting up with where this joined my track from last week.
Still on the Wye valley trail across to a footbridge over the river, climbing up to a layby where the canoeists exit. Opposite this was the entrance to the nature reserve.
