The forecast had been changing all week, so when I woke and the sun was shining it offered an opportunity.
I decided on a walking the Wye Valley trail between Pont Rhydgaled and Llangurig - what I thought was just a wander down the river!
To make this a circular walk I came up with an outward trail up to Hafren Forest so I could park at Llangurig.
I parked in the car park, just ahead of a convoy of Ute and vans - I would see them later.
Stepping out I discovered a fierce wind - this would be with me all day - initially I would be walking face first into it.
Then back up the road to the main village centre. Finding the road up to Bryn-cylla.
Around the farm buildings and up onto the hillside above them.
Over a fence and across a field planted with saplings - seems they dig a hole, fold over the turf and plant the stem into this mound.
Then up the grass slope above to reach a flatter area. The weather showed it hand up here - the sun turning to rain then sleet then hail, and back again.
Next a navigation error - I took the obvious path down a farm track, and had to reverse and go down an untracked slope, then jump the fence to cross the stream were the path had no gate.
Back on a farm track, through Henfaes, and around the hillside. This track was heavily churned up and muddy.
Dropping down to a back road, where I chose to follow it rather than the indistinct foot path across more soggy fields.
Then to get back on track following what should have been a bridleway, but, safter starting well, disintegrated into an overgrown ditch.
Following the trace of the path, on the side of the ditch, staying on the right of the fence - I did cross it then back again when I realised I needed to stay in the one field.
Up over Pen Llwyn-ieir, and into the forest of Ffos y Ffwdan.
The track through here was dark and forbidding, but at least it provided some shelter from the wind.
Leaving the trees, and following the forest track down to, and across a back road. Then climbing through the sheep fields beyond - choosing the bridleway, rather then the untracked footpath.
Up and over the rolling grass hilltops here - Only afterwards, I discovered I could have avoided all this staying lower, by taking a lower route.
Along the ridge at the top, with views across to the valley I would go up later to get across to the "Sweet Lamb" rally tracks.
Down into the edge of Hafren forest - here my second navigation mistake - I picked the forest track rather than the gravel road (this went downhill and I assumed - wrongly - that it went back into the valley
So a hazardous stumble along the rutted and debris strewn track climbing before I realised I needed to drop down again. The track back down was seep and in worse state, then it ended and I had to make a diversion to continue.
back down on the gravel road, and things got easier to walk. The track continued around the slope before climbing to a complex junction
Staying on the forest road as it contoured into the valley.
The road stopped at a turning point, and continued as a motocross track.
along this the map showed the bridleway I was following separating and dropping to the stream bed. This was like the other path we had followed last week near here and virtually unused, apart from a gate in the fence.
Down to the stream and along the sodden tufty bank, before jumping over and climbing the slope on the far side (actually slightly drier). Up and over the shoulder to reach the far side.
This was the valley with the Sweet Lamb centre in it and where we had dropped into last week from the source of the Wye. I followed a track down a fence with warnings of live shooting and the cracks of rifle fire in the distance.
Down at a collection of farm buildings and containers were the vehicles from earlier with a people firing from a container to targets up the valley.
I continued past the back of them (on the public footpath) down to the main complex and on to the ford where we had crossed last week.
Now on the Wye valley trail, I followed the rally centre access road along the river, with all its curves down to the main valley below.
Leaving the Sweet Lamb complex at the farm buildings (and complex offices) to reach the A44.
Over the river at the point where the Wye meets the Tarennig. The first sign showing this section of the Wye.
Into the forest and along the forest roads to a point where path separated. I chose the river side option.
Along the river on farm tracks, then a steep climb up a grass field - an early warning of things to come.
back down to the river to go around Hendre, then a second climb up a farm track. I did have to avoid a flooded lake on the way.
Over the shoulder and back down to the river to go around Ty-mawr. Next along the flood plain on muddy farm tracks. At one point I had to freewheel aroudn a second flooded field, before getting back on track.
A third climb up and into the edge of a forest, before dropping down again to Pen-y-geulan.
Around the farm and along the driveway to meet a back road. This meandered for a while before I left to go up the driveway to Pen-y-rhos.
Along the driveway and past the farm, before finding the path heading up the grass slopes towards the ridge above - this would be the last excursion out of the river valley on this section.
Over on the far side of the valley was the route I had taken this morning (including the first navigation error!).
On this side I had a steep climb to get up to the ridge.
Around the shoulder over yet another boggy area to reach a path along the sheep fields at the top of the ridge.
The ridge led to a farm track down to Llwyn-gwyn. Through the farm yard and down the driveway. At last I could see the church and buildings of the village of Llangurig.
At last back to the river and aroudn to the bridge. Eventually reaching the car park.
A little further than I really wanted to go today, not distance, but the combination of height gain and distance.
I should perhaps have looked at the river section and made adjustments to the outward track to take account.
