A lull in the heatwave and an opportunity to go to the Bannau Brycheiniog
(Brecon Beacons) for a "proper" stretch.
I planned to follow a popular
route from near Gospel pass, over Hat Bluff then along the ridge. Dropping down
to Capel Y Frrin, before returning over Twmpa (or Lord Hereford's knob).
I turned into the first true car park (rather than the off road grassy areas).
This was beside a small stone circle and directly under the steep side ascent to
Hay Bluff.
Then set off on the main path - it would have been wiser to
contour around to the left and pick up an ascending traverse track, as this was
a real shock to the system this early in the walk. A short warm up then the
first steep section followed by a wider but only just less steep, and a final
vicious climb to the diagonal path.
Looking back to the car park, proved that the circuitous route would have been
better!
Then off along the diagonal track.
The path cut across the steep slope to meet the ridge coming up from Gospel
pass.
Finally along the ridge to the trig point, which had helpfully
cleared of cloud.
Looking north and the general direction of Hay-on-Wye
Looking along the ridge towards the south.
A final look over the edge before setting off down the wide and open ridge.
Another short ascent to gain the high point on the ridge, still wide and
rounded.
I picked up the Offa's Dyke path along this section.
The path along the top was well maintained with large stones and gravel.
Although after the dry spell and heatwaves it is not really required at this
time.
Continuing along the ridge with vague glimpses down into Olchon valley and
beyond.
A series of cairns marked a bend in the track before a further climb over a
rounded bump in the ridge.
Over the bump and down to a shoulder with a pile of stones and a way marker.
Leaving
the Offa's dyke path here and turning across the ridge.
The top of this side was pasture, with a sheep track to follow, which had a mind
of its own, but with careful consultation of the GPS led to the path aroudn the
top of a stream dropping down.
The path became more obvious as it entered the bracken phase.
In this dense
undergrowth there were several zigzags, luckily all well marked and signed.
The
path here was steep in sections and complicated by the bracken hiding the actual
ground.
At the bottom of the slope it levelled out and cut down to a track/ driveway.
Just past a house (and gate) the track mutated into a gravel track up to a
stream crossing at a ford (with stepping stones - not required after the
heatwave)
Climbing up the far bank (avoiding the path down to the back road), and out onto
the footpath that contoured around above the stream.
Through several fields and up to the buildings at Blaenau.
Next down the
driveway as it circled aroudn past an old chapel to reach Capel-y-ffin.
Over the stream and up to the back road beside the Anglican church.
Along
the back road, where I had to pass a camper van that was as wide as the road,
and with fences on each side --- so I creeped along the side until it could move
on.
Beside the next farm entrance I crossed a stiel and a horse field to reach the
buildings at Pen-y-maes.
the path went through the grounds and out a gate
into a gully and the second major climb of the day started.
When the gully died out the path separated, and I turned right and climbed back
up through the bracken, on a steep ascent similar to the one I had recently
descended.
This zigzagged across the slope and up to a cairn or small section of wall on
the ridge.
From here it was straight up to the summit of this end of the
ridge.
Finally the slope lessened an I proceeded more lesurely to the high point.
The path along the ridge was similar to the other side of the valley - except
this path was not so manufactured.
Continuing along the ridge to reach a second high point where the path changed
and was now gravel.
In the distance there was the summit of Twmpa shown by the path winding up to
it.
The cairn has gone and little remains of an old trigpoint
Looking north and along the Wye valley
Looking across to Hay Bluff, the path I had followed and back up this side of
the valley.
The path that descends to the pass, looking over to Hay Bluff.
This path contoured above some steep gullies dropping down the side of Twmpa.
then dropped to the road at Gospel pass.
I could have walked down the road back t the car, however I chose to follow a
faint footpath through the pasture and bracken between two roads.
The path was sometimes difficult to pick out between the sheep paths, however
the swathe through the bracken made it easier.
The final section was along the road until it me the second road at the car
park.
It had been drizzly all day - not cold, but actually very
refreshing.
Statistics
| Distance |
Elapsed |
Height |
| 18.9km |
4h 18m |
686m |
