Brecon 23rd,24th,25th July 2014 (Weds,Thurs,Fri)

Brecon 23rd,24th,25th July 2014 (Weds,Thurs,Fri)

Wednesday

After the effort and heat of Sugarloaf on Tuesday we decided on a more chilled and relaxed day as once again the forecast was for Scorchio! A late morning visit to a nearby garden centre, shop and cafe with cake/coffee was followed by an afternoon drive to the Brecon Mountain Railway to catch the last train of the day at 15:45.

Click Here...Brecon Mountain Railway

Located just off the Heads of the Valleys trunk road - about 3 miles north of Merthyr Tydfil. Follow the Mountain Railway signs from the A470 and A465.

 

We bought the tickets (£12 each), but unfortunately the last train was diesel hauled rather than steam. Still a nice pleasant journey, and enough room to stand outside the warm carriages on such a hot day.

The views began very well coming out of Pant station, but for quite a large part of the journey they were not so good obscured by woodland and side cuttings.

 

Opened out near the reservoir though. 

 

The end of the line after about 30 mins or so, then a short 15 min wait while the engine ran around.

 

Heading back to Pant, and a 20 min stop was made at the reservoir station where there is a cafe and tables.



 

 

The Brecon Mountain Railway was good but not spectacular, worth a first time visit, but doubt we would do it again. Relaxing though.



Thursday

The run of splendid weather continued with 29°C forecast. We therefore limited our options to a short walk in Waterfall Country.

Click Here...Waterfall Country

This area of the National Park, has many waterfalls in a small area, and it is possible to visit many in one day. From Brecon we headed South around a 45 min drive as the Sat Nav took us on some very minor roads. The views were stunning though. We even came across the Army yomping across the hills on exercise. Look, men with guns!

 

 

 

 

We arrived at the village of Pontneddfechan late morning and parked roadside near to the Waterfalls Centre. We already had information and maps, but had a look around the centre anyway which houses a small exhibition on the falls around the area and sells maps etc....

 



We had decided on a short walk to Sgwd Gwladus waterfall only 1.5 miles from the centre along easy paths. It was shaded much of the way and quite a pleasant amble riverside until we reached the waterfall.

It was quite busy though, as its easy to access I guess, and school holidays!

 

I did manage some shots using my SLR/Tripod and slow shutter speeds.

 



 

The last couple were taken using a 10 stop ND filter and an exposure time of nearly 2 minutes giving a milky effect ot the water falling.

 



 

Before long, kids were splashing and swimming (as thery do), and we ambled back to the car, before detouring after to the pub for a sarnie and a shandy!

The drive back to Brecon was quicker as we took main roads, but we decied we would defnitely return to Waterfall country next year and do some longer walks hopefully.


Friday

Friday turned into another hot day, and we decided to head home after removing ourselves and possessions from the wondefrul Benyon House. It was hard wrenching ourselves away from that canal side view. Hopefully we will return to Benyon House in 2015. We arrived home mid-afternoon after an uneventful drive back (and a rest stop at Tamworth services again).

Brecon 21st,22nd July 2014 (Mon/Tues) Sugarloaf

Brecon 21st,22nd July 2014 (Mon/Tues)- Sugarloaf

Monday

A change on "activity" for Monday, and another scorching hot day, saw us heading for a shopping day in Cardiff.... too hot to do much else!! (28°C)

Just over an hours drive away from Brecon, we parked in a multi storey near Mermaids Quay (£8 for about 6 hours I think it cost). From there it about a 20 minute walk into the city centre, and after a few hours of shops and TGI lunch, we headed back to the quay area, Cadwalders ice cream sundaes and then back to Brecon.

 
Tuesday


Today was a walking day, despite the forecast of scorching hot again. So we set off early and a short 30 min drive from Brecon to Llangenny (East of Brecon). The roads leading to this very small village were VERY narrow and overgrown, slow progress.

We parked on a steep hill opposite the church, though there was only room here for 2-3 vehicles. The objective of the day was Sugarloaf, a 2000ft popular hill with excellent open views, and we set off walking through the village and over the stone bridge opposite the Dragons Head pub around 8am. 

 

  Despite the fairly early start the day was already warm and humid with hardly a breath of wind. Good job the first few miles were easy with no uphill......... that was coming!

 

The path was pleasant, follwing the banks of the small river, opening out into grassy wild meadow.

 

The grassy tracks gave way to a narrow lane and after another half mile or so sign for Sugarloaf, leading up a gradually ascending more rocky track.

 



 

Beautiful clear blue sky.... getting a bit warm now though!

 



After the rocky track the view ahead opened out to less distinct fern covered tracks (there appeared to be a few), before joinnig a more distinct grassier track heading towards Sugarloaf top.

 

The views back were very expansive and open, and the sheep below decided it would pose for a picture while my camera was out. A good shot with the wide views in the background. Nice!

 



 

 

 

 

 

The heat was beginning to take its toll with the uphill toil. There was also a surprising number of flies buzzing round, even above 1500ft here. The conical summit of Sugarloaf could now be seen.

 



A small tarn, and a good rest point to eat a sarnie, the flies had gone too.

 

Its got a bit of everything.. even a rocky bit near the summit.

 

 

 

We arrived at the summit (2000ft), it was still very warm, with no wind at all, and those flies had returned, more than ever.

 

 

We decided not to hang around too long as they were really buzzing around and biting. A few pictures and we headed off down, taking a different path down to complete the loop.

 

 

 

 

Nice view though!!

Heading back down, and a fairly pleasant path down, though even going down the going was tough with the heat of late morning increasing towards mid-day. 

The view looking back towards the top, and quite a few more people arriving on this popular hill.

How lush and green is this!!

Once below 1000ft and in the valley, the heat was really baking us, and the last couple of miles were spent wishing we were back at the car with air-con on full! We arrived back in the village around 12:30, and the last stretch up to the church up a very steep hill I did alone, while Sue waited at the pub car park for me to bring the car down. How good am I? An excellent walk thats not too taxing (on a cooler day) and fantastic open views. We were pooped though, not used to the heat, the air con was set to max for the drive back to Brecon.

Our Walk Score: 7.5/10