Tag: Wales

Returning to Hay Bluff

Saturday 18th August 2018

All the way back in December 2017, I led a group walk in the Black Mountains that I soon grew to regret. One weekend after snow had fallen heavily across the region, I found the mountain tops were covered and we were struggling through depths up to our knees for much of our day. That’s without mentioning the rain waiting for us before we had a chance to put our boots on and the gale-force winds arriving from the east.

I’d thought about repeating the same route but have always held reservations over the small car park at Black Hill. So, for this outing, I decided to park elsewhere and lead a longer route along different paths.

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Crug Hywel – January 2018

Saturday 27th January 2018

This was the first group walk of 2018 that I’d attended. Part of my inspiration for that was in the fact that we’d be heading to the Black Mountains in Wales… Although, technically, we’d also be passing through the Brecon Beacons National Park.

It was the first time that Sarah would be leading a walk by herself. She was one of three other participants (along with myself) who spent the weekend in the Brecon Beacons back in November, as part of a walk leading and navigational training exercise.

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Knee-Deep on Crib Y Garth

My most ‘challenging’ walk-leading experience to date! Up on the Black Mountains of Wales, knee-deep in snow with winds of up to 40mph blasting us from the north-west.

Sunday 17th December 2017

Precisely one year to the date of when I first did this walk on my own, I’d arranged to lead the walking group around the same course, in the run-up to Christmas.

Heavy snow had breached the heights of South Wales one week earlier… My only concern that morning was the risk of icy roads and winds up to 40mph… All the snow would be gone by now, right?

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The Black Hill with Wye Explorer

From later October 2017: my second attempt at the Cat’s Back ridge in the Welsh Black Mountains. Climbing to Hay Bluff before crossing the Olchon Valley.

Saturday 28th October 2017

It’s with great coincidence in the timing of this post, that I come to write about my repeat of what was my first walk in the Black Mountains of South Wales.

Just yesterday, I’ve been back for a third visit within the space of twelve months…

You’ll read about that another day. Tracing back to the end of October and this wasn’t just a return visit; it was an opportunity for a YouTube meetup with Mark from Wye Explorer.

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