Wind and Water

A cheeky opportunity to get a winter walk in. We started out from Wiltshire very early (5.30 and 6.00) in the hope we could prove to Angela and Sara that we could get a Black Mountain walk in and still get back at a reasonable time. So we were on the hills by 8am, in dense cloud and with a stiffening breeze.

Almost immediately up hill to Allt Fach, before we hit the ridge along Fan Hir. On a clear day the view would be fantastic, with a steep drop over rolling countryside. But we didn’t have a clear day with visibility never more than 30 metres or so. But the outcrops of rock that bridged out over the edge were fantastic even in the murk.

By the time we reached Twr y Fan Foel and Fan Foel the wind had strengthened considerably, Dave had his snood on (it’s actually a ‘Buff’ - Ed.) and we were getting blown round a fair bit. It was at this time that we started to encounter squaddies on a training exercise, they looked colder and more miserable than us.

The way down was spectacular, following a stream with ever bigger waterfalls. But eventually we had to cross the stream, and at this point I felt the need to impersonate Cookie, slip over and put both feet into suitably deep water. Not that it made much difference as a mile or so later we had a much bigger river to cross. The map showed a ford but given the amount of rain there has been there was no dry way of getting across. So a lovely wade through at knee level, followed a a wringing out of socks at the far bank ensued.

Having got back by 2.30 the precedent of a mornings walk in the Brecon Beacons has been firmly established, more walks to follow.