From the Blaen-y-cwm car park. Low cloud (above the hills) as we walked up through the woods and across the open ground to the Blacksmith’s Anvil, before heading NW across Rhos Dirion through cold rain driven by the northerly wind and across to Rhiw y Fan. Some walked up to Twmpa, whilst some walked down the valley towards Blaen-bwch, regrouping at lunch time. The afternoon weather much better, for ascent past The Grange, back up to the cairns and return back to the cars.

From the upper Sugarloaf Car Park. Descended to the Grwyne valley, via Pen-y-Graig Farm and Cwm-cegyr. Across Millbrook Bridge, north to Llangenny and then along east bank of river and up to Ty-canol. Along to Cwm-bwch, west along the edge of the open access land, and east to the trig point. Down a stretch of the Cambrian Way, then across the north end of St Mary’s Vale and return to cars via Cwm Trosnant. Just a little rain in the first 30 mins, then overcast and cool. Scenery great – as usual!

From Stanton. Across the valley via Coed Farm, up the nose of the Hatterrall Hill spur and into the rain as we walked along ODP/Beacons Way - blowing (with some hail) crisply from the west. Down via Strawberry Wood Barn and across to Stanton Manor Farm. Along the paths via Bryn-arw Farm and steeply (too steeply?) up onto Bryn Arw. Descent to Coed-y-Cerrig Nature Reserve and return via Coed-y-Carrig . Against the trend: the conditions were poorer than Met Office forecast, with steady showers / rain from 11am-1pm and showers and a few sunny intervals between the showers in the afternoon. Rather wet/muddy underfoot. Good to see a strong turnout, despite the forecast.

From NT Newland Park, around the Long Barrow and Cotswold Way, Alderley Wood, Tresham, Boxwell, Bagpath, and return via Sawcombe Farm. Cold mist at first, but combination of warm sunshine and cloud later. Welcome tea at the NT café to end the day.

Up the Cat's Back from the picnic area to the Black Hill trig point. The promised 50mph gales turned out to be a 5mph breeze but we were in mist so there was no enthusiasm for Hay Bluff. We descended on the excellent diagonal Offa's Dyke Path and back on the bridleway that runs under the East side of Black Hill. Despite using the road past the Pub (not open on Wednesdays!) we still managed to find a fair bit of mud before the gentle climb back to the cars.

Another week with a route-revision! Well done Ken for setting up a revised route from Redbrook – lower level and, importantly, south of the forecast rain coming through the Black Mountains today. South along Offa’s Dyke Path, then east (before Creeping Hill), north along Rookery Lane to Scatterford Farm, Millend and path and road north past Bell’s Grove. Down into Newland for lunch at the church, then return via the Byway to Redbrook. A v small amount of drizzle for 15 mins, but otherwise clouds above and warm, with light wind.

From Llanthony Priory: Up and along to Hatterrall Hill, north along Offa's Dyke Path, descent to Capel-y-ffin for lunch and the up to Blacksmith Anvil, Bwlch Bach, Bwlch Isaf and then descending to return to the Priory. Blustery on top, but not too cold and no rain.

Planned walk cancelled due to Storm Agnes (in a teacup as it happened). A walk from the Wetmeadow carpark near Trellech. Headed through woodland to Cwmcarvan and up to the Craig-y-Dorth battlefield of 1404. The battle occurred at the climax of the Welsh revolt led by Owain Glyndwr, we understand the Welsh won this particular unpleasantness. Then across fields and hillsides generally southwards and into Woolpitch Wood and the site of an old furnace and Ironworks, now very overgrown. Then to Trellech, Harold’s Stones and the Tump Terret before returning to Wetmeadow car park.

Planned walk cancelled due to poor forecast. Wonderful walk for the hardy hillwalkers. From Maypole along quiet lanes and muddy fields to St Maughans church (grade 2 listed, reconstructed mid 19C financed by J Rolls by Pollard Seddon). Across fields to Bulmers orchards and Ribena blackcurrant fields to Skenfrith and the Monnow. Along the Monnow, then up & over stubble & potato fields before emerging into livestock with long views over the Black Mountains. Game of “Name That Hill” then ensued during a dry lunch stop. Down to cross the Monnow once more, but not before a nature stop to study and identify Devil’s Fingers Fungus (we stopped Rosemary destroying it, thinking it was a poisonous being) then back for a v welcome cuppa and wonderful cake courtesy of Linda.

From Blaenavon: Keepers Pond, Blorenge, along Mynydd y Garn-Fawr to Garn Clochdy, returning by Graig Blaenavon woodland. Superb walking weather, sun and partial cloud, warm breeze & great views. Rounded off with a welcome cup of tea at the Heritage Centre Tea Rooms

A sightseeing tour from Trefil: The Dukes Table (reputed to be the lunch-time dining table for the Duke of Beaufort’s hunting parties (plenty to choose from: 12 of them since 1682)); the crash site of a Wellington bomber (Dec 1940) with the loss of life of 6 crew returning from a mission to Bordeaux; an inscribed stone dating from C5-6 AD with inscription in Ogham (an alphabet on monumental inscriptions used mainly to write Primitive and Old Irish, Old Welsh, Pictish and Latin); the Naughty Stone (who knows?); and extensive quarries. Quite a lot of off-path walking through the heather and limestone boulders, missing the sink-holes. It was hot! A few welcome patches of cloud, and with little breeze.

From Cwmdu Village Hall, south to Cwm Mawr, up steeply towards Pan Cerrig-calch, Cambrian Way towards Pen Twyn Glas, down to Pont Waun Fach and return via Upper Pentrebach. The sun shone and it didn't rain - a great walking day.

From Red Darren CP. Over the top through the mist to the trig and down Beacons Way to LLanthony; Cwm Bwchel and Bal Bach, then gentle diagonal to Maes-y-ffin. Vision Farm, up to ‘pile of stones’ ODP and back down Red Darren to the cars. Mist on the first top, then cloudy with sun and humidity in pm.