From Garway, via The Gwyn to Garway Court, along by the Monnow and up to the remains of a WWII radio direction station on Garway Hill. Continued north to High House Farm and east to Garrendale, then returning via Garway Hill, a very peculiar silver birch, Little Garway and St Michael’s church. There are records of a monastery on this site from 615 AD. In 1180, the Knights Templar built a partly round church (copying the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem), one of several in England. The round foundations can be seen clearly on the north side of the church, and the original carved chancel arch still survives. Clear and cold, with sun and some clouds and a sharp NNE wind at times. Good views across the Herefordshire countryside to the Malverns in the north-east and the Black Mountains / Beacons to the West.

From Crickhowell, up the Beacons Way to Twyn and then up Cwm Mawr to the ridge and Pen Gloch y Pibwr. Along the ridge to Pen Alt Mawr and Pen Cerrig Calch. Down to Crug Hywell, quite muddy on the way down back to Crickhowell. Weather: after weeks of rain the upper paths were pretty good but the lower farmland was very muddy. Despite a warning from Martin P, Chris tested the depth of a mud pool, knee height only! …what was the fuss about MP? Views pretty good, occasionally.

Hillwalkers’ Christmas Lunch walk from the Fountain Inn at Trelleck Grange. Up ‘The Drain’ to Whitelye, into Hale Wood doubling back through The Oaks, round by Hill Farm, before dropping via Barbadoes Wood into Tintern, and stopping for coffee at St Mary’s church ruin. Return via Butcher’s Hill, Glyn Wood, Fairoak and Cross Farm. Overcast and blustery, but quite mild for the time of year. Steve and Jill and their team provided an excellent meal, enjoyed by all.

From Gilwern Wharfe Car Park. Along the high bank of the fast-flowing Clydach and then attempted the RoW up Cwm Dyer. Unfortunately the bridge that was there in the days of the lime works is long gone, leaving the route impassable at the Cwm Dyer waterfall. A scramble up the bank brought us back to a route. Over Gilwern Hill to Llwyncelyn Farm, across to Garn Ddyrys, the old tramway and then descent to Govilon, before returning via the railway route cycle track. Cool wind and beautiful sunlight on the hills – but unfortunately it was on those on the north side of the valley.

From the Cockit Hill pass. A steep start to the walk, up to Mynydd Troed trig., south along the top and then steeply down to Cwm Sorgwm – with magnificent fungi on dead hawthorn tree. Up past Blaenau-draw and onto Pen Tir, before dropping down to the lane. Along and passing the Blaen—y-cwm farms and up to Mynydd Llangorse, before dropping down back to the cars. We avoided the low cloud / mist which shrouded Waun Fach, but did not benefit from the occasional spots of sunlight, which highlighted the slopes of Mynydd Llysiau. Cool breeze on the tops.

From Pont Cadwgan car park. Through the woods to Crug Mawr with a little mist on the tops, easterly to Partrishow and via Ty-mawr to the grey phone box. Up the track past Gaer Farm (x2) then round and up Gaer for lunch. Lovely views, but the cold wind (quite gentle) was rather cooling when seated. Along the Cambrian Way and Beacons Way to Bal Bach, with a little light snow (first of the season), then descent via Nant Bran and Cadwgan to the cars.

From the Talybont reservoir car park. Up the steep ascent to Allt Lwyd, then climbing into the low cloud/fog with increasing cold wind from the west onto Waun Rydd. We dropped down to visit the memorial to the Canadian crew of Vickers Wellington R1465, which crashed on a training flight, in low cloud, on 6 July 1942. A moving poetry reading (High Flight by John Gillespie Magee) from Martin P. As the route towards Fan y Big was shrouded in cloud, we headed north to Pen y Bryn and east into the woods, across the Clydach and returning via Tyle-Clydach and across the fields and lane to the car park. Cloudy and breezy for most of the day, with mist on the tops.

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.