From the N end of Talybont resv., across the dam and up toward the Brynore tramway. Joining the Cambrian Way at Bryniau Gleision we ascended Pant y Creigiau then to the head of the valley at Blaen y Glyn. Then the steep climb up to the ridge at Craig y Fan Ddu and along Craig Fan Las and onto Carn Pica. From there the steep climb down to the cars.

Great day walk making a worthwhile horseshoe with fab views

A warm day, some cloud in the A.M.with a hotter afternoon.

A tour of Mynydd Llangyndr along tracks and over open access moorland of heather, bilberry and long grasses. We started along the old tramway leading from Trevil toward Rhymney, used for transporting limestone to the blast furnaces. Then headed north up a good path taking several detours off the path to look at solution hollows / shake holes / dolines. Some of these are impressively deep and with a wide circumference. This area is one of the best in the UK for these features, formed when mildly acidic rainwater fell, then became more acidic as it percolated the gritstone and then took limestone into solution. We then headed east over rough boulder moorland for a couple of kilometres to one of the quarries at Blaen Onneu. Here there are 3 cave entrances, the main entrance in the quarry floor (Blaen Onneu Quarry Pot). From here we followed the Cambrian Way, with diversions to Ogof Cynnes, Crescent cave and to Chartist cave. From here back to the quarry road and into the disused but spectacular Trevil Quarry and back to the cars in the village.

We walked along the easternmost flank of the Black mountains, from the Black Hill Car Park, to St Mary’s church at Craswall (which dates from Norman times). We continued along tracks and fields to the remains of the C13 Grandmontine priory passing a very extensive group of badger sets which were complete with multiple ventilation shafts to serve their deeper reaches. It was delightful to hear and see four curlews flying together as we crossed the farmland to the foot of Hay Bluff – regular visitors, we were told, but which suffered from their nests being raided by crows and foxes during the breeding season. A couple of routes taken up to ODP and then the descent to the cars via the Cat’s Back – delightful as always. A warm and cloudy day with gentle breeze and clear views.

Llanbedr Horseshoe (clockwise). An excellent day’s walking with perfect weather and dry underfoot. We noted that the path through the very-boggy-in-wet-weather section of the ascent to Pen Cerrig-calch has now had stones / grading added, which should help walkers avoid calf-deep wading. Chris introduced a slight detour to Pen Gloch-y-pibwr into the otherwise self-steering route which follows the Cambrian Way to Waun Fach We then returned via Pen y Gadair Fawr and the forest-edge route to Crug Mawr and return to the start in Llanbedr.

Starting in the car park on the Hay to Gospel Pass road, we picked-up Offa’a Dyke Path for a km, before heading up to the Hay Bluff trig. Continued along the escarpment via Gospel Pass to Twmpa, then south east along Darren Lwyd (Cambrian Way) dropping down (with a bit of bracken-bashing) to pick up the path that runs along the SW side of the hill, up the very pretty Nant Bwch valley. Crossing the Cambrian Way, we dropped down to walk low-level paths, with a sighting of a (roe?) deer on our return to the cars. Another day of excellent walking weather.

From Forest Fawr car park, the walk explored the ancient woodland and Special Area of Conservation of Fforest Ganol, Castell Coch and Garth Woods, following well-defined foot, cycle and bridle paths. Castell Coch – the ‘Red Castle’, is a 19th-century Gothic Revival castle which we were invited, by the very helpful CADW staff, to look around during our coffee stop. On towards Taff’s Well to cross the River Taff and ascend to Garth Wood, passing the new South Wales Metro (£100 million) depot and control centre, with ~36 Metro tram-trains ready for the first phase of the metro opening by early 2026. Up through the beech woodland, to a viewpoint high above the busy Taff's Well limestone quarry, which produces almost one million tonnes of aggregates annually. The area is home to peregrine falcons and the red helleborine orchid. Onwards through the Coed-y-Bedw Nature Reserve and back across farmland to Garth Hill. With fairly light cloud cover, from the top of the Hill we had views to Cardiff and the Bristol Channel to the south and the Brecon Beacons to the north. Taff’s Well, the only thermal spring in Wales, was once home to a bathing pool and swimming bath at a constant temperature of 21C, but now just ruins. We returned via the Forest Fawr sculpture trail path, then finally by going a little off-piste to visit ‘the three bears’ cave’, originally a former mine entrance but now it’s used as a film and TV location for many dramas such as Dr Who and Sherlock.

From Lansdown we walked across wildflower meadows to Little Solsbury Hill. From there we followed St Catherine's Brook ascending to Cold Ashton. We then joined the Cotswold Way before returning to the cars. At Solsbury Hill we had a break to remember Andy Kirkcaldy on the anniversary of his untimely death. Helen provided 'Colin the Caterpillar' cakes and Denise read a poem to commemorate the day. The weather was mainly sunny with an occasional strong breeze.

From Ystradfellte. Taking a route which thankfully avoided the long rough track to Fan Gyhirych. We headed past the site of the fort, with late hawthorn blossom and bluebells, along Sarn Helen (Roman road), through the remains of the Plas-y-gors forest and across Fan Nedd. We followed a stretch of the Cambrian Way before heading on the Beacons Way to Fan Dringarth and Fan Llia, then routed via Carnau Gwynion and returned to the car park. Unfortunately the New Inn is closed and is For Sale! It was lovely to drive along the (very nearly completed) A465 – smooth tarmac is a rarity these days. Some rain on the drive-in, which had cleared before we booted-up. It stayed fine all day, with sun, some cloud and variable wind – great walking conditions.

From Talybont Village Hall, we walked along the Taff Trail, over the reservoir dam, across the low fields and then up onto Allt Lwyd via the often-used path to the south of Nant Tarthwynni – enjoying the glorious weather and the cuckoos calling in the valley. Across to the beautifully restored Carn Pica and return via the crossroads, Bryn, the Allt Feigan woods and the canal path.

From the Queen’s Head lane, Stanton. West on track to Ferm Newydd, Pentwyn and Ty-Coch, across to Partrishow, then along the edge of access land to the south end of Mynydd Du Forest. Across the Grwyne Fawr at Pont Cadwgan and up over poorly made paths to the Beacons Way (not a route to take in a few weeks when the bracken has grown!). More rough walking to pick up the path down Upper Henllan then south along the edge of the forest and through the woods to the cars. A lovely walking day, warm with some cloud cover and light breeze, masses of bluebells, fresh bracken shoots, trees in new leave and glorious hawthorn blossom. And a slow-worm en-route.

From Upper Blaen y Glyn CP, up to Craig y Fan Ddu, Beacons/Cambrian Way and onto Fan y Big. Some followed the Beacons Way across the side of Cribyn and others took the Cambrian Way to the summit. Then onto Pen y Fan, Corn Ddu and the edge of the ridge south to Graig Fan Ddu, with a side-trip to the May 1942 crash site of Spitfire X4588. Return via the trig and steep descent to the (ex-) Neuadd reservoirs, the woods beside the Taf Fechan and return to the cars. Very good weather, warm, sunny and gentle, refreshing breeze on the tops.

From Cliff Wood, Uley, in the pastoral Cotswolds. North through Torley Wood, then looping south to Mutterall Farm and south along the side of the hill to Owlpen (with a loop round to the south east) before heading east into Uley. Up and along the west side of Uley Bury – an impressive, 32 acre (13 hectare) Iron Age hill fort dating from 300 B.C. A steep ascent of Cam Long Down and Cam Peak, returning via Dursley and the east side of Uley Bury. Cloud cover gave way to sunny intervals. The walk was timed so that we enjoyed magnificent displays of bluebells and wild garlic – and excellent views of the Cotswolds and Severn Estuary.

Up the Beacons Way to ODP from Llanthony, down and through Longtown and then up the valley beside Olchon Brook for some of the way. After Upper Olchon Farm, we climbed steeply to rejoin ODP, then south before dropping down over Loxlidge Tump to Llanthony. A little light rain in the morning, but with strong, blustery, cold S/SW winds as we climbed after lunch and returned to the Priory.