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.

The walk, in glorious sunshine and from Cold Ashton Parish Hall, took us around the southern Cotswolds. We had to cross the A46 twice, which was quite hairy, but in between it was lovely, with wild flowers in the hills, fields and woods. Plus a church and a village hall for our refuelling stops.

From Llanfrynach Village. A gentle ascent on the west side of Bryn, up to the ‘crossroads’ and then west along the escarpment to Fan y Big. Down to the track and up Cribyn for lunch. Super views all around. Down the steep northern nose to Bryn Teg, across Nant Cynwyn and return to the cars via Pen-yr-heol and the very pretty Three Rivers Ride, with masses of celandine in flower. Very brisk, blustery and cold E/NE wind whipping over the top (and the N nose of Cribyn). Otherwise, glorious spring weather (again), with just a few clouds and a hazy horizon.

From Cwmdu Village Hall, up past Cil-helyg, through the woods and followed the Beacons Way along the edge of the open access to Cwm Mawr. A steep ascent, then across rough ground (and rougher limestone rocks) to Pen Cerrig-calch. Followed the Cambrian Way north to Pen Allt-mawr, breaking off left before Pen Twyn Glas to find the path down. We followed the edge of open access to Pen-y-lan then back on the lanes to the cars. Glorious spring weather, but slightly hazy views.

From Goytre Wharf CP, up to the edge of access land on Pentre Hill, across to Coed-Robin and through the woods to the Goose and Cuckoo. Past Pistyll-gwyn and north on the Cambrian Way over Mynydd y Garn-fawr to the twin wireless masts and on to Blorenge trig. We returned via Carn-y-gorfydd, Craig-yr-hafod and Cwm-mawr before ascending again to Blaen Ochran and Upper Llanover before continuing to Byrgwm Mawr and retracing our initial path back to the car park. A lovely spring day, with light wind, sunshine and some cloud.

From the Llwyn Hir car park, down a poorly-marked path by Rudry Mill Farm, across the stream and then east to the neglected-looking ruin of Ruperra Castle. North through the woods, through Draethen and onto the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk. Across the A468 at Machen and continuing on the RVRW to Hengoed. Some lovely views, but hugely marred by the masses of litter dropped from cars beside the rural tracks and serious amounts of fly-tipping. This was a walk-with-a-difference! A train link from Hengoed to Caerphilly on the excellent Transport for Wales service running from Rhymney to Bridgend (4 trains per hour). A few miles from Caerphilly station along the RVRW completed our walk back to the car. Fine weather with sun and clouds and a brisk, cold north wind in exposed areas.

From Pencelli. Up onto the Bryn, and along to Carn Pica via the crossroads. Down to Aber and then via the Usk Valley Walk back to Pencelli. It was wonderful to see that Carn Pica is being rebuilt - by the dry-stone wall expert who undertook the previous re-build, a number of years ago. A glorious day with stunning views in all directions.

From Cwmdu Village Hall car park. Across very wet fields and up onto the Beacons Way via Ffynnon-las. North to the Mynydd Llangorse trig and Cockitt Hill before ascending the (steep and slippy) path to the Mynydd Troed trig. All were concerned by the heavy rain en-route, but apart from a brief, light shower in the morning we had glorious weather and excellent views, but with a rather brisk and chilly wind.