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.

From Crickhowell car park. Up the south side of Table Mountain, Pen Cerrig-calch, Pen Allt-mawr and Pen Gloch-y-pibwr - still frozen underfoot, in parts. Fortunately, the rain stopped as we arrived at the car park, but walking in a very cold southerly wind, fog on the tops (above 450m) and thick clouds.

Covering some paths new to most of the Hillwalkers we walked east from Pandy to Great Park and Little Park then returned to Llanvihangel Church for coffee break. Continued by Strawberry Park Wood and fields to Blaenyoy, up Hatterrill Hill to ODP, then south to Trawellwyd and the cars. Some very muddy fields, slippy stiles and overcast sky with coldish easterly wind for most of the day.

From the Dinas Castle Inn (now £5 for parking), along the track and lane (unfortunately, we were unable to walk on the planned route alongside the river Rhiangoll due to unpassable fords. Well done for recce’ing on Monday!) to Ysgubor Ganol and then up and across the hill to the cairn and Waun Fach. Down to the east side of Mynydd Bychan, around Cwn y Nant and return via the Dragon’s Back, with most of the group heading over the hill with the remains of Castell Dinas. The weather was excellent at first, but as we passed through 700m upwards, the sky clouded over and the temperature dropped with a brisk and cold north wind.

Starting from Porth y parc car park near Abergavenny we walked via The Park, Parc Lodge Farm, a loop past Fro car park, Pontyspig (and pleased to see that the holly next to the stile had been cut back!), up via The Pant (and a slippy muddy path!!), down through Coed-Cerrig NR and up onto Bryn Arw. We were rewarded by seeing a couple of early skylarks, trilling as they rose – and a cool breeze. Down into Cwm Brynarw, via Great Gott and the Deri, back to the cars. Lovely walking weather, but cooling a little in the afternoon, and with some interesting stream-crossings.

Walking from English Bicknor, we headed via Holly Barn and Mailscot Wood to the Wye, Biblins bridge, NW by the river and up to Arthur’s Cave (formed by the sea, before the land was uplifted and the river cut down through the limestone). North towards SY West, then dropping down to Lord’s Wood and back over the Biblins bridge. Riverside to SY East, up to the lookout and then by the river below Coldwell Rocks before returning to the cars. Chilly, but pleasant walking as little wind.

Artists of The Vale of Eywas - a walk from Llanthony, led by Martin Perkins. We walked from Llanthony to Capel-y-ffin via Cwm Bwchel, across the fields and then contoured along the edge of the open access below Bal Mawr and Bwlch Isaf. We returned to Llanthony via Blaenau and The Vision farm, Offas Dyke across to Loxidge Tump with a descent into Llanthony and Court Farm. As we approached Nantygwyddel, the farmer, out to round up sheep, pointed out that none of the rights of way to the farm traverse the farm-yard. He gave us directions across his upper field which took us to the edge of the open access land.
Martin’s talks highlighted the artists that have come to the Vale of Eywas to work, paint and write. JMW Turner came to Llanthony Priory at the end of the 18th Century. His paintings and drawings were part of the Romantic movement during which artists came to discover the power of nature. Martin illustrated how those in the Romantic movement had changed our perception of the wilder places in Britain to places of beauty rather than fear. An artists’ colony was established at Capel-y-ffin, led by Eric Gill in the 1920’s, with David Jones a prominent member: painter, engraver and poet. Jones’s experiences of the 1st World War influenced him to become one of Britain’s leading early 20th century artists and poets: his Great War poem about the life of Private Johnny Ball, In Parenthesis, draws heavily on the Welsh folklore which Jones felt was prevalent in Vale of Eywas. The talks also discussed Eric Ravilious, Edgar Donnely, John Piper and Derek Costanduras – with illustrations of their works. Bruce Chatwin’s On The Black Hill is the story of the 80 years of two brother who lived on the Black Hill in the Vision farm. Chatwin effortlessly and with great charm paints a hymn to the Black Mountains through the experiences of the brothers. We finally had some poetry from Alan Ginsberg’s Wales Visitation which was written whilst staying in the Vale Eywas.
Interesting talks complemented with lovely bright January weather.