From Blaen-y-cwm. Up through the woods to Blacksmith’s Anvil, NW along the top to meet the Cambrian Way and then SW and around to Waun Fach. Continued SE to Pen y Gadair Fawr and then a slippery descent to the valley and return to the cars. What a day! Several inches of crisp fresh snow – magnificent walking! Sun and blue skies at times, but rather murky as we crossed Waun Fach.

From Llanbedr - Table Mountain then along the 230 contour to Middle Barn / Twyn before heading north and around the east side of the Darren and along the escarpment round to Pen Gloch-y-Gibwr. Up to Pen Allt Mawr towards Pen Twyn Glas, but then SE across rough ground along the west/SW side of Cwm Banw (note the RoW shown on the map is not distinct on the ground!). Along the edge of the open access land and return to the cars via Perth-y-pia and the road. Lovely to have blue skies for a change, but great views marred by some haziness. Wonderful walking weather getting a little colder after lunch – but no wind.

A very misty walk from Pont Cadwgan CP to Crug Mawr, down to Blaenau, up to the Ascend Charlie (B-17 Flying Fortress 42-5903) crash site, Pen Twyn Mawr and return through the forest. Light mist (not too wetting, thank goodness), a bit cool at times but with no wind and lovely autumnal colours below the mist.

The walk planned for 16 Oct. We started from the Talybont reservoir CP and headed up to Allt Lwyd. This is a steep start to a walk which was not helped by recent rain and the fact that the hill sheep had just been driven down to the lower fields, making it rather slippy underfoot. Once above 500m the walking conditions improved and we enjoyed perfect autumn weather with clear views across the Black Mountains and the tops of the Beacons. The route followed the edge of the escarpment around Cerrig Edmwnt, down to Upper Blaen-y-glyn CP and through the woods to the Caerfanell for lunch. We continued up the valley via a muddy, poorly-made path before climbing up on the north side of the fence to the open hillside and headed towards the cairn, breaking off to the right at 508m contour. The return route along the side of the hill was marred (again) by the path having been churned up by the sheep drive. Muddy boots all round (and some muddy trousers) at the end of the walk!

Starting in Llangynidr CP, we walked by Court Farm and Tyle-bach along the edge of the open access land and then, having skirted a large herd of grazing cattle on the open land at the top of Darren Ddu, rounded the top end of Dyffryn Crawnon and returned via Tor y Foel. Excellent weather, with sunshine, light cloud, gentle breeze and stunning views …. but very wet and muddy underfoot in parts

With a poor weather forecast we took a changed route from the Talybont reservoir car park. Through Talybont Forest, looping round Nant Cynafon (enjoying the sight of a huge flock of goldfinches), a short road section then over the River Caerfanell and return via the Taff Trail and the reservoir dam. Mainly forest tracks (some masquerading as streams), with puddles aplenty. The weather was less-poor at times than expected. We set off, with the cloud-base at about 400m, in fine and warm weather, with lovely views across the valley, but had cycles of light rain and medium/heavy rain throughout the walk, which was enjoyed by all.

From the Fro car park we skirted Sugarloaf from every angle. Around the north side of the hill and up to the trig, before dropping down to the main car park and heading north along the SW edge of St Mary’s Vale. Down along the (awash!) footpath to Porth-y-parc and up on to the Deri. Returning to the cars with an excellent sighting of a beautiful gold/brown slow-worm. Sun and cloud and light wind with a hint of light rain at times.

Starting from Garn-yr-erw lake at Blaenavon, we headed south, over the hill to the very pretty Cwm Tyleri. Back up onto the moors, south to Rhiw Lladron and NE to Graig-ddu and the spectacular autumnal beech trees in Craig-ddu Wood. Across the old mine workings and up to Mynydd Farteg Fawr and a visit to the ‘Dog Stone’ memorial to Carlo, a red setter, accidentally shot whilst hunting in 1864. Along the NW side of Coity Mountain, overlooking Varteg, and returning to the cars. Lovely fair walking weather.

From Bryn Bach Country Park, we walked through the outskirts of Tredegar, Sirhowy and Rhoslan via Bryn Serth and up onto the Sirhowy Valley Walk, Y Domen Fawr and Cefn Manmoel. Dropping down to cross the Sirhowy river, past the site of the Bedwellty pits, which used to employ over 1000 men and site of tragic C19 explosions. There is little to show of the industrial past, apart from the grown-over spoil heaps by the river and the remains of a winding wheel (above the town on the west side of the valley) associated with the incline tramway for the limestone quarry. Over Carn Stwpa and down to the cemetery and the associated, separate, cholera cemetery. Finally, over Rhymney Hill, past the wind turbines and back round the lake. The café at the Park serves excellent tea and Welsh cakes which provided an excellent finish to the day.

On 18,19 and 20 Sept (staying overnight), eight Hillwalkers will complete the group’s Summer ’24 project – walking the Beacons Way, from Skirrid to Holy Mountain. An additional group of 5 day-walkers aimed to join the BW’ers at the start at Tafarn-y-Garreg, but unfortunately a taxi problem delayed the larger group so we set off in the low cloud and brisk easterly wind, to walk a circuit via Fan Brycheiniog and return via Llyn-y-Fan Fach and Llyn-y-Fan Fawr. We subsequently met-up on the hill, shortly after midday, when the cloud had just lifted and the sun brought some welcome warmth and spectacular views. At the end of the escarpment the day-walkers decided to return via the ridge, to enjoy the stunning views on our return to the car. Although the sun broke through later than hoped it was a great day’s walking.

From Llanbedr church, down to, and along the Grwyney Fach. Then via Pengilfach Farm and the western path to the Sugarloaf trig for coffee in the lee of the summit. Along the Cambrian way to Forest Coal Pit, across the fields via Ty-mawr and up to Partrishow Church for lunch in the sun; a history talk from Martin; and a snooze in the sun! Return to Llanbedr via the Beacons Way to Crug Mawr and to the minor road, then across the river back to the cars. We were fortunate that the weather was not nearly as bad as forecast, but blustery wind for most of the day. Only a couple of showers, but one very crisp with a cold, fresh-strong breeze. Excellent clear views, enhanced by the blue sky and dappled cloud shadows.

From Neuadd Fawr, we headed up to the open access land in warm late summer conditions. Up to Pen Cerrig Calch and Pen Allt Mawr where the temperature dropped considerably, with a brisk cold wind for an hour or so before returning to the more pleasant conditions later. We enjoyed a rare sighting of a juvenile dotterel, presumably en-route migrating to its wintering grounds in North Africa / Middle East. Along to Mynydd Llysiau, before returning via McNamarra’s track and the Hermitage. A sound decision not to take the path to the right before Tal-y-maes Bridge, which looked seriously brackeny!

We took a minibus from the endpoint of our walk at Tafarn-y-Garreg to the start at Storey Arms. A steady ascent on a rough path above the cliffs of Craig Cerrig Gleisiad where we had coffee admiring the fine views towards PyF. We proceeded to the long ridge of Fan Lia and had lunch where we joined Sarn Helen (a 160-mile (260 km) route, which connects Aberconwy in the north with Carmarthen in the west, and which includes several sections of Roman road). The remote rolling terrain led us to The Ogof Ffynnon Du nature reserve and back to our cars. The cloudy but dry weather of the morning was followed by showers of drizzle until the sun appeared for the final descent.