We started at Pengenffordd, headed up the Dragon’s Back and rejoined the Cambrian Way just east of Mynydd Bychan. Then south to Waun Fach, along the tops to Mynydd Llysiau and finished this CW section at Pen Twyn Glas. We then dropped down the south side of Cwm Nant-y-fedw (always a lovely view) towards Waun Fach (village) and then headed north to walk up the Rhiangoll valley. This was rather muddy in parts and potentially very challenging in heavy rain as the path is eroded into an unavoidable 40cm gully, in parts. The day started chilly and at times on the top we had very cold, very strong NW winds whipping across. The wind eased as we lost height and the afternoon was pleasantly sunny, but still chilly.

The 7th stage of the group’s Cambrian Way expedition started from the Blaen-y-cwm car park, towards the top of the Grwyne Fawr valley. We headed up through the woods, over the ridge by the Blacksmith’s Anvil, then steeply down to Capel-y-ffin (on a path which seems considerably more eroded that when previously walked) for a coffee break. The community in the valley has another communications problem as the Cwmyoy to Llanthony road is closed again due to a landslip - which has removed all support from a section of the road. We ascended Darren Lwyd (with only a minor confusion regarding a left or right turn!) and continued up to Twmpa and then along the top of the escarpment. An extra 300m if CW was completed (and retraced) before we headed down the always-delightful Grwyne Fawr valley and the reservoir to the cars. We enjoyed a beautiful spring day, with sun, a few clouds, the song of many skylarks in the air and masses of frogspawn in the pools.

Stage 6 of our Cambrian Way (CW) project. The road from Cwmyoy to Llanthony has recently been closed due to a landslip. Although periodically open to locals, the start point for the walk was changed to Pont Cadwgan. After heading up beside the Nant y Gwrydd stream we joined the always very wet path on the north side of the woods. We cut up the hill to Bal Bach and headed along the Cambrian Way to the Blacksmith’s Anvil, where it was decided that it would be best to include the CW section to Capel-y-ffin in the next CW walk. We therefore continued to the Grwyne Fawr reservoir, crossed the dam, dropped into the valley and  returned via the east side of the Blaen-y-cwm woods before dropping down beside the Nant y Gwrydd to the cars.  The morning was cold, very misty and with lingering snow on the highest sections. A tantalising glimpse of blue sky at midday did not develop, but the mist lifted and the temperature rose a little as the afternoon progressed.

Stage 5 of our Cambrian Way (CW) project. We walked from the Queens Head at Stanton and rejoined the CW at Ferm Newydd. From there headed north along the top to Garn Wen and then Bal Bach where we left the CW to join the Beacons Way. Down Cwm Bwchel to Llanthony, up to the eastern ridge and south to Hatterrall Hill and off the hill at Dan-y-bwlch before returning to the cars. Good weather with some sunshine and light cool wind.

Stage 4 of the Cambrian Way. Starting from the north side of Abergavenny, we headed up the incline through the oaks of St Mary’s Vale and onto a chilly Sugarloaf. With a brisk cold wind we descended clockwise, but walked beside the icy path for safety, then headed down to Forest Coal Pit. Passing The Pant, down to the Nature Reserve and then returned via a blocked footbridge (fallen tree) at Blaenawey, Cefn Minog and The Deri back to the cars.

Cambrian Way Stage 3: Pontypool to Abergevenny. After an early bus from Abergevenny to Pontypool we crossed the Afon Lwyd and walked from the Park Gates into the park, up past the dry ski slope and to the Shell Grotto, “Considered to be the best surviving grotto in Wales, the shell grotto in Pontypool Park stands on a ridge 700 ft above sea level. Constructed as a summerhouse for the Hanbury family of iron masters who owned Pontypool Park.” We couldn’t get in! Continued onto the ridge to the Folley Tower, originally built in 1765, demolished in 1940 so it didn’t present a target to the Luftwaffe, then rebuilt 1990-94. The route followed the ridge and along Mynydds Garn Wen, Garnclochdy and Garn-Fawr, over open moorland of peat and heather with (allegedly) great views either side of the ridge. However, some thought it bleak - the weather was wet, misty and a bit windy. We reached the WT Aerials and then to the top of Blorenge, still misty, down a gentle route to the Punchbowl which was very full after all the recent wet weather and onto Hills Tramroad, down to LLanfoist (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill%27s_Tramroad), then down to the Usk and the main car park

Ready for the second stage of the Cambrian Way, (Crosskeys to Pontypool), we met in Pontypool and left the cars by the station before catching the train to Crosskeys, with a quick change at Newport. It was raining as we made our way through the town to re-join the Cambrian Way where we had finished the previous stage. Leaving Crosskeys, we walked briefly alongside the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal, before heading up at the forest track and a steep climb to the summit of Twmbarlwm, reaching the top just as the rain stopped, perfect timing for our coffee break at the hillfort, and to enjoy the views all around. We continued walking along the ridge, Mynydd Henllys, the weather steadily improved as we reached the Mynydd Maen trig point. We stopped for lunch overlooking the Blaen Bran Reservoir, where the autumn colours in the trees below were especially striking. Gradually descending through the woodland, towards Pontypool, we finished the second stage of the Cambrian Way at the park gates and finally walked back to the station and the cars. Stage 2, done and dusted! Weather: wet to start, clearing later, cold wind on top.