Guilsfield Hill Walkers

A very good turnout for this local walk only 10 minutes up the road and the route straight out of the Kittiwake Meifod guide – what more could you want?  Well, we didn’t have endless sunshine but the weather was set fair.

The route description starts: “… This is a strenuous walk of seven miles with a 1000ft of gradual ascent …”  and that ascent starts almost out of the carpark so no time to get a second wind. Following the recce I had to alter the route a bit because of the conditions – paths blocked by fallen trees and paths underwater on the banks of the Vyrnwy.  We stopped first at the Glascwm Viewpoint for an early elevenses amid the gorse with good views out over the Vyrnwy and beyond to Long Mountain, The Breiddens and assorted other lumps and bumps.  From here it is not far to the top, but a good pull up to the trig point at the summit of Allt y Main 356M (1170ft) so a climb of 272M (892ft) overall.  We didn’t hang about too long at the top as it was a bit chilly, just took lots of pics and headed back down. (I had left my camera in the van again – so pics in the gallery are mainly from Paul)

A delightful walk out (all down hill!) with a very steep path through the forest bought us back to Meifod.  This walk would make a wonderful summer evening event – excellent views and masses of wildlife to kept it interesting and two benches: one at the Glascwm Viewpoint and one at the summit.

Thanks to all who came and all who drove.

Mulled wine and mince pies at Swn y Nant

Seemed very odd to be walking out of The Oak carpark to start a walk, but it worked. Ten of us had a scamper round the hills and lanes of Guilsfield finishing at Swn y Nant for mulled wine and mince pies. Welcome to Anne and Ian who joined us for the first time.

We crossed diagonally across Cae Felin field and headed to the western end of the woods then turned sharply up hill and along the ridge.  Much evidence of new forest tracks and timber extraction following the February Gales – must have been a bit noisy with that lot coming down.  We scrambled down the end over and under trees and back to the footbridge then along the Brook to Sarn Bridge – very wet through here.  More climbing now: up Gwreiddyn Lane and up to the Summit of Gaer Fawr to rest at the Pig.  Down the other side and out at the quarry, turning right and on very icy lanes to Pump House.  Turned left after this and on to Trawscoed Farm, and following Len’s fine suggestion we headed across to Trawscoed-hen Farm and on down splashy tracks back to Sarn Bridge.  Then returned to Swn y Nant where Jean was waiting to welcome us with glasses of mulled wine and mince pies.  a good end to a good walk and a good year.  Lets do another good year in 2015.  Pics in the gallery and programme for 2015 on the left.

Thanks to all who came and to Jean for great tuck. 

Brian led us on a good local walk on a day that didn’t hold much promise, but ‘turned out nice again’ as the morning wore on. Welcome back to Jamie and Peter and Moira – long time no see – and thanks to Jamie for the pictures.  (Left my camera in the van AGAIN!)

We started with a good pull up to the summit of Roundton in improving weather and saw much of the area opening up with good views across to Corndon and the famous Bromlow Callow. Thanks to Julie and her electronic gizzmo we found that Callow could refer to ‘bald’ – maybe it was a bald hill before the trees were planted. (Link here)

Then across the gap and up to the summit of Corndon.  Bit of history etc here. We came down the steep fence by the edge of the now cleared plantation, which used to be an eycatching feature, and made the lane that headed north to Mitchell’s Fold.  We stopped here and sat on the stones for elevenses/lunch.  One or two kites about and a raven or two but that was about all.

It was then lanes and tracks back to the cars at The Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trusts’ nature reserve car park. (Link here)  Thanks to Brian for leading and all who came and all who drove. Pics in the gallery. 

NEXT WALK

Sunday 23rd November – Brian Flowers – Local Walk – Corndon Hill circuit to include Mitchells Fold standing stones and Roundton Hill.
Seven miles max and easy/moderate with a few steepish bits.
Depart from The Oak 08.30

Welcome to two new walkers, namely Izzy and Jessica who along with six “regulars” set out at 7.30a.m. with no great hope of staying dry. Ex hurricane Bertha, the subject of dire warnings from the Met Office promised a real soaking. The rain stopped as we drove past Llanidloes and amazingly blue skies showed over Plynlimon, no-one could quite believe it.

Starting point for the walk was near the ruined Cistercian Abbey of Strata Florida, burial place of Welsh Princes and the poet Dafydd ap Gwilym. A steady climb along a well marked track overlooking the Nant Egnant Gorge, a look back to view Cors Caron (Tregaron Bog) before fording the stream and continuing our climb to Llyn Egnant. Time for coffee and chat at the Dam. Ten minutes and the rain arrived to remind us that Bertha had a sting in her tail, short steep heather clad detour to the noted fishing lake of Llyn Bach with views over Graig Wen. On to metalled access track alongside Llyn Egnant with a steady pull up to the Ffair Rhos road. Just half a mile of road with superb views to the south over Llyn Hir and Graig Felen. Now, downhill to Llyn Teifi by another metalled track. Rain now rather heavy but undaunted, a short westerly diversion to a small unnamed lake that would on a better day provide a superb view towards Cwm Rhydol. Round the base of the dam for a yomp on blanket bog to view Llyn y Gorlan, from what should have been a magnificent viewpoint but still raining heavily. At this point, we turned for home cross country, a poorly marked walk on saturated ground down to Frongoch before traversing the bracken slope of Coed Troed y Rhiew. Back to cars , an enjoyable seven miles or so despite the weather.

Thanks to all who ventured out and all who drove.

Report by Len – who not only planned, recced (twice), led and drove.  Above and beyond the call of duty. Thanks Len.