10 years and 10 months of Rambling ...  Oct 1997 to Aug 2008

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Spring/Summer 2008 Report

The weather in May and June was a tad damp and completely wrote off Bob’s May Bank Holiday walk with a vengeance. Also, as you will see from Melvyn’s walk report below, the weather had not improved overmuch for June …. he is but 3 words into his narrative before the words “damp and drizzly” feature. I won’t rub it in too much but at the time of Bob’s washed out walk we were away in the Black Forest enjoying a walking holiday in warm sunny weather. In fact it was a little too hot at times and it was a real pleasure to sit on the hotel terrace after a long walk gazing at a glass of cold German beer …. I can see it now in my skull cinema: a glass of cold beer with the condensation forming into rivulets that ever so slowly trickle down the side of the glass. Oh happy days. But, as I said, I won’t rub it in too much!!
 

Check out the photos from Aprils walk around Cherhill organised by Keith

The long walk group, who are a lot less fussed about inclement weather, have been striding away and not missed a day yet. We could do with a motto for our tee shirts that reflects our indomitable spirit;  perhaps one of these will do:

     -  We will fight them on the footpaths  (Winston Churchill)

     -  The walkers are not for turning (Maggie Thatcher)

     -  Defeat is painful  (Nelson Mandela to his chiropodist)

In June, the long walk group had a guest leader in the form of Alan’s son-in-law. He's  a mountain leader with the RAF and  marched us from Llanbedr over Table Mountain, then along the peaks of the ridge towards Waun Fach - the highest peak in the Black Mountains. Unfortunately we ran out of time and did not make it to the summit of Waun Fach. So we descended from the col via the valley and the woods to our start point. It was a grand day of about 15 to 16 miles with lots of ascent. We plan to go back in Sept to walk Waun Fach and to extend the route out to about 17 to 18 miles

In July we walked again in the Black Mountains; this time around the Llanthony area. Alan Jones introduced us to this remote and picturesque place a couple of years ago and it has remained a firm favourite ever since. We did the classic horseshoe style route that ascends steeply to Offas Dyke then follows it until the descent down the steep path to Capel-y-Fin in the valley below, where we sat on the bridge wall and scoffed our sandwiches. We then climbed up to the ridge on the other side of the valley and walked along it’s crest until descending to our start point at Lanthony Priory. The route was about 14 miles with around 2500ft of ascent.
 

In August. we  were again in The Brecon Beacons. This time we started from Aber village and climbed steeply up to Cairn Pica.  This is over 2000ft of ascent  and goes over   Twy Du, which   is a false crest that kids you into believing you're done with the up bit. But not so, there is a descent and another even steeper climb to get to the top.  The weather during this bit was horizontal rain  and quite claggy so we decided to use the path across the  plateau rather than the that along the cliff edge. On reaching the col we  went  along the scarp edge that forms the north face of the Brecons Group until we picked up the Brecons Way.  The bad  weather made stopping for food  a little difficult,  so we walked  on until, low and behold,  the sun broke through. It was a good spot too. The clag cleared to give a good view down into the craggy depths of Cerrig Edmwnt. Didn't last long though. Within 5 minutes  our soggy  lunches were back in our sacs and we were  on our way again.  From here we  walked back to the col and then  up and down over Gist Wen to Pen-y Bryn,  then down through the forest and back to the start.  The distance  was 15 miles with over 4000ft of ascent. A good days walking. Just a pity about the weather  

Check out the Photos for:  The Brecon Beacons  and the  Waun Fach walks

If you’re competent in the mountain environment and would like to join us on these harder more strenuous walks, then please let us know on 832096 or paul@hullavington.info

If anyone would like more detailed information on the  routes please contact Paul on 837096 or paul@hullavington.info

Walk & Event Reports:
As mentioned before, Bob’s May Bank Holiday walk got washed out. But he plans to resurrect it for later in the year

Melvyn organised the walk for June around Sherston and Sopwith. Here is his report:
After a damp and drizzly Friday and Saturday I had terrible trouble to convince people to turn up for the walk on Sunday 22nd. I heard it all.. family BBQs,,, trips to Egypt.. Ironing to do.. I assured them that the weather was going to be fine. So at 11:05am I was surprised to find only myself, me and I had turned up.

But soon the cavalry arrived in the shape of Bev and Keith Collins who were showing a refreshing amount of enthusiasm. After a brief executive meeting over the bonnet of my car, the 3 of us decided to modify the route a bit and off we set.

The sun was shinning brightly albeit it a bit breezy. We left Sherston and joined the tributary of the river Avon. We followed this across meadows and fields to the source. Normally its quite dried up this time of year but the recent rain had turned it in to a raging trickle. Its funny to think this tiny stream forms that huge expanse that flows under Clifton Suspension bridge. We pushed on to the village of Sopworth with sun beating down. Honest.. it was.

After a brief stop at the local church and exchange of pleasantries with the vicar, we decided to modify the original route a bit and pushed on across some more meadows with fantastic vistas back towards Sherston.  Once again we navigated the immense river Avon by hopping across. One final climb led us into someone's front garden. (don't ask.. Keith had the map) and then we knew we were back in civilisation. Well Sherston actually. This ad hoc wander around the surrounding fields and meadows of Sherston and Sopworth was a really nice walk with lots of wildlife.

Definitely one to repeat some day.

Also in June we had another of Bob & Sue’s theatre trips to see “The Black Comedy” at the Windmill Theatre in Newbury. Unfortunatley Linda and myself were not around for this as we were away sunny ourselves in the Black forest…. But by all accounts it was a novel production and much enjoyed by all.

Dates for the Diary: