Black Mountains Trip March 2025
Our trip to the lesser-known Black Mountains in south Wales began with a convivial supper at the Bear Hotel in Crickhowel, a long-time favourite pub of mine. Prior to that, all 14 of us had arrived at the Perth Y Pia bunkhouse, set high up, almost at the summit of Table Mountain that overlooks the Usk valley. I’d been panicking a bit about whether the Sainsbury’s delivery van would a) find us and b) get up the very steep drive, but of course it did, the young driver being used to delivering here! Phew. Once the food had arrived, I could relax and enjoy myself. The bunkhouse had cosy rooms, a reasonably equipped kitchen and views to die for. The main lounge area with woodburner was spacious and had plenty of comfy sofas to accommodate us all.
Our first full day walk was from the door of the bunkhouse, straight up to Table Mountain and on up to the Pen Cerrig-calch ridge, on the Cambiran Way leading to Pen Allt-mawr. It was dry and clear but very windy and a few of us had one or two hairy moments descending steeply from Pen Allt-mawr, before walking against the wind along to our turning point down into the Grwyne Fechan valley, where we were suddenly completely sheltered from the near gale and able to sit and eat lunch in a sunny spot. We took the higher of two paths through woods to reach the final mile or so by road back to base. It was a beautiful 13.5 mile walk. The shorter option was a walk along the canal to Llangyndir using towpaths and the Usk Valley walk route, and three of us chose that route and savoured the calm of walking beside water. We all met back at base and enjoyed cake o’clock with tea followed by a delicious merry meal and a good night’s sleep.
Day two found us taking the cars along to the tiny hamlet of Stanton, where we could park near the pub. After a car shuffle, one group split off and climbed up onto the Beacons Way via Llanthony Wood and Garn Wen before taking a tiny path down by a pretty ravine with waterfalls to LLanthony Priory, while some others of us followed lower paths along the side walls of the Vale of Ewyas to the Priory where we all met for lunch. It’s a spectacular ruin and a comfy picnic spot with toilets and a café/bar! Some of us had had enough at that point and were able to return to the bunkhouse and relax, whilst the rest of us followed the Beacons Way back up onto the windy Hatterall Ridge, joining Offa’s Dyke path to return to the cars at Stanton. This walk was about 12 miles in total.
Our final day threatened thunder and even stronger winds, so we all decided to go for a lower level final walk of 8 miles, driving down to Crickhowel once we’d tidied the bunkhouse and packed our stuff. We walked up through the meadows to the Brecon and Monmouth canal and turned in the other direction, towards Gilwern, turning back after 4 miles to retrace our steps. We were in wonderful sunshine with no wind, so this was an enjoyable finish to our long weekend, giving us plenty of time to drive back home before the traffic built up.
Sue Waton
Trip Leader.
Weekend Trip – New Forest
Friday 7th - Monday 10th February 2025
10 of us (plus the Poppy Dog) had a great weekend in the New Forest last weekend, staying in an exceptionally comfortable cottage near Lymington.
Our first day’s walking took us through the Key Haven marshes, just to the west of Lymington. Formerly what was once an industrial landscape centred around the extraction of salt is now a haven for wildlife, and something a bit special for the birdwatchers. The various raised banks enabled the walk to be shortened for those that didn’t want to walk so far, whilst the remainder of us reached Hurst Beach where we were treated to fantastic views across Poole Bay to Swanage and the Purbeck hills. Or we would have been if the cloud base wasn’t quite so low!
On the Sunday a slightly smaller group headed into the Forest proper, stepping out from Beaulieu Road station. Having planned a less demanding walk, we took advantage of the much brighter weather and excellent conditions (mostly) underfoot to extend the walk – more than once – in true Highdown style. A highlight was getting to see the Beaulieu letters, an important part of a very old airfield. Another fantastic full day’s walking.
Our final half day’s walk saw us taking it a little bit easier as we walked beside the Beaulieu river from Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard. Rather chilly, especially in a biting February wind but a lovely way to end the weekend.
Open log fire, lovely meals and of course, great company. And lovely beds … I was still dreaming of our exceptionally comfortable bed many days later …
Alison
Day Walk - Botolphs - Saturday 1st February 2025
Day Walk - Amberley and Burpham - Sunday 19th January 2025
Despite the weather being chilly and just grey, we had a really good walk on Sunday The going was really good underfoot, and we set - and maintained - a fantastic pace for the whole walk, and we completed the 13 miles in what seemed like record time.
This walk saw us joined by 5 people new(ish) to club, for some of whom it was their first walk with the club and all of whom acquitted themselves really well!
Even with the grey skies the views West to Arundel, north over the Sussex Weald and South towards the sea were great and reminded me what a fantastic part of the world we live in, and we are lucky to have on our doorsteps!
Poppy certainly slept well on Sunday night!
Alison
