Thursday 12 November 2009

Whoop whoop cont.....

New frame has arrived now just waiting on Middleburn! I feel like this blog has reached a second chapter, started way back with an on-one frame. 

Whoop whoop

Monday 9 November 2009

Talybont-on-Usk

After an entertaining commute home, (where I was nearly taken out by a pheasant) bag and car were hastily packed and we were ‘on the road again’ destination, Danywenallt YHA in Talybont. The YHA offers an excellent 3 course evening meal which we took advantage of on arrival.

Saturday started with another great food offering from the hostel, then bikes were unloaded and cycle kit was adorned. As we set off the weather was clear but cold, heading up the road from the hostel we turned left onto the Taff trail passing Talynont reservoir. Following this trail we headed toward Talybont-on-Usk, then turning right on to the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal. The canal turned into country lanes and before we knew it we were climbing the rocky ascent to the Brecon Beacons and Fan y Big.

Unfortunately the hawthorn hedges had recently been cut AGAIN, so no sooner had the climb began, tyres were flat and tubes had to be repaired and changed! After this brief rest we started climbing again until we reached the summit.

What goes up must come down, via Tor Glas great fun, then extending the normal route slightly by taking a trail to the right which took us high above the Talybont reservoir. This descent was the most fun, many of the paths down were less like paths and more like small rocky streams! Very happy to be on the full suss :-)
This route is currently in Issue 53 of Singletrack mag, although they do it the WRONG way round!

Four waterfall walk, Ystradfellte




Sunday we decided to go for a walk instead of another day cycling and headed to the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, near Ystradfellte, where we were promised waterfalls, and we weren’t disappointed!

As we arrived at the car park we watched a group kit themselves out with potholing gear, waterproofs and head torches. We followed this group down to a large cave; where the group slowly disappeared into the tiniest of holes, waving to us as they pushed each others legs and bottoms!

Back up to the car park and across the road we start the walk along the Nedd Fecha. This walk is about 6-miles and is quite tricky in places as there is a lot of climbing up and down some VERY steep paths, some of which are slippery. We had two little ones with us and they found it very challenging so much so they only made it to the first waterfall.

The first waterfall you come to is Sgwd Clun Gwyn, there are two different routes to access this waterfall but we chose not to cross the bridge so viewed the fall from above instead of approaching it from the side.


Turing away from Sgwd Clun Gwyn we continued along the path to Sgwd y Pannwr. This is where the route gets too difficult for the younger members of the group! The paths are very rocky and take you extremely close to the edge. Caution!

The Second water fall Sgwd y Pannwr is approached from the side; here after a little tuition from Terry, I managed to get some more interesting shots.


Following a steep path we traversed across the ground to the calmer river Mellte below which led us too the third waterfall.

The last waterfall is Sgwd-yr-Eira the “Waterfall of Snow” formed where the river leaps over a fifty foot cliff. This is the highlight of the walk as you can walk behind the thundering wall of water, very cool!