Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains

Weekend 5th and 6th February 2005

CUHWC trip staying at Ystradfellte. On Saturday, we visited lots of the nearby waterfalls; on Sunday, Mark and I did a horseshoe walk from Capel-y-ffin in the Black Mountains.

The bunkhouse in Ystradfellte

The bunkhouse in Ystradfellte

Saturday 9:27 AM

Early Saturday: mossy woodland on the way to Porth yr Ogof

Early Saturday: mossy woodland on the way to Porth yr Ogof

Saturday 9:40 AM

The former show cave at Porth yr Ogof

The former show cave at Porth yr Ogof

Saturday 9:51 AM

View out of the entrance of Porth yr Ogof

View out of the entrance of Porth yr Ogof

Saturday 9:53 AM

Dave-in-the-cave

Dave-in-the-cave

Saturday 9:57 AM

Saturday's group: Toby, Mark, David, Ruth and Shona

Saturday's group: Toby, Mark, David, Ruth and Shona

Saturday 10:36 AM

Sgwd Clun-gwyn photographed at three different speeds - 1/10, 1/20, 1/400

Sgwd Clun-gwyn photographed at three different speeds - 1/10, 1/20, 1/400

Saturday 10:47 AM

Continuing down by the Afon Mellte

Continuing down by the Afon Mellte

Saturday 10:53 AM

The narrow way - high above the river

The narrow way - high above the river

Saturday 10:56 AM

Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, with Ruth sat in front

Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, with Ruth sat in front

Saturday 11:00 AM

Dave by Sgwd y Pannwr

Dave by Sgwd y Pannwr

Saturday 11:22 AM

Sgwd y Pannwr from downstream

Sgwd y Pannwr from downstream

Saturday 11:26 AM

Heading up the side-valley of Afon Hepste towards Sgwd yr Eira

Heading up the side-valley of Afon Hepste towards Sgwd yr Eira

Saturday 11:48 AM

First glimpse of Sgwd yr Eira

First glimpse of Sgwd yr Eira

Saturday 11:49 AM

Ruth contemplates crossing behind the waterfall

Ruth contemplates crossing behind the waterfall

Saturday 11:54 AM

Ruth and Dave behind the water

Ruth and Dave behind the water

Saturday 11:56 AM

Shona passes behind the water

Shona passes behind the water

Saturday 11:58 AM

Shona admires the fall from the ledge

Shona admires the fall from the ledge

Saturday 11:58 AM

Dave video-recording from inside the fall

Dave video-recording from inside the fall

Saturday 12:01 PM

Water landing at the foot of the fall

Water landing at the foot of the fall

Saturday 12:07 PM

View down the Neath valley

View down the Neath valley

Saturday 12:40 PM

On the old path down to Pontneddfechan

On the old path down to Pontneddfechan

Saturday 1:30 PM

Shona on the old path down to Pontneddfechan

Shona on the old path down to Pontneddfechan

Saturday 1:32 PM

Peering over the bridge

Peering over the bridge

Saturday 1:37 PM

Heading up again - along the old tramway alongside Afon Nedd Fechan

Heading up again - along the old tramway alongside Afon Nedd Fechan

Saturday 2:11 PM

Old abandoned industry abounds here

Old abandoned industry abounds here

Saturday 2:19 PM

Nameless cascade

Nameless cascade

Saturday 2:30 PM

Sgwd Gwladus

Sgwd Gwladus

Saturday 2:33 PM

View from behind Sgwd Gwladus

View from behind Sgwd Gwladus

Saturday 2:39 PM

Sgwd Gwladus

Sgwd Gwladus

Saturday 2:41 PM

Sgwd Gwladus from above

Sgwd Gwladus from above

Saturday 2:42 PM

Dave, Mark and Ruth cross the bridge

Dave, Mark and Ruth cross the bridge

Saturday 2:47 PM

More riverside walking

More riverside walking

Saturday 2:53 PM

Horseshoe Falls

Horseshoe Falls

Saturday 3:01 PM

Sgwd y Ddwli

Sgwd y Ddwli

Saturday 3:17 PM

All still keenly taking pictures

All still keenly taking pictures

Saturday 3:17 PM

Dave at Sgwd y Ddwli

Dave at Sgwd y Ddwli

Saturday 3:20 PM

Dappled sunlight at the top

Dappled sunlight at the top

Saturday 3:25 PM

Shona grows a third arm as we continue upstream

Shona grows a third arm as we continue upstream

Saturday 3:45 PM

Long shadows

Long shadows

Saturday 4:47 PM

Dave at sunset

Dave at sunset

Saturday 4:48 PM

Sunset

Sunset

Saturday 5:03 PM

Setting off on Sunday: Mark encounters Black Mountains mud

Setting off on Sunday: Mark encounters Black Mountains mud

Sunday 12:07 PM

Offa's Dyke signpost

Offa's Dyke signpost

Sunday 12:26 PM

Mark on the border - England lies beyond, swathed in mist

Mark on the border - England lies beyond, swathed in mist

Sunday 1:07 PM

Eerie landscape of the summit ridge

Eerie landscape of the summit ridge

Sunday 1:36 PM

Brief spell of sunshine - but heading into the mist again!

Brief spell of sunshine - but heading into the mist again!

Sunday 2:09 PM

Summit of Hay Bluff - another viewpoint with no view today

Summit of Hay Bluff - another viewpoint with no view today

Sunday 2:35 PM

Wild horse by the path

Wild horse by the path

Sunday 2:51 PM

Wild horses

Wild horses

Sunday 2:52 PM

Descending to Gospel Pass; Lord Hereford's Knob beyond

Descending to Gospel Pass; Lord Hereford's Knob beyond

Sunday 3:03 PM

Looking back across Gospel Pass to Hay Bluff and the morning's walk

Looking back across Gospel Pass to Hay Bluff and the morning's walk

Sunday 3:23 PM

View westwards from Lord Hereford's Knob

View westwards from Lord Hereford's Knob

Sunday 3:28 PM

Darren Lwyd - very reminiscent of the Dark Peak

Darren Lwyd - very reminiscent of the Dark Peak

Sunday 3:47 PM

Descending into the Vale of Ewyas

Descending into the Vale of Ewyas

Sunday 4:20 PM

A last look back at Darren Lwyd

A last look back at Darren Lwyd

Sunday 4:43 PM