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WalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWay
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WalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWay

A walk from Cardiff Castle through the length of Wales over the highest peaks to Conwy Castle. Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 10, 2017
    RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler
    Cardiff Castle

    Starting from Cardiff Castle - Chck Pnt1

    September 10, 2017 in Wales ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Sunday: Beginning my walk through Wales. I am following the Cambrian Way http://cambrianway.org.uk as this route from Cardiff to the East side of the Brecon Beacons, West through the Beacons, then North through the Cambrian Mountains and Snowdonia is what I had in mind saving me planning all the navigation.Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler

    Day 2 at home

    September 11, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Monday: After initial 6 miles yesterday from Cardiff Castle to Castell Coch added more kit today, made some alterations and repacked everything so day 2 became a rest day. A chance for my shoulders, legs and left foot to recover a little from the aches of yesterday.Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler
    Dragon sculpture on Ridgeway at car park near Blaengwynlais

    Dragon sculpture at Blaengwynlais

    September 12, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Tuesday: On way from Castell Coch to Machen near Blaengwynlais off Rhiwbina Hill came across this splendid wooden Dragon sculpture with saddles clearly designed to entertain children.

    Shortly after this I made a made a navigational error. I interpreted a sign on a gate worded 'No access' to mean I was not to walk through it. Instead I walked a short distance further south. This took me through dense woodland that made for very slow going, often snagging my Rucksack on branches, brambles etc. I later discovered the 'No access' sign was for motorists and that I had been supposed to walk through the gate to remain on the public footpath.Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler
    Disused quarry on Ridgeway between Cefn-Onn and Graig Llanishen

    Disused quarry

    September 12, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Tuesday: Photograph taken from top of disused Quarry. Through its entrance is a view over east Cardiff and beyond to Bristol Channel. Quarry is 200 metres West of Llanishen - Caerphilly railway tunnel. The high walls make excellent enclosure for animals meaning the farmer only has to fence the entrance to keep them corralled.Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler

    Machen end of 2nd day

    September 12, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Tuesday: 8.8 miles / 1445 ft of ascent from Tongwynlais/Castell Coch to Machen completed at end of second day of walking. Angharad kindly picked me up from Machen at the end of my second day of walking and took me home. Another pleasant day of sunshine and light showers. Heavy rain and strong winds forecast through the evening and overnight. Heavy rain started just as I was getting in Angharad's car.Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler

    Day 4 at home

    September 13, 2017 in Wales ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Wednesday: Pack still far too heavy. Spent day at home emptying Rucksack, recording weights of everything and discarding non essentials. Managed to unload enough to allow Tent to be moved from top of Rucksack to packed inside it. Weight reduced from 14 to 12Kg. After a rainy morning glorious sunshine for the remainder of the day.Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler
    Stile marking edge of felled section of forest

    Felled Forest crossed

    September 14, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Thursday: Forest being felled on South west side of Mynydd Machen. Foresters had put up signs to say path across Forest was closed. No diversion route was posted. Map indicated two alternative paths further east. I walked along a very wet track, at places 3" deep in water, to the thresholds of each of them. I found both impenetrable because of Brambles and high Ferns so returned to the original track through the felled Forest as the only practical route. This part if the Cambrian Way is on the Rhymney Valley trail. The stile in the photograph marks the exit from the felled forest section. Going was hard through the felled section. Having to climb over felled trees and branches for 500m took a disproportionate amount of time.Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler
    Waunfawr park, Blackvein Road, Crosskeys

    Crosskeys end of 3rd day

    September 14, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Thursday: 3.2 miles / 1325 feet of ascent from Machen to Crosskeys completed at end of third day of walking. Perfect weather with glorious warm sunshine all day and no wind until I got to the top of Mynydd Machen where a keen wind and setting sun made it feel cold. Warm again descending into Ebbw valley once sheltered from breeze despite it being dark. Petzl Tikka 85gm head torch was splendid at allowing me to see clearly in the dark in Coed Waun-fawr Woods even on its lowest power setting of 20 lumens.

    There was nowhere obvious to camp and I was not far from home so rang Helen who kindly collected me and drove me home.    Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler
    Monmothshire and Brecon Canal Bridge
    Pegwn y Bwlch looking down Castle Valley towards Crosskeys and Risca. Mynydd Machen in background.

    Castle Valley

    September 18, 2017 in Wales ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Monday: Completed section from Risca up north side of valley to Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal where I arrived at Bridge in photograph. Short pleasant walk along Canal to another Bridge with a Tea room (closed Monday's in Winter). Then a steep climb up Castle Valley track to Pegwn y Bwlch. Here the track meet a road and beginning of path up to Twmbarlwm, my next objective and Check Point 4.Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler

    Cwmcarn end of 4th day

    September 18, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Monday: 8 miles / 1500 feet of ascent from Risca to Cwmcarn Forest completed at end of fourth day of walking. Weather warm mixture of sunshine and overcast with 15 minute heavy rain shower midday. Pitched my first camped at Cwmcarn Forest Drive. Walked down into Cwmcarn village for pint in The Cwmcarn Hotel. Bought Fish and Chips from local chippy which they were happy for me to eat in pub. Friendly atmosphere in pub which also does rooms aimed at Mountain bikers using the Cwmcarn Drive off road forest trails.Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler
    My pitch at Cwmcarn campsite

    Cwmcarn camp in the morning

    September 19, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Tuesday: My new Terra Nova Wild Country Zephyros 1 tent, Marmot Trestles Elite 30F sleeping bag, Therm-a-rest NeoAir inflatable sleeping mat and ExpedAir UL M pillow all worked splendidly overnight. I was dry, warm and comfortable and had an excellent night's sleep. Woke to a sunny morning.

    Cwmcarn has smart modern visitor centre with restaurant serving full breakfast choices. Campsite has plesant warm toilet block with coded lock access. It includes kitchen with sinks, fridge, 2 ring hob, microwave, 2 washing machines, ironing board and iron. Pitches are half grass half gravel. The gravel is an all weather surface which does not get muddy so is suitable for pitching on when wet. I found it hard to drive in pegs but Mandy in visitor Centre assured me they will go in if driven hard enough.    Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler

    Pontypool end of 5th day

    September 19, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Tuesday: 7 miles / 1300 feet of ascent from Cwmcarn to Pontypool completed at end of fifth day of walking. Weather glorious warm sunshine with occasional cooling breeze. Unable to find campsite or reasonably priced B&B so Helen picked me up and returned me home. Before returning had pint in The Sally, Tranch Road. Pub looked tatty from outside but inside has an excellent oldy worldy look and feel and pleasantly friendly bar maid.

    Wondering how best to carry milk. Plastic cartons from shops flimsy and likely to bust in Rucksack. Glass too fragile. Aluminium seems unnecessarily heavy. Tough plastic Acrylic? might be best. Suggestions invited.    Read more

  • RickSailsWalkThroughWalesOnCambrianWayTraveler

    Upper Llanover end of 6th day

    September 20, 2017 in Wales ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Wednesday: 5 miles / 1000 feet of ascent from Pontypool to Upper Llanover completed at end of sixth day of walking. Weather continual rain. Was booked to camp at Goose and Cookoo, Upper Llanover but rain and their very reasonable offer of £35 for a room persuaded me to B&B instead.

    Goose and Cookoo is a lovely country pub run by friends Rhiannon and Sue and Rhiannon's son Morgan. They lived locally when previous owner was selling up. As it was their local they bought it! When I arrived a local plus his impromptu band of 7 violins, guitar, mandacello, flute and hariscord were playing. What a delight!

    And they serve Westons Stowford Press Cider - perfect.    Read more

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