Dyffryn-castell

Sunday: I had passed two Chapels on Saturday that appeared to be not operating - the notices of service times were faded. So it was looking unlikely that I would be able to find a service to go to today. Surfing last night I was pleased to find St. John the Baptist Church in Wales at Ysbyty Cynfyn near Parsons bridge, where I finished my walk yesterday. Lots of history detail but no service times on the web site but there were telephone numbers for wardens. A call established there was a 10:30 service today. This fitted perfectly with my planned 5 miles to Dyffryn Castell.

I walked half mile along A4120 then got a lift the last half mile to Ysbyty Cynfyn. I was made very welcome by the congregation. The sermon was on the rather gruesome story from Marks Gospel of King Herod regretfully beheading John the Baptist at request of his wife Herodious.

After the service, a few minutes walk got me back down to Parson's bridge. Then up the valley side, familiar from yesterday, skirting around a field of gorse bushes in shorts (yesterday I had zipped on my trousers legs to wade through these - ouch!), then carefilly through the field with the Bull. Turning right / north I was now back on the Cambrian Way.

A well worn path through high grasses spilt after half a mile. The left less worn path ascended a small rise to a way mark post, I took the right well worn level path - mistake. After 150 yards the obvious path petered out and grasses and small bushes were tall enough to be scratching my bare legs. I carried on regardless. Once around the rise I came across the well worn path that had come over the small rise, that I realised I should have taken.

I passed through, what looked like, abandoned farm Bryn-brâs. At the end of the drive, my suspicions that it was abandoned appeared to be confirmed by a National Trust sign on the new gate. I wondered why National Trust would be interested in a farm?

A hundred yards further stopped for a half Cider in George Borrow hotel. Then a short walk along A44 got me to a filling station that sold maps, sadly not the OL23 that I wanted. Another mile further along a B road, then track, across a field, along the A4120, then A44 brought me to Dyffryn Castell were the Cambrian Way begins its ascent of Plynlimon. After walking a short way up the hill to reconnoitre I returned to the A44. Got a lift a short while later back to my pitch at Woodlands Campsite in Devils Bridge. Tomorrow is a big push over Plynlimon to Dyliffe.Read more