Islwyn Ramblers

And who ate all that turkey yesterday?? - 26 December 2009

After all that high-living and rich pickings yesterday, I needed something plain and simple - so I met up with the Ramblers.... And a good crowd turned out too but they didn't get very far.... a seasonal torrential downpour had us huddling under the nearest, and pretty leafless, tree for 20 minutes. But it soon eased off and we headed up through Ochrwyth, slipping and sliding as we went. At Castle Farm the donkeys were gathered round their manger in the snow, all looking rather symbolic for the time of year. Up on the ridge the puddles got larger and muddier, little Winnie is only a King Charles Spaniel so he got a lift through the worst parts. On down one of the Five Lanes and through the woods with a lovely view of the mist and the trees. "Go on, take a photo" said someone - so, as I always do what I'm told, I did. Time for our traditional stop at the Rhiwderin Inn and back along the riverbank. There, that's walked off a few calories, now where's that turkey curry?

Christmas Dinner - followed by the Mince Pies - 19 December 2009

Thursday saw elegant ladies in their finery accompanied by suave, sophisticated gentlemen enjoying their Christmas Dinner, you wouldn't recognise them at the weekend! An excellent dinner but no mince pies. We'll soon sort that out on Saturday.....
.....which turns out to be a bright, sunny, clear and very cold day, just right for picnics. We set off through Craig y Wenallt towards Pant -yr-eos Reservoir, carefully negotiating a very cold stream and up through the fields and lanes to Twmbarlwm. Time for those mince pies and mulled this, hot that and a tot of the other plus other interesting goodies, young Elliott stops galloping about and sticks close to Mum in case he misses something......



Having taken in the views and the goodies we head down the other side and exchange greetings with a group toiling upwards. When we reach Darren Lane Mandy suddenly remembers she didn't have any ice in her drink and then, just as suddenly, finds some very close by. We are all naturally very concerned but luckily she hasn't damaged the road at all. But photo opportunities come before a fall and I end up on my backside in a very wet, very muddy, very cold puddle as we go up through the woods - but most of the others didn't notice so keep it to yourselves, won't you?... A quick snow flurry and a gentle stroll along the canal bank brings us back to the cars where I have the great presence of mind to cover the car seat before I get in. That'll earn me some Brownie points with 'Er Indoors. So....
Hugs and kisses and Merry Christmas's all round and see you all on Boxing Day.

I'm in the lead... and the cat is on one! - 12 December 2009

I did intend to lead our bunch of itinerant walkers around the less-trodden areas of Pontllanfraith but.... what with the weather and this and that, I didn't. Instead we did the canal circuit of Newport and, actually, we all enjoyed it. Starting from Barrack Hill Tunnel we went up the main Brecon line to the other side of Bettws, over the fields and up Bettws Lane. So far, so good, so clean and mud-free. But you can't expect me not to find you some mud. The path over the golf course produced a little but the lane past Ynys-y-fro Reservoirs was freshly-scrubbed. A quick look at the birds to sort out our grebes from our coots and its lunch at Fourteen Locks.



And then a car pulls up and out get a young couple (well, they could have been any age really but compared to us lot .....) followed by a long lead, followed by a magnificent Burmese cat. Off they go round the pond, climbing trees, scaring dogs and drooling over the ducks, and that was just the owners. On we go down the locks, under the M4 and up the 142 steps above Allt-yr-yn Brickworks and into the mud, I knew there was some here, somewhere. Back down past the sad foundations of the once-grand Allt-yr-yn House to the old lido, wouldn't want to swim there now! We walk beside the M4, beating most of the queueing traffic meet up with the Brecon line again and back to Barrack Hill. And just for once we had a dry and even sunny walk, amazing what I can do when I try.....
PS. as the eagle -eyed will spot, the photos are some I took earlier as todays were...well....uninspiring??

If you go down to the woods today….. - 6 December 2009

....you're sure of a big surprise - Ramblers at play !!! For once the clouds part to reveal strange blue stuff and a hazy, yellow ball appears in the sky. Of course, there's still mud up to your armpits.. We gallop up the hill at the Draethen, we can already smell dinner cooking, over the top and down past something interesting. What are they all looking at? A hole in the ground!! but actually the remains of a roman lead mine, our lot are really cultured. What now? get a camera out and one of them has to play the fool, old enough to know better, mutter, mutter.



On past the Maen Llwyd and down into the valley, the paths getting very boggy and along the lane to Ruperra where the mud-fest really begins. We slither up to the viewpoint, we can actually see the view today, last time we were in cloud! This time the cloud, black, large and heading towards us, is the view. Hurrying down the rain starts and we dash past a working party bravely trying to clear and drain the footpath. The rain eases but that hasn't helped the mud-slide back down to Draethen.

A dozen or more scruffy, wet, mud-covered monsters climb into their cars and emerge later, civilised humans be-decked in their finery, a finer body of people you won't find anywhere..... Christmas Lunch awaits and an excellent meal it was too... enlivened with great company and those flicking frogs that seemed to get everywhere. I'm not fishing it out of there!!! So thanks to the weather, thanks to the Hollybush and especially thanks to Doreen for organising it...... Roll on, next year.

The day the earth turned orange… - 21 November 2009

After a week of storms and gales only the heroic or the foolhardy would venture above Ynys Hywel, guess which category we fall into? But it was dry when we started, honestly!! We explored the old cottages at Waun Fawr, old gardens and back yards being choked by the undergrowth, strange to think of these by-gone communities leading their lives.

On past Full Moon and up the track round the back of Ynys Hywel, no sign of the piggies, cosily tucked up in their sties as they've more sense than us. Up forever, or so it seems, past amazing waterfalls until finally, the bleak, exposed top next to Twyn Cae Hugh, but who was Hugh and why did he need a twyn? I almost had lunch, my crisps scattering in the gale so if your lamb tastes of Worcester Sauce next year, you know why.

Coming back along the ridge, with the gale in our face, it decided to rain again. And how!! Why hasn't someone invented wipers for glasses? Eventually we dropped back down to Waun Fawr past one of the old coal levels, the rusty water bubbling up out of the ground had turned it bright orange. Looked like a landscape from Doctor Who. But no Daleks today, folks…

The going's good with Greater Gwent - 15 November 2009

The nights are drawing in so it's AGM time - and greater Gwent invade Maes-y-cwmmer. The massed ranks number nearly 50 and quickly divide into two groups - the downhill, mud-free route has 6 and the uphill, mud guaranteed route gathers 42. Round the back of the houses and the mud begins, quickly followed by the bog, speedily crowned with the flood. Being clever, I find the stepping-stones whilst others are splashing through. If only the stones hadn't stopped half way through it would have been a triumph….. Splish-splash….. the path uphill is little better than a trench of mud, feet either side is fine if you're long-legged, shame Lyn hasn't got that luxury, almost doing the splits. Up the lane to Mynydd-y-Grug - or the stream once known as the lane, at least it washes the mud off.

The lunch break cabaret is performed by a magnificent couple of birds of prey, soaring above us, could be red kites I'm told. The ladies complain that they're not really photogenic but I beg to disagree….. can I have the judges scores, please? Refreshed, we set off as the clouds pile up and the rain lashes down proving that my waterproof trousers are complete liars. The mud is even worse at the farm gates which takes takes my mind off the ancient beauty of the ruined farmhouses, not getting my camera out in this weather. Back at the hall, a very welcome coffee and buffet precedes the meeting. Maggie made the secretary's job sound so good that we just had to propose her!! Many thanks to Gelligaer Ramblers for being such excellent hosts.

One shower and even the horses shrink!! - 7 November 2009

An experiment today - we take the bus to the top of Varteg Hill to save our poor, old legs, if not our poor, old wallets - $2.80?? Phew. But the top of Varteg is a good place to start - its all downhill from here on. It's 'count the coalmines' time as there's over 24 on this walk and the first one gets us on the track to the head of the Varteg valley. Then back down the other side, pointing out the deep mud that I fell in last week, aren't I kind? Some fallen electricity poles by the ruins of Graig Ddu Farm bring the 'Time Team' out in us and we look around for buried treasure, no luck, of course. A quick detour brings us to what's left of Graig Wen Colliery. One of us jumps down a hole for a better look inside but, despite the temptation, we pull him out again. He did get a good photo, though. But don't try this at home...

Down and across to the Cwmsychan valley and up to the old dam. More holes and tunnels but time for lunch and the weather is looking threatening. Off past the restored row of cottages at The British and we cool off in a short, sharp shower near Cwmbyrgwm - the clouds are rolling in now. Having seen how the storm has shrunk a complete herd of horses, its time to head sharply back to Abersychan - just in case. PS if you see my ( ) pound sign - let me know - I've lost it.

I get caught by the ghosties - but not the ghoulies - 31 October 2009

I'm leading the walk next week - a Bus and Boot It around Abersychan. So I'd better check out the route. Two Pounds 80p to get to Salisbury Terrace and then up Varteg Mountain. Up towards the old colliery I see another group of walkers (and a dog) heading up the valley. They must think its Summer - shorts and T-shirts - as the drizzle closes in and they're aren't stopping to look at the views, they mean to WALK. I head down the other side of the valley towards Garndiffaith but they don't catch me up, must be heading over the top towards Abertillery. Time for lunch at Cwmsychan, a chat to a man catching moles and a lady being walked by her dog, and here they come again - on the high level path just above me - a cheery 'hello' and off they head towards the top again. Later on, skirting Cymbergwm, I hear voices and a bark. There's that group catching me up quite quickly, I'll stop and have a chat, they're only just round the corner behind me, no paths up or down.... and they were never seen again.

Walks on the Wild Sides, that's Pantside and Glenside - 10 and 17 October 2009

It's her own fault. She told me there was a bucket from the Celynen South Colliery aerial ropeway still lying in the woods. So I said 'show me' and she did... There was bucket No 33, gently rusting away after 25+ years, did it fall or was it pushed?? No-one knows. Having found it pretty quickly we may as well make a proper walk of it. Over towards Pantside and a clearly marked footpath up the valley, past an old stables building and off into the jungle. It may be a nice dotted green line on the map but it certainly isn't on the ground, brambles and bracken up to the... well, Forrest Gump knew where. Past an old reservoir and through the woods.... where the 'path' finally peters out altogether. But small 2" x 6" pieces of wood are nailed to every other tree leading upwards' so we follow them. 'Don't worry, I've got you' I say, Superman style, 'Yes, but who's got you?, she says. Ah, Ramblers, we have a problem.... we reach the top and the moor and a gentle stroll through the Gwyddon. Easy-peasy.

The following week the dog and I go exploring the old tramways and collieries at Glenside, Risca. Just as well it's the dog and not a human as I slither down near-vertical banks and charge through man-eating brambles but I come out bloody but unbowed. I've also found the incline from the top levels down to the colliery, clever or what????

Rhiwderin Round and Tintern Trail - 26 Sept and 4 Oct 2009

So, just been round-the-world, what's the next challenge? A pleasant stroll around Rhiwderin, nothing too strenuous, fits the bill perfectly. A close encounter of the lorry kind is the first adventure - a very large lorry in a very small lane - but the lorry driver is great and stops as we squeeze by. 'Two and a dog' are with us and two climb stiles perfectly, the dog on the other hand gives up. Isn't there a nursery rhyme about dogs and stiles?? 'One of Two' flexes his muscles and the dog is unceremoniously hoisted over. Then down a new lane and back to Pontymister, even this close to home there are some new paths to explore.....

The following week, we climb the 365, 364, 376, 349 many steps at Wyndcliff on our way to Tintern, a walk I last did 18 months ago. After climbing up to the top, we wander back down again with the dread feeling that we are going up again pretty soon. We are! but its a new path and good exercise so mustn't complain or they won't talk to me again. Getting close to Tintern, a shout of 'Hey! have a look at this' has me scrambling into the woods to look at a superb pair of restored limekilns, don't know who's doing the restoration, but a cracking job. Down by the river there's a sense of Deja Vu all over again, the last photo is the April 2008 lunchbreak - spot the differences. Up the hill, across the top and down the 365 gentle slopes back to the start and refreshment.

Clydach Gorge? No, you're in Machen - 15 August 2009

The Clydach Gorge has stunning views and incredible history .... but not when there's low cloud and drizzle.
The low cloud and drizzle in question were somewhere around my ankles at Risca so 'two and a dog', the dog was in charge, decided quite rightly that there was no point driving to Clydach to see very much the same low cloud and drizzle. So we set off towards Machen to see their low cloud and drizzle. And guess what we saw there? You're right....
Followed the Raven Walk past the skull, wouldn't want to meet that raven at any time of day or night. A long descent to Machen could only mean a long ascent back up again. It did and it was slipperly (so I slipped) and overgrown (so Jill got caught) and the drizzle turned to proper rain up by the aerials. Even 'two and a dog' had had enough so a right shower of Ramblers headed back down to Blackvein Road and the dry.

Lovely scenery but can you move it closer? - 9 August 2009

Crack o'dawn, far-flung, strenuous, 12 miles, beautiful.....
But I don't do cracks o'dawns, far-flings, strenuouses or 12 mileses if I can avoid them, beautiful I'm very happy with, and I'm flinginging far enough in a couple of weeks time. Anyone fancy the Rimutaka's? Tongariro? or Nuku'alofa? Thought not, your loss....
So four of our youngest, fittest, intrepidest (that's not a real word, is it?) Ramblers set off for British East Carmarthen, where they found the aforementioned beautiful bit.... lakes, mountains, moorland and fresh air by the bucketfull. As for me, the dog and I wandered the Wentloog Levels, no 'strenuous' there then....

Heavy and persistent rain - 1 August 2009

07:00am Heavy and persistent rain - get out of bed and mither about....
08:00am Heavy and persistent rain - have breakfast,make sandwiches, check weather forecast
08:30am Heavy and persistent rain - ten minutes to decide whether it's worth going or not
08:40am Heavy and persistent rain - Decision time ........
08:45am Heavy and persistent rain - make more coffee and put feet up
10:00am Heavy and persistent shopping - Heavy and persistant rain - not a nice day at all

Oh? Is it raining? - I hadn't noticed - 26 July 2009

As if...... Four of us appear at Blackvein, another two and a dog at High Meadow, the radio annoucer says 'rain all day coming from the South, North, East, West'. Three of us, plus the two and a dog, head off towards Hafod Quarry and Mynydd Maen. ....and where am I? snug, warm and dry in my car and on the way back to Newport, having suddenly remembered an urgent appointment with a roast chicken and a bottle of red wine...... So all praise to Terry, Rob and Paul, plus two and a dog, I wonder whether we'll ever see them again?.....

Up the Arail mountain - down the boggy glen - 18 July 2009

Llanhilleth station to Aberbeeg is easy, Aberbeeg to the top is not, It's a rough, stony, steep path and that's the good bits. But we made it to Hafod -y-dafel and off to the East to enjoy the views from Abertillery to Brynmawr. Next, find a path, that's actually a two-hoof wide sheep track but we follow it anyway, a sheer drop of twelve miles on our right. Why is Clare moaning, weeping and quaking like that? After the long drop, the deep crevasses. The Arail is moving, great cracks run across it where unwary ramblers disappear for ever, only to emerge when Milletts have a sale on. But we get over safely just in time for lunch. Dave is finally admitted to the exalted rank of Senior Rambler by producing the regulation healthy Banana and not producing corned beef sandwiches. Along the track above Cwm to the boggy bit. Skilfully we work our way up avoiding the boggy bit to another boggy bit to cross a boggy bit, drop down through the boggy bit where I fall down in a boggy bit. Oh, boggy hell!!! After this its easy until we're trapped in a field by a new barb-wire fence, however the gate proves a better bet to slide, slip and fall down that rough, stony, steep path back to the bottom.

Hello? I'm on the Blorenge. How do I shut the roof? - 5 July 2009

My turn to be leader again. Finally getting everyone together on the Blorenge, even those who zoom past, we zoom down to Pwlldu and the tramroad tunnel exit. The first history lesson only causes a few people to fall asleep - a prod with a sharp stick soon sorts them out. Along the tramroad to Garnddyrys Ironworks but no-one's brave enough to enter the tunnel there. Over the main road and along to the next tunnel. This time, four brave 'volunteers' disappear into the stygian gloom. Luckily they do eventually emerge, Hobbit-like, from the other end but what have they got in their pocketsessss. And on to the Punchbowl for lunch before climbing up the flanks of the Blorenge.

A bit overcast today so the views from the rim are not as good as they could be - but you can still see for almost ever... The end of one quarry is covered in a bed of tiny but delicious wild strawberries and we head back to Keepers Pond. Ominous dark skies soon turn into ominous wet rain, with the car park in sight we get thoroughly soaked....... I didn't order that, it wasn't in the programme......

Turn left at Vipers Bugloss - 28 June 2009

A day beside the seaside takes us to Kenfig Burrows where all the plants are in full bloom and our resident expert sorts out the centaury from the vipers bugloss (you know it better by its Latin name - Plantus Blueii). Soon we reach the sea and Clare plays Ducks & Drakes , well, only Ducks because her stone hits the sea and sinks like a, um, like a stone, in fact. Never mind, we take lunch at the exclusive Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, too exclusive for us, we're confined to the rocks. Can't stop long, some people are just getting too comfortable ....

Back round the Golf Course and carefully down the road to head for the very restored Sker House in its yellow paint, was it originally this colour? then more seaside. Our leader throws off her heavy-duty Ramblers flip-flops and plunges in up to her ankles, and straight back out again - its freezing! Not exactly the Med. We head back to the visitor centre across the dunes with their wonderful carpet of flowers and a last look at that bugloss.

Off the rails at Risca - 27 June 2009

Oh, so nearly a disaster! Nine ramblers got on the train, 2 got off at Risca as intructed and 7 sailed northwards into the wide blue yonder. Richard was dispatched to darkest Cross Keys to pick up some of them and Will, Maggie's son, leapt in and volunteered to rescue the others (have you met his Mum?). The train must have been just too comfortable first thing in the morning....
We set off at a good pace up to Ochrwyth and on up to the top of Mynydd Machen. That's when we lost the first of our visitors. After asking Maggie if she had gone to school with him, Rob from Cardiff said that he couldn't stay and "ran" off down the steep slope - Yes ran! A couple of miles later we lost Richard. He had a pressing appointment and had to go.... well, if you've got to go, you've got to go!!
Was it something I did? Was it something I said or was it just the walk? They had already done the hard bit! Never mind, there's always tomorrow.......

And bracken up to your armpits - 20 June 2009

A huge crowd of 2 took the early train to Newbridge to meet the others, more guards than passengers, everyone wanting to go the other way.... Along the river to Crumlin and steeply up past the viaduct ruins and steeply up the lanes to Pen-y-fan for coffee and the mandatory bacon roll. That's the hard bit done? No, you wait.... Back down to the river at Aberbeeg and then through some beautiful woodland and across streams only a few yards from the main road. Then the path fizzles out (a bit like us, really) and its uphill (again) through rough country and head-high ferns, bracken, nettles and brambles, hands above our heads..... but soon we dropped back down to Trinant Hall and easy walking through Navigation Colliery back to Crumlin. Just for a change we went uphill again along another narrow path past the old colliery watertanks and back to Newbridge and a busy train back to Crosskeys.

Strenuous? Only on the way up - and back down - 14 June 2009

It was advertised as strenuous and climbing the 1700ft Tor-y-Foel is definitely strenuous... Its also exhausting, shattering and breath-taking. But I'm a man and I made it to the top just behind one of our ladies, and overtaken by a couple of fell-runners at full gallop. Very demoralising. Ah, well... The views are absolutely stunning in all directions, and, talking of directions, 'down' seemed a good one. So much easier. A little bit of history as we followed a Roman Road and the Brinore Tramroad up to Trefil Quarry for lunch beside a clear, cool stream. Oh, to take my boots off and paddle, but that's against the Geneva Convention.

Back down the other side of Duffryn Crawnon over some rough moorland with poor tracks for quite a way. Closing in on Llangynidr, my map and Terry's eagle eyes proved their worth in following a surprisingly under-used path, considering that it ended at the The Coach & Horses and well-deserved refreshment.

Take me to your leader - You? No, a proper leader.... - 31 May 2009