Llanfechain March 2014

15-20 March

Sat 15th
We arrived in Llanfechain after a visit to Sainsbury in Oswestry. After getting settled in we set off for the circuit from the cottage.

We went to the Lime Kiln in Porth-y-Waen. C had a Swiss burger and I had plaice with a sort of hot salad. It was very nice.
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Sun 16th
We parked up just north of Trefonen and walked a chunk of Offa’s Dyke. Fabulous day warm and sunny. C did very well with some quite steep sections. Back for chicken and pasta. Watched half of Skyfall.
A quick bit of whittling as Offa passed by
A quick bit of whittling as Offa passed by

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The actual ditch
The actual ditch

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Mon 17th
We got up early to whizz into Welshpool to the brand new renal unit for C’s holiday dialysis session. As I drove off to whizz up a hill my wing mirror glass fell off and I suddenly became unable to drive my car. I couldn’t even parallel park!! I went to Oswestry and got a replacement glass at Halfords. By the time I’d sorted all this out I didn’t have enough time to do any hill whizzing so instead I went back to Welshpool for coffee and a chocolate brownie. I picked Carol up and we went off to Rhydycroesau. We walked a bit of a Ron’s Ramble which I shortened for C who had not been feeling so good. Watched the rest of Skyfall.
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Before I saw this hut from this angle I said "if this was in Finland it would be a compost loo!"
Before I saw this hut from this angle I said “if this was in Finland it would be a compost loo!”
Tues 18th
It was wet so I started off with a run of the circuit from the house. Then to Oswestry for a mooch including coffee and cake in Booka which is a really great independant bookshop. Then back to Rhydycroesau to eat our lunch and to walk around the lanes above Llangedwyn. Back to the cottage and out again to drive to Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog which is across a small mountain on mountain lanes. The Hand has an AA rosette but the food wasn’t that exciting although lots of it. C had beef lasagne and I had veg crumble which came with bread and chips. Then we were overcharged but they apologised for this. Lovely drive back along the lanes in the moonlight with the big orb shining brightly through the trees.
There are quite a lot of memorials where the war went on beyond 11/11/18
There are quite a lot of memorials where the war went on beyond 11/11/18
I've got a thing about lines of trees on skylines
I’ve got a thing about lines of trees on skylines

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Weds 19th
We had a lazy start then drove up to Lake Vrynwy top end wanting to do an anti clockwise circuit but the road was blocked for tree clearing. We’ve seen so many trees blown over. We walked a bit on some forestry tracks but found we couldn’t even get past the tree blocks without a lot of difficulty. There had also been considerable landslip and more downed trees further on if we did pass the first lot. Retraced our steps and went up the road instead practicing some relocation and measuring techniques. Back for Welsh dragon sausages,  baked beans, boiled spuds (no masher) and mushroom and tomato mix. Ever so sophisticated dining at home. Watched The Butler DVD kindly provided by our hostess. I got distracted by American pronunciation of Cecil (thought it was seesaw) and the lack of 2 whole presidents (Ford and Carter).
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Thurs 20th
We came home but first called in on our landlady Nicky in her new home which is a white cottage near the river. She showed us some of her photos. I can’t help liking that she knew/knows Warhol, Hockney, Patti Smith, Robert Mapplethorpe, Mick Jagger. I’ve been trying to read Patti Smith’s autobio since I saw her playing at Burnley Mechanics last year but it’s very poorly written so I only pick it up (it’s on my phone) when I’m filling time and I’m a bit bored. Nicky says Patti has used some artistic licence about the early days! I need to read the book a bit more but this is something to do with Patti and Robert not being able to afford the Chelsea Hotel. This is an article about Nicky and her friends: http://dulwichonview.org.uk/2012/08/21/how-i-met-andy-nicky-weymouth-and-the-team-of-bohemians/
Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

Hebden Bridge circular 28th February 2014

Chris and I met up in the cafe at the station and took on liquid supplies. We walked the route I’d done in September for the Walk and Ride festival. This is the 5th time I’ve done this route or a variant of it and it still pleases.

The first section is a good warm up climb to the mobile phone mast through deciduous woodland. Then a short second climb across agricultural land sometimes with cows but not this day. Along Pinnacle Lane, past the goats and then up another short steep section at Kilnshaw Farm to reach the moor.

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How many goats?

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We stopped for a break and then crossed the moor without incident, finding a direct path to Broadhead Clough Nature Reserve, just by following a “rough” bearing and the relatively obvious path. Oh well, things clearly change underfoot according to the season.

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The nature reserve is managed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and is a delight, completely unspoilt and just lovely.

We tracked along the edge of the wood, some new signage and fences have been put up which help to cross what was a quite tricky boggy section. Through the next wood and then down a coniferous wood to Daisy Bank. Down the stream and then onto the hard track which took us to Wood Top and back down to the station.

A lovely walk in springlike weather with the best of company.

Please visit Map and Compass and learn how to interpret a map with me and my navigation partner, Cath.

 

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