After our exciting sea trip, we decided to admire the beauties that inland Wales has to offer this morning. Water was still involved however we did not have to be on it on this occasion, although some members of the party did still manage to get wet. After an impressive 10 mile run, T returned and prepared a picnic lunch, and off we set for Ystradfellte Falls, a limestone area popular with walkers and cavers. We were hoping to see a dipper a bird we have never seen before. It was a 40 minute run from Cardiff to the Brecon Beacons, whilst C & T explained we were passing through the most deprived area of the UK, with the highest teenage pregnancy rate on one of the most dangerous roads in the area! We were however passing through some beautiful scenery and after turning off the main road, passed a lonely tea wagon parked on an empty layby. T manouvered through the narrow, winding roads and we reached the car park, apparently in the middle of nowhere but had the bonus of a small shop & WC.
Before starting the walk to Ystradfellte Falls we descended a steep path to view one of the entrances to the caves used by those brave enough to explore that route. We could see a small dark cave entrance through which a torrent rushed into
the darkness. T remembered seeing cavers with suba tanks entering, on his last visit. Round the corner was a larger entrance, called White Horse Cave after the limestone shapes formed on the walls.
We went back up to the path and off we went. Thanks to our early start there was no one about and we walked along the rushing river, carefully watching our step with the many boulders and roots amidst the path, whilst trying to cast an eye riverwards in an attempt to spot dippers, and soon our efforts were rewarded with a brief sighting. As we followed the river we saw what was probably the same bird several times and were able to admire him through the noccas.
There are ten falls in this area so to be honest I am not sure which one we were heading for but after a steep descent we reached one that you can walk behind to pass across to the other side of the river. There had been quite a lot of rain and Helen had no intention of re-enacting scenes from the Last of the Mohicans, so perched on a rock to enjoy the view of the falls instead. T, Neil & C headed off but C wisely decided that she did not want to get soaked and her waterproofs were still in the car. Neil & T of course headed off behind the waterfall, apparently the force of the water was forcing the spray backwards and they both returned rather soaked. Back up the hill for a well earned picnic lunch at the top. We then walked back via Sgwd Clun Gwyn waterfall, the sun was out and lots more people were about by this point. When we got back to the car park, instead of our car and the wardens vehicle as when we left, it was full! We set off home, through a cycle race and when we reached the tea wagon layby we understood the reason for his choice of such an apparently lonely spot. He was inundated by bikers, minibuses and car drivers – talk about scarcity value!
Back to the homestead and then back to Bucks! Thanks T & C for a great weekend. I shall not forget the boat load of relieved, bedraggled tourists breaking into song at the sight of a Lancaster bomber. Marvellous!