Liz dropped us off at Caldicot Halt to catch the early morning train to Cardiff, changing here for Llandeilo. The challenge started at Cardiff station: Stews task; get pasties from shop that opens at 08:00 & run to train that 
leaves at 08:09. My task get the coffee, this ended up being the greater of the two. Next: which platform? We did end up at Llandeilo. Next challenge, Llandeilo is not on the 1:25000 west beacons map – prior preparation? Nice lady in the library pointed us in the right direction for Carreg Cennan Castle – that’s on the map. We traipsed across the Black Mountain over Garreg Lwyd, Foel Fraith and pitched camp along side Afon Twrch. This was after 22.5 km, and ascending 988 metres. We set camp in about 15 minuets; the Hex 3 is highly recommended. Pasta & French onion soup for supper, boiled in Afon Twrch’s finest on the MSR Superfly. What a brilliant day!
D
ay 2: Got up bright and early after a pretty good night. Brew and breakfast sorted - muesli and dried fruit. Personal admin complete, broke camp. Heading east to Banwen Gwyn & on to Dan-yr-Ogof. Replenishing our water supply and guzzling litres. Walking north east along the A4067 for 4.6 km so that we can “bag” the HEWETT Fan Gyhirch being 725 metres above sea level. Part way along this road “STEWART! Where’s the map? 1.5 km back down the road there it was”. Finally reaching the base of Fan Gyhirch we comm
enced the climb, this blew a few cobwebs out. Sorry Stew a HEWETT is a HEWETT that has to be climbed. Continuing east to Maen Lila, taking on water from a waterfall on the Roman road, with the final ascent of the day being up to Rhos Dringarth. The heavens opened! This made our minds up for us, we pitched for the night. What a day! 28.77 km, 1316 metres of ascent. What a night! gale force winds and rain, if the Black Mountain Terrain is relentless when sodden this night takes the biscuit. I was pretty reluctant to get out of my Softie Chrysalis sleep
ing bag, how ever the call of nature prevailed. What a morning! Mist, high winds, rain. We broke camp and were away within 10 minuets, good team work Stew! Descending Craig Cerrig gleisiad proved quite difficult due to the high winds along with the very steep quagmire of a track – 625 to 350 metres in 750 metres - along side the shear north face. 2.74 km later drenched, we arrived at Storey Arms car park to be greeted by Liz and Scott who had just arrived to take us home after a bacon, sausage & egg roll washed down with hot cuppa tea. Pretty cool weekend eh? I wonder if they will take my new boots back?
leaves at 08:09. My task get the coffee, this ended up being the greater of the two. Next: which platform? We did end up at Llandeilo. Next challenge, Llandeilo is not on the 1:25000 west beacons map – prior preparation? Nice lady in the library pointed us in the right direction for Carreg Cennan Castle – that’s on the map. We traipsed across the Black Mountain over Garreg Lwyd, Foel Fraith and pitched camp along side Afon Twrch. This was after 22.5 km, and ascending 988 metres. We set camp in about 15 minuets; the Hex 3 is highly recommended. Pasta & French onion soup for supper, boiled in Afon Twrch’s finest on the MSR Superfly. What a brilliant day!D
ay 2: Got up bright and early after a pretty good night. Brew and breakfast sorted - muesli and dried fruit. Personal admin complete, broke camp. Heading east to Banwen Gwyn & on to Dan-yr-Ogof. Replenishing our water supply and guzzling litres. Walking north east along the A4067 for 4.6 km so that we can “bag” the HEWETT Fan Gyhirch being 725 metres above sea level. Part way along this road “STEWART! Where’s the map? 1.5 km back down the road there it was”. Finally reaching the base of Fan Gyhirch we comm
enced the climb, this blew a few cobwebs out. Sorry Stew a HEWETT is a HEWETT that has to be climbed. Continuing east to Maen Lila, taking on water from a waterfall on the Roman road, with the final ascent of the day being up to Rhos Dringarth. The heavens opened! This made our minds up for us, we pitched for the night. What a day! 28.77 km, 1316 metres of ascent. What a night! gale force winds and rain, if the Black Mountain Terrain is relentless when sodden this night takes the biscuit. I was pretty reluctant to get out of my Softie Chrysalis sleep
ing bag, how ever the call of nature prevailed. What a morning! Mist, high winds, rain. We broke camp and were away within 10 minuets, good team work Stew! Descending Craig Cerrig gleisiad proved quite difficult due to the high winds along with the very steep quagmire of a track – 625 to 350 metres in 750 metres - along side the shear north face. 2.74 km later drenched, we arrived at Storey Arms car park to be greeted by Liz and Scott who had just arrived to take us home after a bacon, sausage & egg roll washed down with hot cuppa tea. Pretty cool weekend eh? I wonder if they will take my new boots back?
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