Weatherman Walk number six completed. An 8 mile circular walk starting and ending at Nye Bevin's favourite watering hole, The Top House Pub which is in Trefil, a tiny wee village on the edge of the Brecon Beacons. Unfortunately it was closed today, the pub, not the village, whether permanently or temporarily we couldn't quite work out, it does now tho, look suspiciously like someone's house. But, with all of Derek the Weather's walks we do, we do expect the unexpected.
This walk was probably the bleakest and most desolate of the walks we've done. Practically no signposting and also very little proper pathways. Once we were out of the quarry it was pretty much miles of walking on boggy scrubland. But, along the way we would come across one of Wales' biggest burial Chambers and also the Chartist cave, where workers hid while planning the Chartists Uprising.
We started from the edge of the village of Trefil and started along a quarry path. Not a lot to see, can't say the landscape was pretty but at least for this section there was a path! Do not assume on Derek the Weather's walks that this will often be the case.
The first 'point of interest' on the walk was The Dukes Table, a circular green mound with an outer stone ring. We did find it but can't say it looked interesting but there were a lot of wild horses around - and on this whole route - and it was here we spotted a beautiful wee foal.
A bit further on from here we came across the Nye Bevin Memorial stone, founder of the NHS!!! He was from these parts and spent a lot of time walking these paths.
We then headed properly into the quarry which as well as being an industrial landscape it actually also gave us amazing views of the still snowcapped Pen Y Fan. So, harsh scenery and stunning views as well, a real mish mash.
From here we headed up, totally off any obvious tracks and it was rather boggy and squelchy to say the least. But, we were heading straight up to the cairn, the high point in more ways than one of this walk.
Eventually we got there. The Garn Fawr cairn which is a bronze age burial chamber and apparently one of the biggest in Wales. Tried to get a selfie - part of another 50 task - I seem to have been photo bombed by Stewart!
After the cairn it was more of the same, across scrubland heading towards the next point of interest, the Chartist caves. Where Welsh workers plotted an uprising against the ruling class. Took a bit of finding but eventually we got there.
After the cave, we were pretty much on the road home. Wasn't the prettiest of walks nor the most interesting but we did get some good views along the way and we are now more experienced at 'off roading' it! Will be back soon xxx
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