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After waiting for one of the only free days in terms of decent weather and a few views we set off for the two hour drive at 7am to Capel Y Ffin, a small hamlet nestled on the Wales-English border ; a perfect starting point for the traverse of the Eastern Black Mountains.
Me, my Dad and Fintan arrived at 9am after the beautiful drive over the Gospel Pass, which we would cross later on in the walk. Capel Y Ffin was peaceful and the sound of the Afon Honddu winding down the valley added to the tranquility of the place.
St Mary's Chapel
We struggled to find the summit of the Black Mountain South Top in the cloud after winding up the hill through bracken and plenty of fields however we were pretty sure we had bagged it as we carried along the Offas Dyke path to Black Mountain and Hay Bluff in the cloud.
FIntan and Dad on Hay Bluff
As we descended, Twmpa was also in cloud but the weather was starting to clear up so we ate some sandwiches and headed up the easy path to the summit. We finally had a view looking back to Black Mountain.
Twmpa in cloud
Summit of Twmpa
Rhos Dirion was next
Fintan on top of the trig point of Rhos Dirion
Looking back on our route
This next bit of the route from Rhos Dirion was a 4 mile grassy ridge- a bit of a slog but great views down towards the Grwyne Fawr reservoir and dam and also to Pen Twyn Mawr- the one Nuttall which I haven't done in the Black Mountains
Pen Y Fan the highest mountain in South Wales
Chwarel Y Fan the last Nuttall/Hewitt of the day from Twyn Talycefn
Grwyne Fawr reservoir and dam
Me and Fintan on the top of Chwarel y Fan- a very underrated hill!
An interesting ridge to explore in the future
A statue to remember Father Ignacius- the man who established the monastery in Capel Y Ffin
Once we got back to Capel Y Ffin it was full of cars and people- good job we got there early as there are limited parking spaces.
