Two walks with panoramic views marred by early morning mist
THE Carmarthen Ramblers had two super autumn rambles on offer on the weekend of October 20 and 21.
On the Saturday, Maud Jones and Angela Pennell led the group on a six-mile figure of eight walk that incorporated the Miner’s Trail in the Twrch Valley near the Carmarthenshire boundary, while on Sunday, Richard Leggett led a nine-mile circular walk that incorporated an ancient hillfort in the Llansadwrn area near Llangadog.
The weather for the Saturday walk was mild and dry with just the lightest of breezes. The walk started near the recreation ground in Ystrad Owen and they set off eastwards down a lane.
Staying on the lane they descended into the Twrch Valley and crossed Brynhenllys Bridge over the river Twrch before climbing up on to the Beacons.
They followed the Brynhenllys Trail footpath across the former Brynhenllys opencast mine site where they stopped to take in the fantastic panoramic views with the Black Mountain bathed in brilliant sunshine behind them in the north. To the south were Mynydd Parchywel and the villages of Seven Sisters and Crynant. To the west was Mynydd Bettws and to the east were Fforest Fawr and the Brecon Beacons.
Heading downhill they passed into the pretty woodland track and followed the Nant Gwys for about a mile to reach the A4068 main road in Upper Cwmtwrch near the confluence of the Nant Gwys and the Afon Twrch.
Turning to a northerly direction they picked up the start of the Miners’ trail and headed up Cwm Twrch on the old Caelliau Mineral railway track bed, passing the ruins of various collieries and brickworks. The route crossed the lane – used earlier in the day – as they continued up the valley to reach a picnic site at a weir where they stopped for a lunch break.
Continuing up the valley, they were met by the sight of a redbrick chimney of the colliery engine house that marks the position of the former Henllys Vale Colliery.
Now in the foothills of the Black Mountain, they climbed the hillside to reach Cyllie Farm and took a left turn to pick up the Aman Lougher Trail, which they followed initially on a firm track that ran high above the Afon Twrch and then through several fields for the last half mile to complete the walk back in Ystradowen.
The morning mist was still lingering in the Towy valley when the group started their Sunday walk. This walk started at the layby on the A40 just before the Abermarlais Caravan Park, just north of the turning for Llangadog. At the north end of the layby there is a huge stone – Careg Fawr – located at the entrance of a dirt track that once led to Abermarlais Mansion.
They walked the track briefly then took a foot- path that led through woodland to emerge near a couple of buildings. One of them was a smart barn built in the 19th century as part of the Abermarlais estate.
At a crossroads of footpaths they turned onto Via Julia, the old Roman Road down to a footbridge across a stream and on to Rosehill cottage. They crossed some fields and started to climb a hillside through Allt y Parc.
On the other side of the woods they crossed the open hilltop to reach a high spot (180 metres) where they stopped to appreciate the views but the mist had still not cleared sufficiently. Heading northwards, they dropped down the hillside to meet a country road near Parc-side. The road continued north to cross the valley passing an ancient farm called Aberdeunant which is owned by the National Trust. They passed through the property of Bryngwyn and climbed to the top of Y Fan at a height of 265 metres to access the hillfort for what should have been some stunning panoramic views of the rolling hills of Carmarthenshire. However, the mist had still not cleared sufficiently but nevertheless looking across the Towy Valley they could see Llangadog below them and dramatic outline of the Carmarthen Fans.
Taking a north westerly direction they descended the hill into a stiff breeze to reach a country road near Tir-y-Fan then followed the road eastward for about a mile to reach the village of Waunclunda where they stopped to look around the outside of Libanus Chapel before taking a lunch break.
In the afternoon the sun broke through the clouds as they continued down through the hamlet to a footpath to Esgair and onward to Pwll-y-Fan then along a lane that ran down to the Afon Morlais crossing the river on footbridges before reaching Llansadwrn where they explored the church.
They left the village along the road leading southward towards the A40 for about half a mile before taking a path through Caeau-gwynion and skirted around AberMarlais Park to pick up Via Julia once again that led them back through Allt y Fron to the start.
The next walk will be on Saturday, November 3, when Bob Millington will start the Carmarthen Ramblers winter programme with a five-mile walk in the Narberth area. Further details are available on 01267 282990.
New members are always welcome and details are available with the winter programme that can be downloaded from our website: www. carmarthenramblers.org. uk