Adventure in Wales
We explore some of the more exciting and unknown greenlanes in Nant-y-moch valley
We explore the greenlanes in Nant-y-moch valley
NESTLING just off the A44 and only 30 minutes from Aberystwyth is an area steeped in breathtaking views, industrial history, old mines and stone circles – but perhaps more importantly some fantastic greenlanes. With famous lanes such as Strata Florida to the south and Wayfarer off to the north this gem of an area that lies in Mid Wales is often overlooked by greenlaners. So today we have come to explore and find out if it’s worth taking a detour from some of the more famous Welsh lanes.
Our meeting point is the Red Kite visitor centre just off the A44 to the west of Ponterwyd, which boasts a big car park, excellent café and a toilet. There is a large picnic area and the centre is currently being extended to include a balcony that will overlook the lakes. The area is named after the red kites that inhabit the area. It’s hard to appreciate the size these spectacular birds can grow to unless you are lucky enough to see one close up and we would recommend you go to the centre at around 3 pm when they’re fed.
A foggy morning heralds our arrival where we are due to meet a couple of nice chaps from Auto Express who have brought along a top-of-the-range Discovery 5 on 20 inch road tyres. Also coming for the ride is Callum Wallis Otter and his good lady Tiana Walton in their well-prepared Defender 110 Td5, complete with roof tent, lift and mud tyres. There is also Nicholas Enston who runs Landrover-photoalbum (check them out on Facebook and Instagram) in his standard Discovery 3. And last, but not least is the editor of LRM, Patrick Cruywagen, who is on BBQ duties for the day.
I explain to our group of intrepid explorers that we need to be mindful of mountain bikers as the area is very popular with them, especially in places where the lanes and tracks cross. Care will also need to be taken in a couple of rocky step areas and a bit of spotting may be required. One important point is making sure you have a spare tyre or tyre repair kit as it can be harsh on tyres if you are not careful. The area is largely well signposted by the council with extra signage thanks to GLASS and Treadlightly. In addition an OS map or electronic mapping is also handy as there are many areas where the tracks with vehicle access cross with forestry tracks.
Our first lane of the day is a byway open to all traffic (BOAT). This actually starts on the tarmac road that runs next to the visitor centre. At the start of the lane is a pair of double wooden gates that we need to negotiate. Being careful of pedestrians we close the gates behind us and head directly ahead starting up a climb with a lovely view of a pool to our right. Stunning views is a term that may well be used a lot today if the start of the trip is anything to go by. After the climb we head down a short section with pine tress which makes for a lovely picture, as we pass this area the view opens up to breathtaking proportions with views for miles as the fog now clears. It is here we meet our first rocky step. Don’t be put off, have a look at the step and plan your route down it, and if you need to, get a passenger to guide you. It should pose no problems for Land Rovers but it will put a smile on your face as you feel that you’re actually using Land Rover’s off-road pedigree and ability whether you are in a brand-new Discovery 5 or Series model.
After we bounce our way along the stone track we then re-join a single tarmac road. The area and lanes are all linked by numerous single-track tarmac B roads that wind themselves around the landscape and several large pools of water. This area is accessible by anyone in any type of vehicle and we see people with camper vans, canoes and day trippers.
As we drive around and look at the OS Maps the area is littered with old mines, standing stones and ancient forts. The temptation to park up and go and explore this landscape is very tempting but today we are here to drive the lanes, I think I will be back to explore more on foot at a later date however.
After a lovely road section, we start our second lane of the day, an unclassified county road (UCR). This passes around the side of a large lake and is mostly gravel track. Further along this lane is a gate with a footbridge and a big puddle of water. There is a great photo opportunity here for those wishing to get some action pictures. Tiana gets out to take a picture of Callum going through the water and ends up getting a soaking thanks to his enthusiasm. Tiana seems to see the funny side of it fortunately. Eventually the lane forks: to the right it becomes a BOAT, to the left it continues as a UCR. This UCR is apparently owned by the water board but it does have permissive access. In this case we opt to take the right fork that climbs up a slope with some ruts and interesting lumps and bumps. Into low box and maintaining careful momentum we climb our way up this slope. This feels like proper Land Rovering now. Once we peak the summit, we have a great view of Nant-y-moch reservoir.
Lane 3 starts as a BOAT and turns into a UCR. At the start of the lane there is large open gravel area with signs of people having wild camped previously. This is a long lane with great views and plenty of fun bumpy bits. Towards the west end of the lane is a short rocky step section. First gear low box and a bit of spotting on the Discovery 5 sees us navigate the rocky steps. The drivers all break out into smiles once they have negotiated the section. Did I mention those breathtaking views?
“You feel you’re using your Land Rover’s offroad pedigree and ability whether you’re in a new Discovery or Series model”
We carry on back to a road to loop around so we can now head back into the area via Lane 4, another UCR. This lane has a firm base across open countryside with those views again. Eventually we meet up again with the southern part of Lane 2 and head towards a parking area that would be a great lunch stop at Llyn Pendham. Instead we chose to sit next to the largest lake for a BBQ as Patrick’s stomach was complaining at the lack of food. We pull over and he fires up his Weber portable gas BBQ and we all tuck into sausages with Peri-peri mayonnaise sauce! That’s certainly another first for most of us.
Lane 5 is just to the west of here. It has a firm base. Halfway along it splits. You want to take the right-hand fork. Do not take the BOAT to the left. The left fork takes you down a steep grass field with a side camber. It is very slippery when wet and was the scene of an accident where two Land Rovers slid off and ended up damaged at the bottom of the slope earlier this year. Stick to the right fork, a firm track which ends in a descent at one end with an old brick tower and an information board that has details of mining in the area.
We now loop back around another one of the single-track tarmac roads and back to Llyn Pendham and this time head south to pick up Lane 6, another UCR. This is another wide gravel track. Another ascent and a large deep puddle in the middle, about one foot deep when it’s been raining. At the end of this lane we go straight ahead to rejoin the road and head south a mile or so, this then bring us to two choices of lanes.
To the east is a UCR, a lovely track with some, yep you guessed, incredible views. It has a couple of rock sections. It’s very well signed for cars, bikes and walkers. To the west is a UCR. Again, this is an easy lane, with a firm base. And I promise I won’t mention the views! The highest part of the lane can be a little overgrown and scratchy in summer.
We opted for the eastern UCR in sympathy for the Discovery 5’s paintwork. After this lane we headed back to the car park at the visitor centre, this time heading the opposite way south down Lane 1. The rocky step proved interesting on the way up this time, but a careful choice of route and Patrick managed to drive the D5 up unscathed. The height the D5 can raise up to is something to behold. We then headed back through the visitor centre.