Cwm Pit and Aberdare Tunnel

It's very often surprising what precisely still exists in your local environment. After seeing an episode of 'Fishlock's Adventures in Wales' a few years ago in which this particular location was highlighted, Lord Twynyrodyn decided to introduce Wandering to a hidden relic of the industrial revolution.



After a pleasant walk on bridle paths and through deciduous woodland, the duo entered what we believe to be a former drift mine. A furnace at the base of a large chimney stack and dressed stonework walls approximately 20 feet high retain part of the fault line along a former river-bed.




This was possibly once part of the Cyfarthfa Works, if so the pit was sunk under the management of Robert Thompson Crawshay in 1845. This shallow mine would have worked the steam coal seams, which ran close to the surface in this area on the northern edge of the South Wales coalfield. A total of 1,030 men would have worked at this pit in 1908.




It would have closed down in December 1910, but would have been retained as a watercourse until abandoned in 1924.



After leaving Cwm Pit another pathway led us to a small rusty bridge, which is possibly the Upper Glyncanaid bridge. This crosses the disused Merthyr to Aberdare railway cutting. Approximately a few hundred yards along the cutting is the entrance to the Abernant tunnel. As we scrambled our way down into the cutting the temperature suddenly dropped considerably - as if someone had opened the door of a refrigerator. It was positively eerie.



Built in 1853, and bricked up in 1967, the tunnel is 2,497 yards long and must have witnessed a significant amount of traffic in it's hay-day linking one of the most prolific coal mining regions in the Principality with the steelworks and docks.

It’s really sad to see such civil engineering works, which provide our rich industrial heritage, now abandoned and totally forgotten.

If anyone reading this knows any background to this area please post a comment.

St. Govans Head

Less than two months since his last visit, the almost irresistible magnetic pull of the majestic Pembrokeshire Coast line drew Butterballs to Lydstep, where he based himself for a short Summer break.



Using the good weather conditions he explored an area 3 miles to the west on the first morning walking to Skrinkle Cove.





The beach at Broad Haven is the best he has ever seen anywhere - "as I rounded a mound it was a staggering site really - totally unspoilt and run by National Trust". It is one of Pembrokeshire's finest beaches in terms of the water quality, its south-facing location and dramatic cliff views backed by sand dunes and expansive National Trust woodland and lily ponds.



On the second day he headed east to the Ministry Of Defence firing range at Penally, passing Gillar Point which is the nearest area of land to Caldey Island.



One of the highlights of his stay was a visit to St. Govans Head where he went in search of St. Govans Chapel. This was built in a fissure in the cliff face in the 13th century.





This he discovered at the bottom of a long flight of stone steps. The present small vaulted chapel of local limestone was built over a cave although the site may have been of monastic importance since the 5th century



We are blessed that with both the Gower Peninsular and Pembrokeshire National Park we have such area’s of outstanding natural beauty on our doorstep and within such easy reach.

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Pengarnddu walking and cycling bridge

Anyone who has driven past the Asda Roundabout at Dowlais Top on the A465 during the last week will have been surprised to see this new foot-bridge that opens up new routes for walkers and cyclists.

The bridge will provide a safer, traffic-free crossing for walkers and cyclists over the busy A465 when it opens in September.

Rachel Lister, Sustrans project officer in the valleys, said: "This is a significant development as it is the first new part of the Heads of the Valleys route to be put in place. It crosses an extremely busy road and will allow connect existing parts of the National Cycle Network together for those doing longer walking and cycling journeys. This is exactly the sort of safer and more attractive route that is needed if we are to encourage people to do more of their daily journeys on foot or bike."

The Heads of the Valleys route will open fully in 2012, and will be known as National Cycle Network Route 46, providing a walking and cycling 'spine' through the valleys. It will incorporate a mix of new sections of route and existing parts of the National Cycle Network like the popular Route 8 on the Taff Trail.

Carreg Goch (Black Mountain)

Based on the weather forecast for the next few days, it was an absolute 'no brainer' according to Lord Twynyrodyn to use today for this particular walk. He had decided to lead the expedition into the Black Mountain to locate the site of the MF509 Wellington Bomber for a second time.



The start of the path leading to the mountain is accessed via the surface car park at Dan-Yr-Ogof caves. As we gained altitude we were able to see Fan Gyhirych across the valley and Madam Patti's castle nestled on the valley floor. We also encountered the first of five separate groups of youths on the Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme!



Thankfully the ground underfoot was exceptionally dry that made the walking really easy. As we approached the site from the south his Lordship decided that based on his compass bearing it was time to leave the drovers path and head into the wilderness.



We entered a valley with no sign of even a feint footpath and his Lordship decided that we needed to gain height to the top of the ridge to have any chance of finding the site. As we stood at the top of the ridge Wandering pointed in a south-westerly direction and asked Lord Twynyrodyn whether that was the location - where a group of four other men were standing.



As we made our way to the site the remains of the Wellington bomber became clear. The gun metal gray of the bodywork blends almost naturally with the limestone outcrop that makes it really difficult to differentiate between the wreckage and the surrounding rock formations.



On the night of 20th November 1944, as Vickers Wellington MF509 from the 22nd OTU at Wellesbourne Mountford made its way over Wales on a night cross country exercise problems developed in the starboard engine. The aircraft began to lose height due to icing and crashed into Carreg Goch, all six aircrew aboard were killed.

In the village of Ynyswen, Eric Price and some friends heard aircraft engines and witnessed a fiery glow in the mountains. The following day they were discussing the report that an aircraft had crashed in the mountains, the report was later confirmed by the authorities.



Three days after the crash, Eric Price decided to explore the crash site. He and his dog traveled up the sheep’s path which ran along the mountain range until reaching the location of the wreck. While exploring the remains of the Wellington, Eric spotted something that seemed out of place amongst the heaps of twisted metal and burnt fabric. After picking up a small piece of the Wellington’s wing, he noticed a rectangular piece of white card. Upon further inspection, the object was revealed to be a photograph that had somehow been spared from the crash and subsequent fire. The photograph was of a solitary airman, there was no name or any other identification found on the photograph.



Not wanting to leave the photograph to the elements, Eric Price put it in his pocket. Not certain who the airman in the photograph was or whom he should return it to, Eric kept it in safe keeping for over 61 years.

Even after 66 years there is still a large amount of wreckage scattered around the site.

After spending a leisurely forty minutes eating our lunch we decided to ascend the ridge, crossing an excellent example of a limestone pavement, to view the remains of a Vampire jet on the flank of Fan Brycheiniog - through a pair of binoculars!



Refreshments to quench the thirst were taken at the Pen-Y-Cae Inn. Surprisingly two people who obviously live in the local community admitted that neither of them had visited the site.

Photographs taken on this walk can be viewed here. Select 'slide-show' for automated viewing.

Offa's Dyke Path - 40 Years Old

A series of events are planned to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of Britain's most popular walking trails. Offa's Dyke path, which stretches along the England-Wales border from the River Severn to the Irish Sea, was officially opened on 10 July 1971.

Over 3,000 walkers a year complete the 177 mile (285km) trail through "stunning" landscapes. Rob Dingle, Offa's Dyke Path national officer, said the whole of the walk normally takes about 12 days, with thousands enjoying smaller circular walks in different parts of the trail.

"Its appeal is simply the landscapes you walk through, from river valleys to uplands and for about 60 miles you're walking alongside the ancient monument. The trail takes you through three areas of outstanding natural beauty and the Brecon Beacons National Park It's also a trail that sees you cross over between England and Wales, a border that has lasted 1,250 years."

* It stretches from Sedbury Cliffs near Chepstow on the banks of the Severn estuary to the coastal town of Prestatyn on the Irish Sea
* Offa's Dyke Path was first listed as a long distance route in 1949
* The path was officially opened in Knighton by Lord Hunt (leader of the 1953 Mount Everest expedition) on 10 July 1971
* It passes through no less than eight different counties and crosses the border between England and Wales 27 times
* The dyke associated with his name is a linear earthwork consisting of a ditch and rampart constructed with the ditch on the Welsh-facing side
* Its intended purpose is shrouded in mystery but it is thought to have been started in about 785 AD and was several years in the building

Dunraven Bay and Merthyr Mawr Warren

Another day and another walk, just 24-hours after one visit to Nash Point and Steve was visiting Dunraven Bay on his way to Merthyr Mawr Warren to experience a huge network of sand dunes situated about one mile from the village of Merthyr Mawr, and only a few miles further west from Llantwit Major.





The unique setting at Dunraven Bay with its almost golden coloured limestone rock formations, was used in an episode of the recent BBC TV series 'Merlin' - The Labyrinth of Gedref.



Leaving Dunraven Bay the walk continued through Merthyr Mawr Warren and the highest single sand dune in Europe, known locally as the 'big dipper'. Scenes from the film 'Lawrence of Arabia' were filmed at the dunes.

Walking up these giant sand dune's is exceptionally hard work, although international athletes and sportsmen and women use the dunes for fitness training (the Welsh rugby union team for example have been known to use it as part of a training run).

A hundred years ago sand threatened to engulf nearby Merthyr Mawr after rabbits had stripped the ground of the vegetation holding the dunes together. Buckthorn bushes were planted to stabilise the sand, but now it's the dunes that have to be protected from the buckthorn which is over-grown and threatening to take over.



Merthyr Mawr, is a pretty little chocolate box village, there are no modern buildings here and it's like walking on to a film set. Roses around the cottage doors, thatched roofs, cream teas! An idyllic settlement, as picturesque as they come, with an outstanding collection of Thatched Dwellings straight from the pages of a Thomas Hardy novel, beautifully positioned around an old Village Green.



The warren is an important wildlife habitat and site of scientific interest, which shelters a rich variety of plants.