Review of 2010 - Part One

Very brief summary of all of the walks that were carried out in the first half of 2010:

Garn Ddu - 12 February 2010
Glais Bridge to Cilsanws trig. point
Garn Du, forrestry to Pentwyn Reservoir then Cefn Penmaillard to Cefn Coed
Weather: Dry and Cold

Severn Bore & Slimbridge - 2 March 2010
Minsterworth to watch best rated 'bore' of the year
Then drove to the wild foul centre at Slimbridge
Weather: Dry and Frosty

Red Daren - 19 March 2010
Llanthony Prior to Hatterrall Ridge to join Offa’s Dyke.
Descent to Capel-Y-Fin and return to Priory
Weather: Dry and Mild

Southerndown - 1 Aril 2010
Jurassic coastal path to Dunraven
St Brides Major to Ogmore Down to Ogmore Castle
Weather: Dry, with Wind and periods of Sunshine

Shirhowy Skyline - 13 May 2010
Circular walk from Penyfan Country Park to Manmoel
Mynydd Pen Y Fan back to Country Park
Weather: Dry, Sunny and Cold

Ysgyrdd Fawr - 22 May 2010
Ascent through woodland, ridge walk to trig. point on tip of Skirrid mountain
Weather: Sunny and Very Warm

Worms Head - 28 May 2010
Magical sunny day on the Gower Peninsula
Climb up Swirles Howe to trig. point on Rhossili Down.
Through village of Rhossili to headland above causeway.
Cross causeway to Inner Head of Worm.
Return to Rhosilli Beach and then Llangennith
Weather: Sunny and Warm

Mynnydd Llangattock - 10 June 2010
Gloomy day for a visit to the Lonely Shephard
Weather: Wet and Coldish

Fforest Fawr - 11 June 2010
Climb of Fan Llia, descent to Maen Llia monolithic standing stone.
Ascent of Fan Nedd then return to car park
Weather: Sunny and Mild

Hen Dy-aderyn - 24 June 2010
Successful search for the trig point on Llangattock Mountain
Weather: Sunny and Warm

Morlais Castle - 30 June 2010
Evening walk across limestone quarry opposite Brecon Mountain Railway
Visit to crypt, then return across golf course to car park.
Weather: Sunny and Warm

Morlais Castle

A local walk starting from the car park of the Brecon Mountain railway, during a balmy late Summers evening through the dis-used limestone quarries just north of Pant.

The area is now used extensively for climbing & abseiling instruction and we witnessed two groups working in different parts of the site. It is also used for motor-cross events.



Mike pointed out the entrance to this forty foot 'chimney' which his daughter squeezed through as part of a pot-holing exercise for her Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award. The exit at the top of the narrow chimney is shown below!



We also had some great views of Pen-Y-Fan at dusk, which was ten miles away as the crow flies.



This is all that remains of the old castle over-looking the golf course. Originally built around 1270 by the Earl of Gloucester and Lord of Glamorgan, Gilbert de Clare. It's construction at the furthest extreme of the boundary of his land demonstrates that he was probably planning raids into Vaynor with the intention of attempting to take lands from Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Lord of Brecknock.



It is thought that the castle was never properly finished. The violent dispute between these two Earls over the construction of Morlais Castle caused Edward I (Longshanks) to intervene and put both in the Tower of London. The King himself did not want Morlais Castle to be an important stronghold on the boundary between Glamorgan and Brecknock and he stamped his Royal control over these two powerful Norman Lords.



When the castle was excavated in 1833 by Lady Charlotte Guest (who translated The Mabinogion into english), coins from the reign of Edward I were discovered. Morlais was also excavated by the amateur Victorian archaeologist, G.T. Clark of the Dowlais Works.



We concluded the walk by taking a route through the golf course watching the last pair of the First team drive off the 18th tee in a league match before we finally adjourned to the Quarrymans Arms on Pant Road for refreshments.