Black Mountains from Llanthony Priory
Co-ordinators - Andrew Beckett and Keith Towell
Turn! Turn! Turn! A year ago we planned a meet based at the Llanthony Court Campsite in the Vale of Ewyas, north of Abergavenny. Then we heard that our meet weekend coincided with the Llanthony Festival, so the campsite was predicted to be very busy and perhaps noisy at night. We therefore switched to the Cwmdu Campsite a few miles to the west, which was something of a success; to the extent that we proposed a return this year. But now we discover that that campsite is in high demand for this year’s Green Man Festival in Brecon and we have had difficulty booking there. So we’re reverting to Plan A and Llanthony (SO289278; www.llanthonycamping.co.uk). This site is more basic than the Cwmdu one; toilets and running water are provided but no showers. But it’s in a scenic location adjacent to the 12th century Llanthony Priory with a hotel bar close at hand. We will aim to organise a group meal in the bar for those participants opting in at least two weeks in advance.
There is superb cycling over the Gospel Pass leading to Hay-on-Wye. If you missed Keith Towell’s cycling meet here a few years ago, here is a chance to catch up.
For walkers, there is an option of a 29km/ 900m walk over the Black Mountains, starting along Offa’s Dyke and heading north to Hay Bluff, then SW over Lord Hereford’s Knob to Rhos Dirion and SE to Bâl Bach before returning to Llanthony. But there are some shorter alternatives; one can drive a short distance to the very attractive Capel-y-ffin and do a shorter circuit around Hay Bluff, or start from Llanthony and descend to Capel-y-ffin before returning via the Chwarel y Fan ridge to the west. To extend the expedition, one might cross over the Offa’s Dyke ridge and the Olchon Valley to re-ascend the Cat’s Back ridge (with a short section of mild scrambling) before following the ridge from there to Hay Bluff. Andrew will aim to do one of these on the Saturday, depending on the weather.
For the Sunday the options include the Sugar Loaf, Pen y Fan and Waun Fach, the highest top in the Black Mountains.
Please let us know if you intend to come, particularly if you’d like to opt in to the group meal.