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Black Mountains, Wales – Mini-METHS July 7-11, 2009

Participants: Rupert (West Face) and Sally Roschnik, Mike (Mad) and Verena (Muesli) Petzold, Stephen (Ballcrusher) and Pauline Ward, Brian (Air Malawi's Last Hope) and Jane Sayers, Peter (Up the Down) and Antonia Tolhurst, Ian (Mad Axeman) Mason, David (Harriruo) Harrison, and David (Shooting Stick) Leishman (13)

13 of us assembled to try to do justice to the Black Mountains in South Wales, METHS-style, a second year in succession, this time concentrating our activities on the Northern escarpment which we approached from Hay-on-Wye, where we stayed in B. and B. accommodation for the 4 nights, most of us at the La Fosse Guesthouse. The weather was kind to us and although it was at times windy and overcast, I don't remember being rained on. In Wales that counts as a minor miracle! Leaders: Peter and Antonia Tolhurst.

Day One: All of us, major and minor walkers set off together from the base of Hay Bluff - 677 m and climbed up onto the escarpment. There most of the party then turned South East and joined the Offa's Dyke path before turning off towards the Black Hill and the Cat's Back. The latter is a delightful ridge descent with fine views on each side and which brings you down into the Olchon Valley. The steep sided valleys between the whaleback ridges of the Black Mountains are a special delight – full of trees and stone walls, rushing streams and isolated farmhouses, hidden retreats from the world, often with their own chapels and little churches. They are the natural home of shrines. From there we climbed up the facing hillside to join Offa's Dyke again and thence walked northwest back to the escarpment and down Hay Bluff again. A fine circular tour.

Mike did his own variant by missing the right turn onto Offa's Dyke path and descending to Capel-y-ffin instead. A long walk along the road took him over Gospel Pass and the Tolhursts were able to pick him up on the road between this pass and the car park below Hay Bluff.

Day Two: Starting from Gospel Pass (between Hay Bluff and Lord Hereford's Knob, 690 m) we ascended the latter and followed the escarpment edge to Rhiw y Fan and Rhos Dirion, 713 m. Again we turned south east and strode along the whaleback ridge above the Vale of Ewyas, before descending down into it and crossing it via Capel-y-ffin. Here in the Graveyard (suitably) we had lunch and ate our sandwiches. We viewed the Monastery and then climbed up onto the Offa's Dyke ridge which took us straight back to the head of the Gospel Pass.

Day Three: The walking party split into two - one half the chaps, the other the ladies: David L, Rupert, Steven and Peter T went on the long haul while Antonia, Sally, Pauline and 'chaperon' Axeman slipped into the valleys and left the heights above. The long haulers, alias the 'Yompers' set out from Gospel Pass and went west (don't they always !) to Rhos Dirion and then up to Waun Fach, 811 m (the high point of the Black Mountains), eating lunch on Pen y Gadair Fawr, 800 m, and descending northwards to the Grwyne Fawr reservoir: here Rupert's nose for a good route proved useful as we had only myriad sheep paths to guide us. Up from there to join the Twyn Talycefn ridge and the long yomp back to Rhos Dirion and the starting point. Antonia's party enjoyed the pleasures of the Ewyas vale, both sides of the river, in the lusher surroundings of the valley, before returning home.

Mention should also be made of Up the Down's birthday party at The Baskerville Arms Hotel in Clyro, where Mad Mike and Verena had installed themselves, and where we all had supper on the third night. A birthday cake was presented and cut into 13 slices so that everyone could have a slice and the birthday boy was surprised and very pleased at this and his other presents!!

CONCLUSION: Nearly all of the party have attended previous meets over the past 3 years in the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains of South Wales, so this year like others was a happy reunion as much as anything else. Next year: return to the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountain! (not Mountains).