The lambs look so tasty

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Spring ... beautiful sunny days, odd rainy spells, lambs gambolling tastely in the fields, daffodils (must be wales). It's an amazing time of the year in the UK, that magical time after the harshness of winter is over and before the disappointment of summer promises are unrealised.

This weekend we ran off to the far west end of the Brecon Beacons National Park to the Black Mountain area. This is a series of summits, rather than one actual mountain and is one of the least developed parts of the Brecons so is full of lots of wide, open spaces.

Getting there was fun, leave work run and get car, pick up people and drive, drive, drive. Love Wales, but it's a long drive from London, although we did have a nice run until we had crossed the Severn Bridge (toll to get in, free to leave!) and they decided that 3 lanes of the M4 should become 1 (togetherness). Bit of a carpark for a while, but soon off and running for Abergavennay, then Brecon and across the top to drop down into the park from above. Driving in through the Fforest Fawr Geopark was cool even if I did manage to freak myself out a bit with ghost stories ... dark night, open road, empty space ... severed head banging on roof (not really, just in the story!). Didn't help that the petrol empty light was on!

We were staying at the YHA Llanddeusant overlooking the Sawdde Valley and spent 2 lovely days hiking out from the hostel. Saturday was hike up the valley and around Llyn y Fan Fach (pretty) and up along the ridges of Waun Lefrith over Picws Du and Fan Brycheiniog then down and back to the hostel (lots of impressive welsh names eh!). Basically, awesome scenery and we got to see the lake of folklore legend.

The story goes a local young man, agreed to marry a beautiful girl who came out of the lake on the condition that he did not hit her three times (WTF ... once would be the end of him). Anyway, he didn't keep his promise and she had to go back to the lake, but took all his livestock with her (payback baby)! Anyway, long folk tale short, she came back occasionally to teach the kids and they became famous doctors. Moral of the story (my interpretation), hit the missus, hope you have smart kids, as you'll need a doctor 😉.

Sunday was more hiking. I love how in one of the most populated parts of the world you can get away from the people and get out to open country and emptiness. There is nothing that lifts the soul as much as watching the play of light over an open landscape. You should try it some time, find a place where you can't see a building or people and just enjoy being in the space.

Pics for you! Jane x

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Comments

[Helen]

Great Photos
Great photos Jane and commentary, I wish I was in Wales with you. You will be an expert in the Welsh countryside soon. At least you could tell them how to pronounce names with a 'll'. see you soon. Cheers Helen

[Steve Greenwood]

Some details about Llanddeusant YHA
Here are some details for people interested in visiting YHA Llanddeusant: Set in the least developed area of the Brecon Beacons, the hostel overlooks the magical Sawdde Valley. There are trails that lead up to the legendary Llyn y Fan glacial lake and the heights of the Carmarthen Fans. It is also possible to find circular walks that will take you to an Iron Age fort, Roman camps and standing stones nearby. The hostel retains many of its original features having once been an Inn dating back to 1789, and you are sure to receive a warm welcome with an open fire in the lounge if it's particularly cold. The Black Mountain Red Kite feeding station is a mile away. Hope this helps Steve from Hostelling International (hihostels.com)