Looking down to frosty fields

Waymarker on Graig fawr

The route up

Lunch looking towards Pentwyn Mawr

These lovely hills have not escaped the scourge of the windmills.

Control your temper!

Not footpaths but signs to wind things

As we descended towards the road  at Penlle`r Castell we discovered the tarmac was an ice sheet and watched a car and a van precariously manoeuvring their way down, the car in reverse!

Frost

Slight thaw

My wife and I were visiting our son and partner in Chester the town where my wife’s sister also lives and whose husband,Andy is one of my outdoor buddies.

A decision was taken to walk near Llangollen visting Castell Dinas Bran and then onto Creigiau Eglwyseg, the limestone ridge with the return down an “interesting” gulley and back partly along Offas Dyke path underneath the ridge.

Route (Viewranger)

Crow or in Welsh Bran

The route up

Ruin of the castle

Interesting descent

Andy route finding

Looking up another valley

Outcrop

Town Falls Llangollen

Back in Llangollen we celebrated by having a chocolate drink and a visit to a gear shop – just to browse.

The weather was perfect, cold with extensive views with the hills on the opposite side of the Dee Valley covered in frost.

Paul suggested a walk based on the book by Alan Richards and chose the walk based on Kidwelly.

Route

We started with a cup of coffee in the cafe next to the castle and then set off skirting the castle with the Afon Gwendraeth Fach on our right.

The route then took us onto Mynyddygarreg with fine views all around to include the hill on the other side of the main road where we would be heading to.

The first of many green lanes

Gwenllian Pool

We were too late to apply

Descending  from Mynyddygarreg we passed by the ruin of Maes Gwenllian and onto a a minor road passing Capel Horeb an imposing red brick Methodist chapel.

Abandoned farmhouse

Continuing down we came across a small holding with what appeared a large area for growing vegetables contained in a walled area much like a drained swimming pool. The veg was growing in raised beds  formed from numerous old tyres.

The good life

A good use of old tyres

As we were having lunch the owner came past in a car and stopped for a chat. He told us the garden used to be a small reservoir which fed the gunpowder works in Pembrey.

Lovely sign post.

Following lunch we crossed the main road and headed uphill to eventually descend again into Kidwelly. Throughout the walk we walked along a number of splendid green lanes, some like tunnels covered in the recent autumn leaves.

You looking at me?

Another green lane

Curious cattle

Splendid lane

But this is December

Looking down to Kidwelly

He’s back. The Navigator is back in control and todays trip was to be in the Puncheston area of Pembrokeshire taking into account Mynydd Castlebythe and the lower slopes of Mynydd Cilciffeth.

Route

The weather was a little dreary with little in the way of clear skies, which was a shame as these modest hills would give excellent views of the Preseli Hills, Carn Ingli and the coast down towards St Davids.

With the car parked we walked south east through Morvil where an old church was being repaired, whether for private use or the church I do not know.

Mynydd Castlebythe

Summit of Mynydd Castlebythe looking towards Carningli

Bridleway on Mynydd Cilciffeth