No wonder the BBC wants a new weather forecasting company. The forecast for West Wales especially south of Haverfordwest was for dry weather with sunny periods. Wrong, wrong. It was raining when we left The Navigator’s house and increased in intensity by the time we arrived at the car park in Little Milford. A few hardy dog walkers left their cars but we waited for a while. However we had to don our full waterproof kit before setting off through the woodlands.

Route

Once through the wood we headed south east along various footpaths, passing Nash Wood and the farms of North Nash and Great Nash. We met a friendly farmer who privately probably questioned our sanity walking through rain and somewhat wet and muddy paths and even gave his permission to leave a  footpath and cross his fields. However we are made of sterner stuff and kept to the paths, which weren’t too bad.

Our route took us east into Llangwm where we found a picnic bench overlooking the Cleddau waterway for lunch. From here we walked along the riverside path to Black Tar Point and then inland to Sprinkle Farm and on to Sprinkle Pill.

The Cleddau Waterway is a lovely area with  lots of inlets, known as pills in this area. They have a mysterious feeling about them, with muddy creeks and the occasional houses close to the water.

Once reaching the main waterway of the western Cleddau near Underwood we walked west along a muddy foreshore passing by a derelict wooden quay.

This whole area was mined for coal in years gone by and there was evidence of this in orange coloured streams running into the Cleddau and warnings of old mine workings.

Although it was still August, signs of Autumn were evident with blackberries ripening, sloes and puffballs seen.

The muddy track was left and we climbed uo to Hook before once again following a path down through some woods and back to the car.

The Navigator’s project is nearing the end but today a visit to a supplier of stone was called for where a large quantity of Scottish cobbles was ordered. Payment made we continued on to the start of our walk.

Route

The car was parked just off the main road near Canaston Bridge and we were soon crossing fields heading to the village of Llawhaden.

We continued on along paths and bridleways close to the Eastern Cleddau river and came across a sign for Holgan Camp.

There is a fort shown on the OS map although not named and amazingly nothing on Google about it. We headed uphill hoping to find the camp but the path was clearly not often walked and unfortunately there was no view at the top as the tree cover was dense. We returned downhill and stopped for lunch.

Refreshed we commenced our return, crossing the river and then following this south. A decision was made to follow the bridleway and not the parallel footpath. I now remembered this route from a bike ride I had some years ago where there were large stretches of flood water, but that had been winter time. It made no difference as the flood waters were still here in August!

We eventually found dry land and walked into Robeston Wathan an old bottle neck on the way west but now a quiet backwater following the building of a by pass.

We followed a rough lane under the by pass and into the wooded area of Canaston Woods which led us to Blackpool Mill now closed.

From here it was a short distance back to the car crossing again under the bypass.

For the last few years I have travelled to Brecon with Mr &Mrs Navigator, not only for a walk but also to help erect Mrs Navigators tent. She enjoys visiting the Brecon Jazz festival and glamping – Z beds and duvets are the order here.

At short notice Mr Navigator pulled out, as a serious man illness had laid him low (since diagnosed as novovirus) and I had to take over as a route finder. A quick research of the many guide books I own found a suitable walk starting and finishing  at Talybont on Usk.

Route.

My neighbour Paul had joined us and we set off to first walk along a section of the Bryn Oer Tramroad, once linking Tredegar and Talybont. There are good views of the eastern end of the Brecon Beacons and the Talybont Reservoir as we walked up the tramway. Almost opposite the dam we turned east before joining the tow path of the Monmouth and Brecon canal which led us back to Talybont.

From here we drove to Brecon and the Priory Mill Farm campsite to erect the tent which went well and reasonably quick.

Paul and I left Mrs Navigator to now fend for herself and we drove home.