Newsletter - Vale of Ewyas walk - Sat 23rd May

Hi everyone,


A few things to mention in this weeks newsletter!


1. Pam is arranging a boat trip around the Gower on the Sea Serpent on Saturday 27th June at 1.30pm. Cost approximately £23 per person. A great oportunity to explore Gower wildlife and views of the coastline from the water. If you're interested and want more details please call Pam on 07967 466690 asap.


2. Another propsoed boat trip comes from Tom. His plans are to take the "Waverley" (the last ocean going steam paddle steamer in the world) from Swansea to Ilfracombe on Sunday 14th June and then take a short walk along to the mullacott valley before heading home! The cost for this trip is £27 per person. Apparently the Waverley is only in Swansea for limited time so perhaps not an opportunity to be missed?!
If you're interested and want more details please call Tom.J on 07980 477164 asap


3. Summer 2009 Tawe Trekkers Programme - thanks to everyone who's offered to lead a walk on the next programme. Once again we've a variety of walks and locations coming up. Please can leaders let me have details of their walk (if they haven't already) by the end of this week to ensure the new programme is available asap! Thank you


4. And last but not least here's the details of Toms walk in the Vale of Ewyas in the Black mountains on Sat 23rd May. Please note the earlier start time due to the distance to travel, but it's definately worth the longer car journey!

Walk description: From the village take farm tracks and zig zagging back up onto offas dyke trail, an ancient country-long earthwork built by an Anglo saxon king. Then, follow this northwards to the prominent top of Hay bluff and views from black mountains escarpment, then descend to Gospel pass and re-ascend to Lord herefords Knob, the second of the day's summits. Progress along stunning cliff edge to Rhos Dirion, the highest point of the walk with a majestic trig point, and then descend southwards on way back over the western arm of the enclosing glacial valley and descend down the valley side back to Capel y Ffin.Option afterwards, time allowing to visit the augustinian prioy ruins at Llanthony and to sojourn at the pub IN the abbey, the undercroft has been converted into an amazing pub.
Grade: Strenuous. Ascent: 2500ft Terrain: Moorland, farm tracks, sheep pasture, peaty mountainside.
Start point and time: 9.00am from Swansea hall car park or 10.30am from the few gravel car parking places at Capel y Ffin, a village with two chapels 3 miles North of Llanthony Abbey in the vale of Ewyas.
Directions: This valley is off the A465, a few miles NE of Abergaveny in Monmouthshire (best reached along heads of the valleys road via vale of Neath from Swansea, or M4, A40 for all other routes).
Parking:If there are no places when you arrive at Capel y Ffin, take a small road to the left as you enter the village and travel 700 metres up a slight hill to parking areas at a Monastery or at the nearby Stables, and walk down to assembly point in the village near the red telephone box. Grid ref: S0 252 314. Os map Explored OL13 Distance: 12 miles.
Dog friendly? Yes..only a few stiles, mainly gates to negotiate.


The location is spectacular, do not forget your camera. This is one of my favourate valleys in Wales and the UK. The route is a classic and one of the finest mountain walks in Wales...and is well worth the slightly longer than usual drive. The fewer cars the better due to limited parking options on a bank holiday weekend. Beware of driving north up the valley, narrow and twisty with blind bends.
If you have any questions or plan to go straight to the start point please call
Tom J on: 07980 477164

Think thats it for this week! Any other queries please call me on 0780 726441

Trudi