Hi fellow Trekkers,

Many thanks are extended to the ever-ebullient Dai Horton for leading Friday evening's walk around Kenfig Nature Reserve, as well as the considerably more strenuous romp around Ystrafellte reservoir on Sunday. My legs, which throb and ache pleasantly from these exertions bear witness to some excellent trekking around some of the finest countryside of South Wales!

Sun and sand greeted those of us that joined Dave for a gentle stroll around Kenfig Nature Reserve on Friday evening.Home to the ancient and buried (by sand) village of Kenfig the dunes have a long and well documented history.Channel Four's Time Team dug around the bank surrounding Kenfig castle some years ago and there is ample reportage of this (for those interested) on Channel Four's website. This huge dune system did, incidentally, once stretch from Ogmore to Gower, the bit remaining that our intrepid crew walked on/in a mere portion of this at 100 square acres.

The path our (sizeable) group took from the (free) car park wriggled its way gently to the sea along sandy paths. We then followed the path running adjacent to the sea to reach Sker rocks, a solitary angler chancing his luck at its furthermost point.Young, curious bullocks greeted us next on the wind-swept grass land behind Sker beach, the thousands of sea shaped rocks scattered around on the grass testament to the sea's awesome power. Turning back, the prominent Grade one listed Sker house was clearly visible in the distance.Dating back to the 12th Century, this building originally served as a :

" monastic grange of neath Abbey, where it provided accommodation for the brethren along with a chapel for daily monastic services" (hauntedwales.co.uk).

Who'd have thought that?!

As you might have guessed, the house is very much haunted, supposedly by the troubled ghost of the long dead Elizabeth Williams (a farmer's daughter) who died (apparently) from a broken heart. Bless.Elizabeth's anguished soul is said to wail and scream behind the four walls of Sker house.Poor Elizabeth, will she ever find peace one wonders?

We left this phantom (of the imagination) to her ghostly and eternal suffering, to meander back to the cars through deep sand, surprisingly hot and sweaty at the finish. Then on to The (also haunted) Prince of Wales to enjoy an outside drink, the setting sun a deep orange upon the horizon. Thanks again Dave.

On Sunday, a group of "elite" (just kidding) trekkers braved a strenuous circuit of Ystrafellte reservoir. My  Jackhuahua Yogi (much beloved) caused much merriment with his unruly antics, deciding on two occassions to attempt to catch and eat sheep with his little teeth.I dutifully chased him down at full pelt (not pretty), slipping and sliding with wild abandon in my demonic attempts to capture the little bugger!Needless to say, he shall remain on his lead amongst sheep henceforth until he can behave himself.Sorry Farmer.Sorry sheep.

Despite these unwanted (from my point of view) distractions the walk turned into a beauty, with climbs up Fan Llia and Fan Fawr offering exceptional views of the surrounding countryside from their respective summits. Lunch was taken under a small outcrop of rocks overlooking Craig Cerrig Gliesied and it is safe to say that it was a struggle for all to extract ourselves from this special place to continue our walk!

A steep climb greeted us not long after lunch, each of us bunkering down into the solitude of our individual thoughts as we seperately made our way to the top.A gentle, cooling rain broke just as we began our descent to the reservoir itself which was surprisingly welcome.A final climb from the reservoir over marshy ground and then the descent on the other side saw us back at the cars, a dip for the dogs in the fford near the car park a well earned treat!

Post-walk drinks were taken in the New Inn (Ystrafellte), which (being under new management) offered a warm welcome second to none!Thanks go to Tricia for humouring the author of this news letter by reluctantly placing a ornamental jousting helmet on her head, and to Caroline and Silvana for continuing to turn up consistently (whatever the level of walk) week in, week out.Good on you ladies! Pictures of the walk just described can be found on the TT facebook page, offerings from Wayne and Dylan of particular worthiness I feel.

Come stomp the boards next Sunday on Christian's pleasant eight mile stroll arounf Laurgharne. Please contact Christian on 07921 840 629 for details, or check the (as yet updated) TT programme page.

That's all from me trekkers. I shall leave you with some wise words :

" After a day's walk everything has twice its usual value"

                                                                                  Wallace Stevens.

Paul Harris