Brecon Beacons - Table Mountain

Date; Friday 9th December 2011
Start Point; Crickhowell
Distance; 4 miles
Time; 2 hrs
Guiness enjoyment rating; 7/10 (not long enough!)

On way back to Devon stopped off for one more walk to the summit of Crug Hywell, known by locals as Table Mountain.

It was quite a climb actually, or perhaps my limbs were now ready for a rest. The walk down was lovely, mostly along a winding stone wall and across various streams.

And to end my Brecon Beacons adventure a pic of my trusty companion on the way back to Crickhowell.

Brecon Beacons - Mynydd Illtud

Date; Thursday 8th December 2011
Start Point; Brecon Beacons Mountains Centre
Distance; 8 miles
Time; 3 hrs
Guiness enjoyment rating; 9/10

Yes, well you can't have nice weather every day can you? It was horrid all day and I chose a walk from the Pathfinder book (16) that was easy to follow and without hazards. It starts by crossing the Traeth Moor Nature Reserve and follows roads and bridleways to emerge onto the only open moorland part of the walk at Cefn Llechid.

Guiness actually had a great time, his enjoyment of walks seems to rise in accordance with how much rain there is. His Dad was secretly pleased to get back to the car.

Brecon Beacons - Sugar Loaf

Date; Wednesday 7th December 2011
Start Point; Llangenny
Distance; 9.5 miles
Time; 4 hrs 30 mins
Guiness enjoyment rating; 8/10

Sugar Loaf is one of the most popular mountains in the Brecon Beacons (according to the book!) and when you get there you can see why; there are many routes up it and all are very walkable and it's great for dogs.

It was a very windy day and once at the top it was time to turn straight around and come down again, but not before a photo of a windswept dog.

This is walk18 in the Pathfinder book but I veered away from the suggested route back and headed south and back via some woodland to emerge near a stream and another view of the mountain behind us. Mum, I was here when you called me...

The walk back to Llangenny was easy and relaxing across farmland. Really enjoyable walk.

Brecon Beacons - Pen y Fan

Date; Tuesday 6th December 2011
Start Point; Cwm Gwdi
Distance; 9.5 miles
Time; 5 hrs 15 mins
Guiness enjoyment rating; 9/10

Best walk ever! Got to start point at dawn and headed south toward the mountains. In this picture, Cribyn is left and Pen y Fan right.

Heading bewteen the two summits the route crosses the Cwm Sere up an extremely steep climb to reach the Bryn Teg pathway, and you are then faced with the ascent up Cribyn...

Guiness found this climb almost too much and I had to carry him up some rocky inclines and he was much relieved to reach the summit where the next climb came into view.

Actually the climb to Pen y Fan was pretty easy and Guiness soon had the distinction of being the highest dog in Southern Britain.


From the summit the next target is Corn Du a short distance away.

The route back is relatively easy and ended a fantastic walk.

Brecon Beacons - Ysgyryd Fawr

Date; Monday 5th December 2011
Start Point; Car park lay-by, east of Abergavenny
Distance; 3.3 miles
Time; 1 hrs 41 mins
Guiness enjoyment rating; 8/10

First of 5 walks in the Brecon Beacons (sorry Dartmoor, but I'll be back). This was a little tiddler on the way to my cottage. It starts up through Caer Wood before following the Beacons Way to the summit of Ysgyryd Fawr. This is walk 8 in the Pathfinder Guide (thanks Gill) and it advises to return the same route but I ventured further north and returned via woodland on the western side.

Short walk from Haytor

Start Point; Haytor Distance 5 miles
Time 2 hrs
Guiness enjoyment rating 8/10

Although Haytor is the most well known and easily accessible tor on the moor it also is a great place to walk (and not just a quick loop around the rock and back to the car).

Pictures to follow when I can find my camera cable.

Newbridge and Dr Blackall's Drive

Start Point; Newbridge
Distance 12 miles
Time 5 hrs 45 mins
Guiness enjoyment rating 9/10

On a gloriously sunny, with new camera in hand (or rather in carry case looped very securely around my neck) we were off to the moor again.  No exploring today, but mostly along tried and tested routes.  From Newbridge there is a climb before you enter the moor and onto Dr Blackall's Drive (This carriageway was laid down by the lord of Spitchwick Manor in the late 19th century). 

 

If you only ever walk once on Dartmoor give this one a go.  The views are wonderful.
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After a couple miles the 'Drive' turns into the Two Moors way before I veered off toward Sharp Tor

And then onward and downward to lovely Dartmeet.  People often mistakenly think this is where the East and West Darts meet.  Oh no, hang on, just checked the map, yes that is right actually.

Heading north along the West Dart we come to the point that was giving Guiness sleepless nights - the stepping stones.  No set of pictures on this walk would be complete without Guiness refusing to cross the River.  It was fine, in the end I just carried on and he ran back to the car and waited for me.  

The return leg - another view of Sharp Tor

And just a few yards before the end at Spitchwick.  I think we went here as kids - it's a lovely family spot. 
 

Another long walk, but Guiness and I loved it.

Merrivale Firing Range

Start Point; Two Bridges
Distance 12 miles
Time 5 hrs 30 mins
Guiness enjoyment rating 8/10

No photos today.  I did take some but half way along the camera stopped working.  I'm no expert but I think it's because it fell in the river a few seconds earlier.  Oh well, an excuse to treat myself to a new one.  Will try the Picture card in another camera, they might live on after all.

This walk is almost entirely within the Merrivale Range Danger Area which you can only enjoy when there is no live firing by the Army.  You are strongly advised not to enter when there is live firing as you certainly won't enjoy it if they shoot you.  The first half of the walk is the most enjoyable, passed Wistmans Wood and up over Cocks Hill to the standing stone just shy of White Tor.

The return leg is very well defined on the map but poorly on the ground and was marshy and boggy in places, fueled by recent rains and various leats and streams.  It was getting a bit frustrating and I think it was when crossing one of the leats that the camera decided he'd had enough and made a run for it.

Guiness had a great time, chasing his ball on the first half  and keeping close by in the latter stages in the false belief that I knew where I was going. 

Avon Dam Reservoir

Start Point; Shipley Bridge
Distance 11 miles
Time 4 hrs 45 mins
Guiness enjoyment rating 8/10

We're back.  This walk starts at Shipley Bridge, east of South Brent and follows a road toward Avon Dam Reservoir.

After all the recent dry spell I was expecting the Reservoir to be half empty but was pleasantly surprised that it was half full, slightly less after Guiness had a mouthful.

This photo - toward Pupers Hill is about 4 miles later after an eastward turn along Abbots Way and then a short road section via Cross Furzes.

The origins of this circular stone section are unknown, at least to me.

The final stretch is along an old Dismantled Tramway.  I wasn't entirely sure I was going in the right direction, but Guiness seemed to know the way.  A longer walk that I was planning but Guiness had no complaints.

Cadover Bridge

Start Point; Cadover Bridge (River Plym, 2 miles sw of Yelverton)
Distance 7 miles
Time 3 miles
Guiness enjoyment rating 8/10

A venture to the Southwestern side of the moor, this walk starts from Cadover Bridge...
 

and heads west thought lovely North Wood

We then headed to a viaduct where some people were risking life and limb abseiling for charity. 

A stray wolf made a brief appearance.

Heading north we soon came to a tunnel.  Guiness was naturally wary as he'd heard of the bright eyed monster that hid within. I found it really dark inside but being the clever thing I am I worked out (eventually) that I could improve this by taking off my sunglasses.

After heading east through we then climbed to Dewerstone Rock where Guiness insisted on posing for the camera.

And then it was a leisurely stroll across Wigford Down and back to the car.

Short loop form Bennett's Cross

Start Point; Bennett's Cross (on B3212, 2 miles from Postbridge)
Distance 5.5 miles
Time 2.hrs 15 mins
Guiness enjoyment rating 7/10

A little tiddler to start another season of walks on dartmoor with Guiness.  I choose not to walk on Dartmoor during winter; personal safety and welfare are improtant to me and in winter there is a hightened chance I might get wet.

This walk starts from Bennett's Cross and starts along the Two Moors Way before almost immediately veering south to Headland Warren Farm.

It then follows a path to 'the medieval village of Challacombe'...

 
before looping around and arriving back at the start via Soussons Down.  NIce little walk.