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Sussex Scrapbook ~ Wildlife walks throughout the year
Green Man
Saturday 14th July - Saturday 21st July
Builth Wells, Brecon Beacons, South Wales.

I go to the Brecon's at least once a year but Gill had never been. I got the feeling she didn't like the idea, possibly because I usually stay in a dormitory and that would be her idea of a nightmare. This time we had a cottage to ourselves and we hadn't been there long before it was obvious she had fallen in love with the area, especially as Hay-on-Wye, the town of books and her spiritual home was just down the road.
We had a perfect holiday which included; three wonderful mountain days, a waterfall walk, several caves, some of the best roads in the country for a motorbike, we spotted Brown Trout in the River Wye and found an Otter's midden on the bank of the Afon Honddu, we watched Kingfisher and Dipper fishing, we ate Welsh leeks, we even accidentally found the farm (named 'The Vision') that was the inspiration for the farm in 'On the Black Hill' by Bruce Chatwin. What's more we had proper summer weather the whole week with only 10 minutes of rain while we were riding.
We've been to some wonderful places in Britain but this was the first to bring my wife to tears on leaving.


Builth Wells


A late start meant we were never going to comfortably do all of the beacons so we opted for Fan-y-Big and Crybin only.


Caterpillar of an Emperor Moth.


The bone cave at  Dan Yr Ogof


After exploring the caves we set off exploring the Black Mountains above them.


Off the beaten track, pushing through the deep growth with sink holes all around us.


To our own private waterfall, pool and tea spot.


Fan Hir


Hay-on-Wye


We started another walk from the village of Llanthony with it's ruined priory.


The Wales/England (Herefordshire) border at the Olchan Valley from the very beautiful Hatterall Ridge.


The view back down the hidden Vale of Ewyas


The Vision


A tea stop on a very quiet bit of the Afon Honddu


Part of the Otter's midden we found with spraint and paw prints.


The start of the Four Waterfalls Walk also has caves.


Behind Sgwd yr Eira

 


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