Blaenavon and Blorenge 7th March 2010

We decided we needed to toughen up a bit for a visit to Scotchland in April.  So a mountain walk which we had done before a couple of years ago (and found not too strenuous, but boring at finish) might be a good idea.  Lots of photos here, which might tell a story.  Incidentally, a new record was set when we managed to go wrong DIRECTLY FROM THE CAR PARK thus avoiding the need to have map-reading mistakes or endless discussions about ambiguous instructions.  We just went up the wrong road (having driven up the right road twenty minutes earlier) and had to retrace our steps back to the car.  This added about a mile and a half.  Anyhoo, here are some photos....

Famous show-jumping horse called 'Foxhunter' is buried here, at start of ascent up Blorenge

We were so excited about this little bit of snow, not dreaming that we might see more...

On the summit of Blorenge

Proper snow, set like concrete, with huge footsteps in it

A rather extraordinary geological structure faces you at this point....

The descent from Blorenge

Self-timer photo and tripod used here... SUCH clever people...

This is just before a really hairy quarry path

This view from the pub. looking towards Blaenavon, would be a really good place for the walk to end.  Perhaps a taxi might be summoned to take one back to the car park in Blaenavon, instead of which it's a really humungous climb up a hillside to get on to a really boring path which winds towards the start of the walk.  More of that later, here's Margie's take on the vista of slagheaps from this viewpoint:

A tired Margie rises from a break on the long and boring road.  Following this, the walk back to the car involves a descent through fields, followed by a longish trek along a very muddy streambed, accompanied by barbed wire along one side.  An unsatisfactory end to an otherwise terrific walk, next time we'll change the way we tackle it.

Easton Gray Sunday Jan 24th 2010

From Walk West 3.  Our first walk of the year, an ambitious 7-miler on a beautifully sunny blue-sky morning.  A lovely ramble through fields and rolling country side, and a charge back along the Fosse Way - absolutely straight and level. 

When the sun went in about half way through we were a bit cold, and at five miles in we had both had enough, but then I'm sure that last 2 miles was good for our souls as well as our stamina.  Only crap photos from my mobile...