Saturday 29th September - Mynydd Machen

A 'strenuous but extremely rewarding' walk in the Welsh Hills, 11 miles on a beautiful September day.  The weather was changeable, and often breezy, but much of the six hours this walk took us was under a bright blue sky, and we were often warmed by the sun.

This is definitely a contender for the best Geoff Mullett walk we have done - so far - with wonderful distant scenic views, from hills and valleys, to towns, roads, rail, and more distantly the Severn Estuary with the two bridges.

 There was a 'Rural Market' in the car park in Machen which gave us an excuse to delay the start of climbing whilst we bought some spicy tomato chutney, and some blue cheese.

 Views starting to open up after in tough initial climb.  Much of the treescape during with walk was in spectacular Technicolor, with autumn starting to affect the deciduous trees...

 ... and bright yellows (which this picture does not do justice to), oranges and reds emerging.

 When Margie went to investigate these huge fungal growths, she found that the shape was wood, where the tree trunk was distorted, and the fungus had wrapped itself around.

 We sat by the side of this lovely path for a coffee break

 Changing scenic views as we approached the furthest point of the walk

 It was around this point where we had to stand aside for two offroad motorbikes being driven with great brio up the spoil tips, followed a minute later by a van bouncing along the rough track towards us.  They asked us if we had seen two bikes... we thought at the time that they were police, but on reflection they were more likely wardens or rangers.

 Old spoil tips formed some of the landscape

 This lovely wall went on for what seeed like miles

 Some lovely Charolais cattle, unusually in mixed fields with sheep.

 Quite a lot of walking through larch plantations, soft paths which were great to walk on, but we were sorry not to be in the sun more on parts of this walk.

 On the ex-railway cycle path, several of these streams flowed down the steep hill (which this photo does not really show) and under the path.

 A rather wonderful wooden sculpure by some very smart road barriers

 On the ascent to Mynydd Machen the hills opposite were rather denuded, but some great colours in the sun.

 The absolutely gorgeous track up to the summit... the hard work has been done and there is a gentle ascent for the last section.

 The trig point shares the hill top with an installation of aerials.

There was a spooky, enchanted light in the woodland... here we are on the final (and pleasingly gradual) descent back to Machen.  We completed this walk feeling good - our fitness over the past few weeks, (since the epic Uphill to Loxton slog) has improved greatly.  Bring on the Caerphiilly Summits!