Around the Llantysilio Mountains 4th August 2011

At the top of Moel y Faen, clouds starting to lift.

The Berwyn Quarry, still in use.

Walking through the heather.

Contrasting Gorse and Heather.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.4 miles. Climb:1556'.

Time 4 hours 40 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Paul, Celia, Fran and Tito, Sue and Dave P.

We arrived at the start with even the low tops decked in cloud and still raining. We had no choice but to go over the road and have tea or coffee and for some cake and biscuits in the Ponderosa cafe.  Enjoying ourselves so much in the cafe, we hadn't noticed that it had stopped raining and the clouds had almost completely lifted.

We set off on our usual route along the main path to the summit of  Moel y Faen, but then set off for the Berwyn Quarry instead of continuing on the main ridge.  Much of this route was just contouring around the hill through the flowering heather and gorse, in places giving a superb and contrasting appearance to the slopes.

Eventually we returned to the main ridge path and the slog up to the trig point on Moel Morfydd.  This was to be a lunch spot for the day, with the Sun shining and a delightfully cooling breeze taking the earlier humidity away.

Just after lunch I received a text from Sylvia announcing the arrival of her new granddaughter, Jocelyn Ann Broad. No wonder the Sun was shining!

Not many birds today, but we were lucky enough to see a Badger trundling towards us along the minor road near Bwlch y Groes. It didn't seem to notice us, but veered off the road to the East of the road and disappeared.

Many of the gates along the path to Plas Norway had been replaced with new bridleway type gates, but there  stiles near the tip and Plas Norway are still missing.

Birds seen or heard today included: Meadow pipit, Carrion crow, Raven, Stonechat, Red grouse and Common buzzard.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Bridge Inn at Pontblyddyn where Cottage Vulcan was the beer that went down best.

I arrived home, wondering how far the decorators had manged to get on during the day, to find that the floor boards in one corner had collapsed beneath them!  Thankfully it happened during the removal of the old paper and before a new work had been done.