The Black Mountains form the eastern chunk of the Brecon Beacons National Park. They consist of four long north-south ridges and their associated valleys, only one of which, the Vale of Ewyas has a through road. Arguably the finest ridge is the western most one which dominates Crickhowell and the Usk Valley at the southern end. It culminates in a flat topped hill occupied by an ancient hill fort called Crug Hywel, but now more commonly referred to as Table Mountain. At the base of this hill is located Perth-y-Pia, our base for the autumn trip.
Perth-y-Pia (GR 230207 ) used to be a mountain farm, but has now been converted to bunkhouses by two enterprising locals. Luxury accommodation is provided in the 15th century farmhouse and the barn both of which can sleep l 6 people each. Prices vary for the two buildings, but as long as we can get 20 people split evenly between the two this is not a problem. Apart from the magnificent views and the original hearth and bread oven in the farmhouse both buildings have excellent, fully equipped facilities with the barn being slightly more luxurious. Duvets and pillows are provided so bring your own linen or sleeping bag. The farmhouse has five bedrooms (3x4, 1x3 and l x l beds) and the barn has 4 bedrooms. Two websites www.pert-y-pia.co.uk and www.blackmountainscottgeandbunkhouses.co.uk give an excellent idea of what to expect.
Direct access to Table Mountain can be made from Perth-y-Pia and the long ridge over Pen Allt Mawr continuing as a superb horseshoe walk around the Fechan Valley. Alternatively, the very conspicuous Sugar Loaf dominating the valley to the east offers an attractive target. The Vale of Ewyas and Llanthony Priory are just a very short drive away. Any church buffs amongst us can see the beautiful wooden rood loft in Patrishow (one that Oliver Cromwell failed to destroy) and the distinctive church at Cwmyoy (best to walk to the altar with eyes closed before turning around to look). Numerous bridleways make the area a mecca for mountain bikers as the number of pony trekkers will testify ! The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal across the Usk from Crickhowell offers leisurely walking, whilst the more dramatic peaks of the Brecon Beacons are within easy driving distance.
Getting to Perth-y-pia by using sat nav and the post code is not to be recommended. Apart from the obvious error that people drive to Llanbedr in Snowdonia by mistake visitors have apparently ended up stuck in rather narrow places. The best plan is to drive to Crickhowell along the A40 and take one of two minor roads on the right in the village centre signposted for Llanbedr. Less than two miles later reach a T-junction by a small wood. Turning right here leads to Llanbedr and The Red Lion. However, continue ahead for 300 yards passing Ty-Mawr Farm on the right. One hundred yards later turn left as the farm track climbs steeply to Perth-y-pia. Any problems contact Freda Jones at Ts-Mawr (tel 01 8738 1 0 1 64)
Friday 19th - Sunday 21st June 2009 Ennerdale,
Lake District
Justine hasn't quite confessed yet to
having a bookshelf of Wainwright Books or a suitcase full of related
memorabilia hidden under her bed, but what is true was that she was impressed
by the scenery around Ennerdale whilst watching one
of Julia Bradbury's 'Walks with Wainwright TV programs. So, having let my
defenses down for a moment, or was it Justine's sophisticated persuasion
techniques, pursued the request and as a consequence SHOT will be celebrating
the longest weekend of the year in this part of the Lake District.
Low Gillerthwaite
Field Centre is situated close to Ennerdale Youth
Hostel and is run by Carol (climber and outdoor type) as a base for school
groups undertaking a variety of outdoor pursuits. It also offers group
accommodation for punters like us. It has a grand total of 40 beds (2x4,1x8,1x1 and 1x14) and we have sole use as 25 beds have been
booked. There are the usual self catering facilities, drying room, lecture room
and library of environmental books. Because of its remote location Low Gillerthwaite generates its own electricity and then relies
on gas lighting later in the evening. Further details can be found on www.lgfc.org.uk.
Please bring a sleeping bag. The nearest pub at Ennerdale Bridge is a veryslow
7 mile drive away so bring sufficient refreshments.
At this time of year Ennerdale will be getting the maximum amount of evening
daylight as it lies orientated towards the north west. When viewed from Angler's Crag on
the south-west corner of Ennerdale Water, Ennerdale with its forest plantations has a distinctive
Scottish appearance. Much work has been carried out in the last twenty years to
soften the harsh straight outlines and the regimented ranks of conifers by
selective felling and a replanting program of deciduous trees.
A super long horseshoe of wonderful
mountains completely encircles this valley. Access to the southern side is much
easier than that of the north. Red Pike, High Stile, High
Crag. Great Gable, Kirk Fell, Pillar, Steeple and Haycock are the main
mountain summits. Justine, will no doubt, be leading an expedition up the valley towards Black
Sail Youth Hostel where she can continue on a pilgrimage to the place where
Wainwright's ashes were scattered. Hay Stacks and the nearby Innominate Tarn were his favourite
places in all of Lakeland. On a good day Hay Stacks with its central and
relatively isolated position has a fantastic panoramic view. For the more
adventurous Pillar Rock, a small 
peak below Pillar,
has the rather interesting Slab and Notch scramble and the superb Shamrock
Traverse mountain path contouring across the mountain sides. An equally and
potentially very long day can also be made by crossing the Floutern
Pass and listing Buttermere with its two pubs, or
better still just going as far as the excellent Kirkstile
lnn home brew pub in Loweswater.
Ennerdale
lies in the North-West segment of the Lake District and is best approached via the
A5086 from Wordsworth's home town of Cockermouth (also that of Fletcher Christian
and Sir John Dalton).
Lamplugh or Ennerdale Bridge should be target points from where
very minor roads lead to the parking area at Bowness
Knott half way along Ennerdale Water. This is where
the public road terminates and the track beyond has traffic restrictions.
Visitors to Low Gillerthwaite are allowed access.
Just over two mites beyond the car park and after the end of the lake the
centre will be seen below the track on the right hand side. Continue forward
for another 200 yards before you can turn around and drive down its access
track. Do not go to the Youth Hostel. Parking is limited to about 10 vehicles.
Once all the places have been occupied late arrivals must park at Bowness Knott. The best option for folk such as Julian is
to dump gear at the centre and ask for a volunteer to shuttle back from Bowness Knott. Mobile phones do not work in the valley.
Please send
the usual £5 deposit to Gustav to secure a bed or two.
Lofthouse - Nidderdale
13th - 15th March
When given the exciting task, just after the Second World War, of
delineating the boundaries for National Parks covering the most beautiful
countryside of England and Wales, those responsible must have had
palpitations of the heart when they
realized just how enormous the one
would be covering the Yorkshire
Dales.
Not only would it be by far the
biggest, but including the Howgills
(in the west) and Nidderdale (in the
east) would make it super sized in
comparisons with the others and
perhaps in their eyes
unmanageable Both areas are
worthy of National Park status, but perhaps lacking the courage of their
convictions they were excluded and demoted to the second tier as Areas of
Outstanding Natural Beauty The Howgills, it could be argued, do not have
the same landscape characteristics as the rest of the Yorkshire Dales, but
Nidderdale ...
Three reservoirs (Gouthwaite, Scar House and Angram) are located in the
upper part of Nidderdale - reason enough perhaps to earn the valley a
black mark or three Lofthouse is a small village situated between
Gouthwaite and Scar House Reservoirs and the point from which the dale
road can escape north-eastwards across the moors towards that well known
mecca for beer addicts known as Masham. One mile up the hill above
Lofthouse the minor road ends in the cul-de-sac village of Middlesmoor
perched high up on a spur between the two main tributaries of the Infant
Nidd and affording an excellent vantage point for views down the entire
length of Nidderdale. Both these villages have pubs as does nearby
Ramsgill.
Studfold Farm Activity Centre is situated Just off the road between these two villages in
an area that is euphemistically called 'Little Switzerland. The bunkhouse contains four
bedrooms with 30 bunk beds (1x14, 1x12 and 2x2 beds), a dining area with class room
style seating, a kitchen and preparation room, three showers and toilet facilities Access
their website www studfoldfarm.co.uk for further Information.
Please bring a sleeping bag.
The best way to approach Nidderdale for most
people is via Harrogate. Pateley Bridge is the main
centre for Nidderdale and can be reached by the
B6165 from Ripley north of Harrogate. Minor roads
lead up Nidderdale passing through Wath,
Ramsgills and then Lofthouse. Here take the road
for Middlesmoor shortly crossing a river bridge.
One hundred yards after a left hand bend the road
turns sharp right for the ascent to Middlesmoor.
Continue straight ahead at this junction for two
hundred yards, signposted for How Stean Gorge,
go past a car park and then immediately after
crossing another bridge turn sharp left for the
Studfold Farm Activity Centre (GR 098732).
Many areas play their tourist cards with a
Matterhorn or Sugarloaf or Little Switzerland analogy Here in Nidderdale the nearby
How Stean Gorge attraction provides a rather tenuous 'Little Switzerland' tag in an
attempt to pull the punters away from the multifarious millstone grit formations of
Brimham Rocks Just east of Pateley Bridge. Rough, arduous and boggy moorland rising
west up to Great Whernside and north to Little Whernside provides classic Pennine water
gathering ground for the reservoirs. However, an arc of grouse shooting moors with
some excellent bulldozed tracks sweeping
around from Scar House to Gouthwaite
Reservoirs provides more alienable walking. The
Nidderdale Way provides attractive valley
bottom walking; Gouthwaite Reservoir pulls in
the twitchers; industrial archaeologists will find
interest in the former railbeds of the reservoir
constructions ; and a visit to Masham will appeal
to beer aficionados Please send the usual £ 5
deposit to Gustav to book a place.
Christmas Trip - TBC
4th - 7th December 2009
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