Walk summary
After completing the remaining six sub-Nuttall Marilyns of Area 32A:Llandovery to Monmouth east of the Brecon Beacons it is time to move on from YHA Llangattock Mountain Bunkhouse to Tredegar Caravan Club Site, Newport. Three obvious Marilyns to pick off on the way down; Mynydd Coety, Mynydd Carn-y-cefn and Mynydd Twyn-glas.
However in line with my new wisdom to not over do things I felt a rest day was due either today or tomorrow so I had a very, what I thought, sensible compromise. Do only the two easier hills at a gentle pace sufficient to mobilise and work tired muscles without overworking what are already becoming tired muscles. It is what I would do on a rest day except I would not be bagging any peaks. This way I would have the best of both worlds.
So the decision was made. Don't bother with Coity Mountain [Mynedd Coety] today, save that for another day when I will be able to extend the walk and include the other two Dewey's whilst up on the ridge
Walk Statistics
Walk Date - 08 January 2016
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - YHA Llangattock Mountain Bunkhouse
Start Point - Various. See maps below
Finish Point - Various. See maps below
Total Duration - 3hrs 32mins
Overall Average pace - 1.98 mph
Total Distance Walked - 6.98 miles
Total Height Ascended - 389.98 metres
Peaks visited
Nuttalls (254E - 443E&W)
NONE
Hewitts (179E - 316E&W)
NONE
Marilyns (158W - 1550E,W&S)
Mynydd Carn-y-cefn (31W - 191E,W&S)
Mynydd Twyn-glas (32W - 192E,W&S)Wentwood (33W - 193E,W&S)
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| Looking down on Blaina on way up Mynydd Carn-y-cefn. Cefn Coch beyond Blaina |
However in line with my new wisdom to not over do things I felt a rest day was due either today or tomorrow so I had a very, what I thought, sensible compromise. Do only the two easier hills at a gentle pace sufficient to mobilise and work tired muscles without overworking what are already becoming tired muscles. It is what I would do on a rest day except I would not be bagging any peaks. This way I would have the best of both worlds.
So the decision was made. Don't bother with Coity Mountain [Mynedd Coety] today, save that for another day when I will be able to extend the walk and include the other two Dewey's whilst up on the ridge
Walk Statistics
Walk Date - 08 January 2016
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - YHA Llangattock Mountain Bunkhouse
Start Point - Various. See maps below
Finish Point - Various. See maps below
Total Duration - 3hrs 32mins
Overall Average pace - 1.98 mph
Total Distance Walked - 6.98 miles
Total Height Ascended - 389.98 metres
Nuttalls (254E - 443E&W)
NONE
Hewitts (179E - 316E&W)
NONE
Marilyns (158W - 1550E,W&S)
Mynydd Carn-y-cefn (31W - 191E,W&S)
Mynydd Twyn-glas (32W - 192E,W&S)Wentwood (33W - 193E,W&S)
Deweys (241W - 422E&W)
Cefn Coch (31W - 83E,W&S)
HuMPs (364W - 2975EW&S)
Other walks on this trip
2016
January
06th Ysgyryd Fawr, Sugar Loaf & Bryn Arw
07th Allt yr Esgair, Myarth & Graig Syfyrddin [Edmund's Tump]
08th Three Marilyns between Llangattock and Newport
10th Mynydds y Lan & Machen
11th Craig y Allt,Cefn Eglwysilan & Mynydd y Glyn
12th Garth Hill & Coity Mountain, GB Marilyn 200
15th Mynydd Betws
16th Pumlumon Nuttalls
17th Ffridd Cocyn & Gamallt
18th Tarrenhendre & Tarren y Gesail
19th Y Garn (The Rhinogs)
Mynydd Carn-y-cefn
2.89 miles, 244.94m ascent, Start Time 12:14pm, Finish Time 13:53pm, 1 hours 39 minutes, 1.75 mph
Setting off from an excellent start point in the layby on the southbound side of A467 just south of Coalbrookvale turnoff I was feeling very pleased with my new plan walking up the gently ascending access road to Chapelhouse and Llanerch-y-pant I was already thinking about what bonus hills I could include tomorrow. But gradually the rate of ascent increased up to the point where the PROW, that elusive green dotted line turn sharply to the right straight up a steep gradient to the summit plateau. Instead, after turning right and gaining a fair bit of height I followed the paths visible on the ground to the left and zig zagged my way up the steep ascent.
At this point I decided tomorrow was a rest day. I am convinced overdoing things pushing myself too far last year overworking already tired muscles and joints caused my back problems.
From here leave the path round the summit plateau over rough grass and heather to the summit and trig.
The return route was down the steep slope on a gentler diagonal to the disused quarry from where I made my way to the same track of the ascent via little used and slightly overgrown paths around Chapelhouse Farm reservoir.
Mynydd Twyn-glas
3.62 miles, 129.59m ascent, Start Time 14:33pm, Finish Time 16:03pm, 2 hours 31 minutes, 2.31 mph
Arriving at the small car park to south of the summit on Mynydd Maen Common made me think I had returned to the North Yorkshire Moors. Gone were the familiar rugged, round and sometimes conical hills I was used to in South Wales replaced with flattish barren grass land. Not a particularly interesting hill simply follow the quad bike track along the plantation boundary to the radio access masts then follow that beyond the masts to the trig point. The most interesting part was finding the summit which is not the trig. after establishing the high point I returned to the van using the track all the way back to the road and the sign for Mean Common. An easy circular route, still 3½ miles but a gentle stroll with very little ascent. I reckon I could have got away with this one on a rest day.Wentwood
0.47 miles, 15.45m ascent, Start Time 11:41am, Finish Time 12:00pm, 0 hours 19 minutes, 1.48 mph
Cefn Coch (31W - 83E,W&S)
HuMPs (364W - 2975EW&S)
Mynydd Carn-y-cefn (41W - 268E,W&S)
Mynydd Twyn-glas (42W - 269E,W&S)
Wentwood (43W - 270E,W&S)
Mynydd Twyn-glas (42W - 269E,W&S)
Wentwood (43W - 270E,W&S)
Unitary Authority County Tops (22W - 33E,W&S)
Wentwood (7W - 39E,W&S)
Wentwood (7W - 39E,W&S)
E: England
E,W&S:England,Wales & ScotlandOther walks on this trip
2016
January
06th Ysgyryd Fawr, Sugar Loaf & Bryn Arw
07th Allt yr Esgair, Myarth & Graig Syfyrddin [Edmund's Tump]
08th Three Marilyns between Llangattock and Newport
10th Mynydds y Lan & Machen
11th Craig y Allt,Cefn Eglwysilan & Mynydd y Glyn
12th Garth Hill & Coity Mountain, GB Marilyn 200
15th Mynydd Betws
16th Pumlumon Nuttalls
17th Ffridd Cocyn & Gamallt
18th Tarrenhendre & Tarren y Gesail
19th Y Garn (The Rhinogs)
Mynydd Carn-y-cefn
 |
| Approaching Mynydd Carn-y-cefn from the South East Click on photograph to view slide-show |
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| GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Setting off from an excellent start point in the layby on the southbound side of A467 just south of Coalbrookvale turnoff I was feeling very pleased with my new plan walking up the gently ascending access road to Chapelhouse and Llanerch-y-pant I was already thinking about what bonus hills I could include tomorrow. But gradually the rate of ascent increased up to the point where the PROW, that elusive green dotted line turn sharply to the right straight up a steep gradient to the summit plateau. Instead, after turning right and gaining a fair bit of height I followed the paths visible on the ground to the left and zig zagged my way up the steep ascent.
At this point I decided tomorrow was a rest day. I am convinced overdoing things pushing myself too far last year overworking already tired muscles and joints caused my back problems.
From here leave the path round the summit plateau over rough grass and heather to the summit and trig.
The return route was down the steep slope on a gentler diagonal to the disused quarry from where I made my way to the same track of the ascent via little used and slightly overgrown paths around Chapelhouse Farm reservoir.
Mynydd Twyn-glas
 |
| A more interesting return/ascent route up/down one of source tributaries for Nant Gwyddon. But not today Click on photograph to view slide-show |
 |
GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
Arriving at the small car park to south of the summit on Mynydd Maen Common made me think I had returned to the North Yorkshire Moors. Gone were the familiar rugged, round and sometimes conical hills I was used to in South Wales replaced with flattish barren grass land. Not a particularly interesting hill simply follow the quad bike track along the plantation boundary to the radio access masts then follow that beyond the masts to the trig point. The most interesting part was finding the summit which is not the trig. after establishing the high point I returned to the van using the track all the way back to the road and the sign for Mean Common. An easy circular route, still 3½ miles but a gentle stroll with very little ascent. I reckon I could have got away with this one on a rest day.
 |
| Wentworth trig point Summit just beyond on the right Click on photograph to view slide-show |
 |
| GPX can be downloaded from www.shareyouradventure.com |
A definite hill for a rest day, or quick visit on a multi-hill day.
For me just a short drive form Newport and ¼ walk up the forest track and ¼ mile back was enough to get me out on a day off rather than sitting around all day and stiffening up. Even though it is a rest day it is important to keep mobile. It is at my age anyway.
What might be termed a "Gimme", but at the end of the day all hills are a "Gimmes" when you are stood on the summit, you just have to get there in the first place.
The trig has was surround by thick branches dragged around it as part of the forest clearance. Some attempt has been made to clear two sides but the side with the FB is still obscured so was unable to be read. Not a problem a call has been put out via the hill-bagging community to the trig-bagging community to have this sorted. Thanks to Jon Glew in anticipation.
For me just a short drive form Newport and ¼ walk up the forest track and ¼ mile back was enough to get me out on a day off rather than sitting around all day and stiffening up. Even though it is a rest day it is important to keep mobile. It is at my age anyway.
What might be termed a "Gimme", but at the end of the day all hills are a "Gimmes" when you are stood on the summit, you just have to get there in the first place.
The trig has was surround by thick branches dragged around it as part of the forest clearance. Some attempt has been made to clear two sides but the side with the FB is still obscured so was unable to be read. Not a problem a call has been put out via the hill-bagging community to the trig-bagging community to have this sorted. Thanks to Jon Glew in anticipation.