The Next Walks:
Confirmed Dates:
June:
Saturday 3rd, Monday 12th, Saturday 17th, Monday 26th
July:
Saturday 1st, Monday 10th, Wednesday 12th (Evening), Saturday 15th (Wick Fete),
Monday 17th, Sunday 23rd, Saturday 29th
August:
Wednesday 9th (Evening), Monday 14th, Saturday 19th, Monday 21st, Saturday 26th
September:
Monday 4th, Saturday 9th, Monday 18th, Saturday 23rd
Meet: Wick Village Hall at 9.50 for 10.00 start, unless otherwise stated in email
Walk Details: Members are notified by email
The Previous Walk:
Brynna and the Ridgeway footpath, 27th May
Things were looking a bit bleak on Friday night, so I cancelled the walk, but thankfully a few wanderers had other ideas and by Saturday morning the ‘Magnificent Seven’ gathered at WVH at the usual time and ready for action, so we headed off to Brynna (Yul Brynner, no he was from Russia!) for the start of our walk.
The weather was about as good as it can get, glorious sunshine, a slight south easterly breeze, and temperatures likely to rise to about 20 degrees, ‘what’s not to like’ as they say.
We left Gellifedi Road heading back into Brynna and turning right at the tattoo shop and along Church Street, and before long we were walking along a delightful country lane, very peaceful and quiet and on our way to the top of the mountain and the Ridgeway footpath.
We were now approaching Rhiwceiliog and turning right at Soar Chapel we continued the climb passing Coedcae Farm to the top of the mountain between Mynydd y Gaer and Mynydd Hugh at about 250 metres.It was now time to leave the road as we headed toward a flat part of ground that had been very well maintained by the local sheep, and a perfect place for a snack and also providing a good viewpoint toward well-known landmarks and the Bristol Channel. We could also make out the path to take us toward Llantrisant.
Dropping into the valley we continued until we reached the Nant Ciwc (stream) taking great care not to disturb an abundance of tadpoles enjoying the midday sun in a shallow pond. All safely across, it was time for a steep climb along a narrow footpath that would take us to the Ridgeway, by now the views were very good and very easy to spot yet more landmarks in the distance.
We were now amongst the Mynydd Portref windfarm turbines (very visible from Wick), pointing toward the south-east today due to the prevailing wind. Apart from the obvious benefits of reduced carbon dioxide emissions, contributions from revenues from the turbines are also made to the local communities of Brynna and Llanharan for community projects.
Continuing along the ridgeway, it was time to stop for lunch at St Peter’s Church (Capel Llanbad). The church was first built in the late 12th century, rebuilt in the late 17th century, and was still in regular use in the 18th century. However, the opening of the coal mines led to the building of a new church in Brynna (we passed the new church at the start of our walk), and the transfer of the chalice, bells and register in 1812. The church, an ancient monument (CADW Reference – GM338 Religious, Ritual and Funerary) has since fallen into disrepair, but the walls and a few gravestones are still very visible.
It wasn’t long before we began our descent toward Brynna having enjoyed a most enjoyable day’s walking in the hills and along the Ridgeway footpath.
Wick Wanderers 