A Trip Around The Black Mountains

A few snaps. (Click to view larger images.)

Two of our Monmouth based members took off on a short tour of the Black Mountains on Sunday 9th Oct. An 8:30am start and the chilly 25 minute road ride up to the first lane confirmed autumn has arrived. First up was a trip across the mostly grassy Gaer and then the descent towards the grey phone box, a good warm up. The wooded climb up to Old Coalpit led onto the glorious 3 km lane ending alongside the Grwyne Fechan in Llanbedr, waterfalls, arched bridges and all!

A stop for tea and toast in Cwmdu was next before the very interesting gentle climb up Cwm Sorgwm to the col between Mynydd Llangorse and Mynydd Troed. A couple more lanes down to Trefecca and then the sometimes tricky stony lane up towards the Talgarth road, ok on this occasion though, needing just the odd dab to give confidence!

Another long lane following the Rhiangoll valley with a couple of fords and another stop for photos took our pair back to Cwmdu where after a quick fuel check it was into the lane running from Cwmdu down towards Tretower. A couple more easy lanes on the side of Sugar Loaf and it was time to head back to Monmouth.

A good morning out and back in Monmouth just after 12.30pm meant hard earned domestic brownie points stayed intact! I guess we'll be allowed out again!