Trading Rome for Rain: Camping Adventure in Brecon Beacons
29/03/2024
This weekend marks my first official outing with CMC.
After 6 long hours of travel, characterized by heavy traffic leaving London due to the Easter holidays, accidents, and even a bit of hail, we arrive at the campsite; some areas are flooded, but given the previous week's rains and the season, we should have expected it.
After an initial assessment, we choose our favorite area for pitching our tents; as I set up the tent, it feels like I've chosen the worst possible spot, right in the middle of a marsh, but in the end, it's not so bad.
The forecast predicts cold and dry weather for tomorrow, so we load up on good spirits and head to the pub in Talybont for a short walk along the canal.
Upon returning, a deer burger (Welsh venison) awaits me at the pub as we make big plans for the next day, including a route that encompasses Fan y Big, Cribyn, and the famous Pen y Fan.
30/03/24
And after the first meeting, the first official hike also arrives (not exactly official, but let's say it is).
After my portion of powdered scrambled eggs (dehydrated food to test the WHW gear), we set off around 8:30, and in the end, we covered almost 28 km with a climb of 1,300 meters, reaching three major peaks directly from the campsite.
The beginning was sweet and cultural with a visit to the little church, then we began a steady ascent.
After a brief break, we faced the wind and the first light rain as we ascended towards Fan y Big, followed by Cribyn and Pen y Fan, with worsening weather conditions during the descent from Cribyn.
From Pen y Fan onwards, the weather improved significantly, but the terrain was already covered in sticky mud.
We continued descending, and after Allt Ddu, we passed several farms until we reached Llanfrynach, from where we returned to the campsite around 6:30 p.m.
The total of 10 hours, with about 9 hours and 30 minutes of actual walking time, made the day very satisfying and allowed us to treat ourselves to some desserts at the Pencelli pub, right after a blessed hot shower.
A special thanks to Cat for the flawless navigation, at times difficult, almost entirely done with the map, like a true pro, and with the valuable support of Marc during the rainy and stormy moments.
Tonight, another cold night awaits us in the tent, but the equipment has proven to hold up, and morale is high.
31/03/24
Easter in tranquility, with a walk along the canal towards Brecon, about 8 km from the campsite. We take a break while sampling local cakes, then pay a visit to the cathedral before returning along the same route. It was a 16 km stroll that allowed us to indulge in another dessert and depart satisfied with a weekend well spent. Many thanks to Gill for the organization, Peter, Bob, Helen, Cat, and Marc for this weekend of sharing. See you soon!