Discovering Craig y Cilau*

By Rhiannonw

Tue, 03 Jul 2018
  • 1626 reads
7 comments
 

It looked quite short in the book.
Keeping to the lower altitudes too.
Hadn’t been feeling too well, but thought
‘I think that looks OK’:
A beautiful day (exceedingly hot in the open).
Suddenly find we are to climb a very steep
old quarry incline (now shaded under trees,
scattered tramline stones among the grass).
How far will 250m of this seem?
Eventually out into the open – stupendous views
across to Sugar Loaf, and northwards –
but too hot to sit on the seat long.
Up another (less steep) path through the bracken
and then walk the bed of the tramline around
the semicircle of the old quarry.
Views wonderful, sparkly wild thyme on the ground.
Off to see the cave system entry (padlocked) –
stand by it and feel a beautiful cool updraft
as from a deep-freeze.
Then down and follow difficult directions around the high bog
(looked well-dried at present)
and back through a wood to the car.

* Brecon Beacons, near Crickhowell

 

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Sounds a lovely walk, Rhiannon, but more like the interior of Spain than the Brecon Beacons. Tropical Wales.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I'm afraid I don't know Spain at all, any of its varied areas. But the weather has been rather tropical, or like Spainish interior summer at present I think! Thanks, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Warmer, maybe.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I liked "sparkly wild thyme", and your observation of the cool air coming up from the cave. That must have felt magical in all the heat. I hope you are feeling better. Full of admiration you undertook such a walk at all in this sunshine! I am crossing the street to walk in shade when usually it's the other way round :0)

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Di. We had good hats, and shade from time to time, and it got cooler as we got into the evening (the walk taking longer than we expected - poor 'instructions'? dawdling in the heat? slower now we're older? or were their measurements wrong?! Anyway, all was well, and the evening slightly cooler air was nice!) Rhiannon

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

I too admire your stamina in this weather!  Although a bit cooler in my part of the world today.  Another lovely word picture (and real photo!) - I've never been to the Brecon Beacons but a friend recently moved there so I must arrange a visit!

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Airy. We try to take what opportunities we do get to get out, as there are often committments etc, but it does us good to get out when we can if the weather isn't too bad. So was glad of the sunshine, though a bit concerned about the heat! but I think keeping walking and making use of hats and shade, we were OK, and glad of the delightful place it turned out to be. (a birthday treat too!) Rhiannon