St Briavels & Allt Yr Esgair
St Briavels & Allt Yr Esgair
St Briavels
St Briavels is in the Forest of Dean and on the Agincourt Wales trail which tells the story of the people in the river Wye /Forest of Dean area that played a role in Henry V’s victory at Agincourt.
Early in the walk we found ourselves in woodland surrounded by English bluebells, the scent heavenly. The contrast of the new green leaves on the trees and the light purply blue of the bluebells is one of nature’s annual treats.
An open stretch of ground led us past a majestic avenue of trees and near the river Wye. The pretty, white, single track road bridge came into view just above Bigsweir. We entered Cadora woods, a term used to describe a series of woods which form a continuous line of woodland covering the slopes of the lower Wye valley.
The path led us through a tunnel of bright yellow gorse. A bench had a sweet dedication ‘This bench was made by Jack for his fiancé, Scarlett. She’s not dead she just really loves this view.’
We followed a stream through woodland. Two of our dogs played a bit of a game. A spaniel went into the stream, and the other dog patrolled the bank stopping the spaniel from getting up the bank, then suddenly backed off. We relaxed for lunch in the woodland above the path.
The stream widened, and its banks were blanketed with the white flowers of wild garlic, even rocks in the middle of the stream were smothered in it. Steps appeared in the stream, these were tufa. Tufa is formed when calcium and carbon dioxide in fresh water rises to the surface and is exposed to air. Carbon dioxide evaporates; calcium precipitates and the minerals coat organic material.
Returning to St Briavels, a cricket game was being played on St Briavels centenary playing field where there is a memorial to the fallen of the two world wars. As we walked through the village the air was scented with lilac, purple and white, and wisteria. Wild roses, ceanothus, and Queen Anne’s lace hydrangea were all in full bloom. It was close to May 4th, and in a window, we saw Yoda (of Star Wars).
Walk 6.5miles 1100ft Map OL14
Allt Yr Esgair
In the words of the walk proposer ‘A surprisingly lovely walk up Allt yr Esgair to the east of the river Usk with good cake and the option to go to Talybont to have tea and stroll along the canal to view the osprey nest.’
Allt yr Esgair was a Bronze age burial site (4,000 years ago), an Iron age hill fort (2,500 years ago). Esgair means ridge in Welsh and Allt yr Esgair is a 2km long sandstone ridge with panoramic views of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.
We parked at the Venison centre with permission of the owners and took the Roman Road, a solid track which climbs gradually uphill with no steep sections. Either side of the track was a stunning display of white stitchwort with deep indigo bluebells, the air was heavy with scent.
Emerging into more open countryside gorse bushes appeared still surrounded by bluebells. The views were amazing Llangorse lake to the east, Pen y Fan and other hills to the west and the oxbow in the river Usk below us. Speedboats raced across Llangorse lake and later sailing boats appeared.
Llangorse is the largest natural lake in South Wales. Formed 11,000 years ago when the ice retreated, it would have been larger spilling over into the Usk valley at Bwlch. Mynydd Troed and Waun Fach dominate the skyline beyond the lake.
We met five different groups of Duke of Edinburgh award youngsters. An ancient hollow ash tree stood close to the path. Two people left us to look at the Osprey nest. We walked a circle at the top of the walk and then stopped for lunch choosing our favourite view – the lake or Pen y Fan. The return was along a path parallel to our outward route.
A woodpecker could be heard above us and someone with eagle eyes (and binoculars) spotted it, we stood still and watched for a short time. A kite flew high in the sky.
We experienced birdsong throughout the walk; it goes down as one of our best walks. At the venison centre, a welcoming team provided pots of tea and beer/soft drinks and cake. It is a farm shop and amongst other things they sell venison from their deer herd. A lovely way to round off the day.
Walk 7 miles 1300ft Map OL13