Talgarth, Mynydd Troed
Talgarth, Mynydd Troed
We have had some great walks this summer with the weather being so reliable we have roamed far and wide and had no rain whatsoever.
Talgarth, Mynydd Troed
Another beautiful day with the temperature ideal for walking. As we arrived at the car park in Talgarth we could not miss the kites swirling in the sky above us, up to 6 at a time and their call had a double whistle. What a way to start the day
Early in the walk we saw running water, still a rarity after the hot summer, (we had noted that 2 of the 3 reservoirs on the A470 were almost empty on our drive up). We walked past the barn of college farm where the huge wooden beams were so low the farmer can hit his head on them.
College farm is in Trefecca, where Howell Harris (Hywel Harris) one of the leaders of the Welsh Methodist Revival was born in 1752. He lived in the family home which was in a neo-Gothic Architectural style. A Christian community was established (the Trefecca family). Trefecca College, a theological seminary was established by the Countess of Huntington in 1768. It coincided with six students being excluded from an Oxford college because of their Methodism and formed the first student body. John Wesley preached here in 1769.
We walked along lanes into more open countryside through brown fields and dry looking trees. At a reservoir on farmland the spaniel with us could not resist jumping into the murky water and swimming for a while before trying to find a way out.
The surrounding hills started to come into view and Pen y Fan was one of the first we spotted. We were all a bit surprised when, as we approached Mynydd Troed, we were suddenly faced by a long line of familiar hills: The Dragon’s Back, Lord Hereford’s Knob and Hay Bluff to name a few. It was quite disorientating to realise that Crickhowell was just over those hills. We could see Llangorse lake and chose to relax and look towards it during a lunch break, even though we could not really see the activities there.
Now we headed directly towards Mynydd Troed and skirted along its lower levels on good paths. The hills we had spotted earlier now loomed large. We returned to lanes and passed through a hamlet called Trewalkin – which seemed quite apt.
As we got closer to Talgarth the Pen y Fan range came back into view and crossing a large field we stopped to gaze at a large mound with a big oak tree.
The mound at Penyrwrlodd is a stone-built Neolithic chambered long cairn which dates to 3-4000 years BC, one of the earliest tombs in the region. It was discovered by a local farmer in 1972 when he accidentally uncovered human remains when quarrying for stone. Cadw manages the site which is stabilised by earth-filled geotextile sacks. It would be easy to pass it by, as it is situated in pastures above Talgarth but luckily for us one of us had done their research and pointed it out. Further human remains were found when it was excavated as well as a sheep’s femur with 3 holes in it, possibly the oldest (6,000 years old) surviving musical instrument found in Great Britain.
Returning via Trefecca we found a small chapel which we all entered, it was carpeted throughout with cushioned seats on three sides. A small lectern and prayer books were on the stone wall at the end. Just down the road was a row of small, terraced houses, all identical conjuring memories of similar buildings associated with schools, religious institutions or even the Tower of London. There was even a Victorian post box still in use.
On the final stretch to Talgarth we spotted hops growing in a hedge, a horse with her foal in an orchard and some large fungi.
Entering Talgarth there is plenty of evidence of a strong community, even the visitor centre is still open and run by volunteers. As we walked through the town a group of horse riders were passing. Talgarth mill is the only working watermill in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and one of only 4 remaining in Wales. Drinks were supped in the garden alongside the river Ennig where a couple of us were lucky enough to see a kingfisher flash past.
Walk 8 miles 1042ft Map OL13