AT SHORT notice Barrie invited people to join him for an extra mid-week in the Brecon Beacons National Park area and he was joined by four walkers eager to get out and enjoy the forecasted good weather.

With an earlier than normal start from Cogan, they drove straight into rush hour traffic and endured a few nail-biting moments on the M4, then the A470 all the way up to the Caerphilly turn off with stop and start traffic and feared they might actually be too late to catch their connecting bus from the Storey Arms to Brecon.

However, once they finally reached the open road, the T4 Brecon bus sped past on its way to Merthyr and with sighs of relief and realising they had plenty of time before the bus turned around, they made their way to the car park opposite Storey Arms.

The Storey Arms was once a tavern and coaching inn and sits between the Tarell and Taff valleys which were both scoured out by ice into their familiar ‘U’-shapes some 25,000 years ago.

Eventually hopping on their bus they enjoyed a pleasant drive to the market town of Brecon where during the Roman era the town was established as a Roman cavalry and military base for the conquest of Wales. The Welsh name of Aberhonddu means ‘mouth of the Honddu’ and the river which rises near the Gospel Pass runs through the Black Mountains and the Vale of Ewyas and joins the River Usk near the town centre.

Alighting at Brecon in overcast and chilly conditions the leader informed them that much of their journey back would be along part of the Taff Trail, the long distance path that wends its way from Cardiff Bay to Brecon.

Leaving the bustling town of Brecon they tramped by road past Pont Ffrwd-grech which fords the Nant Gwdi stream and on to Pont-rhyd-goch and the Nant Cwm Llwch river which meanders its way downhill from Cwm Llwch forming a series of waterfalls.

Entering fields they paused for morning refreshments beside a gushing waterfall enriched by recent melting snow and as the morning progressed the sun came out and remained with them for most of the day.

Continuing through fields with good views up towards the central Beacons and Pen Milan which overshadow the Cwm Llwch and Tarell valleys, they reached the bunkhouse and cottage at Penstar before re-joining the road near Gron-felen.

Some quiet lane walking led them to Old Glanrhyd where a tavern and brewery once stood which played host to the many drovers who used the old drover’s road which was part of the coach road that was the main route from the Midlands down through Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff in the 18th century.

Leaving the Taff Trail they crossed a stile which led them along paths beside the picturesque Afon Tarell at Glyn Tarell, or the Tarell Valley and paused for lunch along the way and in the valley the stone built sheep pens were used for containing the sheep where they were washed, prior to being taken to market.

Then reaching a path further up the valley they climbed and re-joined the Taff Trail and made their way back up the old drover’s road to the Storey Arms for the journey home.

On March 14, meet 9am at Cogan Leisure Centre for a 10-mile hard walk at Pentyrch, Garth Hill and Gwaelod y Garth; contact Geraint on 029 2051 5278.

On March 15, meet 9am at Cogan for an eight mile moderate walk at Pengenffordd; contact Robin on 029 2051 4051.

On March 17, a 15-mile hard walk from Lisvane station to Hengoed railway station via the eastern section of the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk; contact William on 01446 747239 for details.

Wear suitable clothing, preferably boots and carry waterproofs, food and drinks. Some degree of fitness is required and if you are in any doubt, then please contact the walk leader for advice. To follow the group log onto www.penarthramblers.wordpress.com. Programmes and membership advice can be obtained from Pam on 029 2025 5102.