THERE was a little confusion at the start of Barrie’s recent walk regarding parking because there were several large events taking place in the Pen y Fan area and both Pont ar Daf and Storey Arms car parks were full along with the verges in between, so eventually after re-grouping the start point was moved to the lay-by beside the Beacons reservoir.

Heading over the River Taff by means of a road bridge on the A4059, Barrie and his 14 companions crossed the Taff Trail and began the slow haul up the rough mountainside in pleasant sunshine with a breeze.

Reaching Cefn yr Henriw they were joined by two more walkers from the Cardiff group who had managed to catch them up and a stop was made for morning coffee with glorious views across the reservoir to the sculptured peak of Corn Du.

The hillside was festooned with white cotton grass and shorn sheep with their almost grown lambs and gazing southwards the Beacons, Cantref and Llwyn-on reservoirs, constructed in a line leading down the Taff Fawr valley during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to provide water for the growing population and industry during the industrial revolution, made for spectacular viewing.

Continuing uphill onto Fan Fawr and heading towards the small cairn above the steep eastern escarpment overlooking Bryn Du, before curving southwest along the ridge and into a fierce headwind, they arrived at the trig point with its 360-degree views.

There was a glimpse of the sea to the south and across the Carmarthen Fans in the west, the Brecon Beacons in the east and Sennybridge to the north as well as the Ystradfellte reservoir in the Dringarth valley below them.

Descending steep rough tracks over open country into the valley and passing huge clumps of tall foxgloves to reach the entry road into the isolated reservoir, it was obvious from all the building work that Welsh Water are carrying out improvements and inspecting the dam wall.

Crossing a stone bridge over the River Dringarth and crossing the dam another steep climb faced them on the opposite side of the valley, where lunch was taken part way up overlooking the route they had just walked.

A slow climb up the lower slopes of Fan Llia where the hillside contains medieval house platforms, areas of raised ground which were built up to provide a flat platform on which to construct a hut or small dwelling, eventually led them past mountain ponies and foals to the ridgeway beyond Fan Dringarth.

Following part of the long distance Beacons Way whilst drinking in the surrounding views before swinging east on the lower slopes of Rhos Dringarth, upon reaching the perimeter fence of the nature reserve at Craig cerrig-gleisiad, there was a short stop for refreshment whilst gazing towards Brecon tucked away in the valley to the north and across to the central Brecon Beacons.

Passing more grazing ponies and following the contours of the steep hillside above the beautiful Glyn Tarell valley by way of undulating narrow rocky pathways, which were muddy in places, and passing the disused quarry below Craig y Fro, several small waterfalls gushed across the pathway and eventually their intended target of Storey Arms came into view and by now most of the vehicles from the morning rush had gone.

Eventually arriving at Storey Arms and crossing the busy A470 to enter Pont ar Daf car park where the land is now owned by the National Trust, who have felled much of the conifer plantation to stop the spread of Phytophthora ramorum, which is attacking and killing larch trees, there was a stampede for cooling ice creams prior to the journey alongside the A470 back to their start.

On August 1, please note the change to the planned walk, meet 8.30am at Cogan Leisure Centre for a nine-mile moderate walk taking in Cwm Banw and Mynydd Llysiau; contact Liz on 029 2051 3698.

On August 4, meet 8am at Cogan for a mid-week 12-mile moderate walk taking in the Golden Valley and Dore Abbey to the east of the Black Mountains; contact William on 01446 747239.

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 penarthramblers.wordpress.com. Programmes and membership advice can be obtained from Pam on 029 2025 5102.