Gwent Mountaineering Club

Walk: Hay Bluff from Hay-on-Wye. 17.5km/11miles, 640m/2100ft ascent (Short)
2023-09-10 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Hay-on-Wye (Oxford Road), SO229421
From a distance, Hay Bluff (Black Mountains) appears to be higher and steeper than it actually is. This shortish to moderate walk of 17.5km/11miles with 640m/2100ft ascent begins from the main car park in Hay-on-Wye and proceeds via Cusop Dingle to ascend Hay Bluff.
Main car park in Hay on Wye. Charges apply. Map: OS Explorer OL13, grid reference: SO230422

Evening walk: Skirrid Fach
2023-09-14 19:00 - 22:00
An evening walk on to Skirrid Fach.
Start: Car park at Abergavenny bus station. OS Explorer map OL13, grid reference SO301140.
Pub: Kings Arms, Nevill Street, Abergavenny NP7 5AA.

Walk: New Radnor 23km/14miles, 900m/2907ft ascent. (Hard)
2023-09-17 09:30 - 17:00
New Radnor 23km/14miles, 900m/2907ft ascent.
Start 9.30am. Map OS Explorer 201 SO213608

Evening walk: The River Severn Estuary, 14km/8.7 miles, no/minimal ascent. (Easy)
2023-09-21 18:30 - 22:00
An easy but slightly longer evening walk than usual – 14Km/8.7miles. Beginning at 18:30, allows to view the ‘coastline’, ‘Severn bridge’, ‘fairy lights’ and some other special aspects both during the daylight and in the dark. The walk is almost completely flat with no/minimal ascent.
Start: 18:30 (Note, this is an earlier start time than usual) at the Black Rock Picnic Area, Portskewett. OS Explorer Map 154, grid reference ST512880.
Satnav coordinates:
Latitude, Longitude (decimal)
51.589543, -2.7047905
Latitude, Longitude (degs, mins, secs)
51°35′22″N, 002°42′17″W
Pub: To be announced.

Walk: Redbrook (Forest of Dean). 16.6km/10miles, undulating ascent (Short)
2023-09-24 09:30 - 17:00 | Main carpark in Redbrook village
Redbrook (Forest of Dean). 16.6km/10miles, undulating ascent.
Start 10am. Main carpark in Redbrook village, Pay & Display, £2. OL14 SO536099

Evening walk: Usk circuit via Cefn Isla. 4.5miles/7.2km, 182m/600ft ascent
2023-09-28 19:00 - 22:00
An evening walk – Usk circuit via Cefn Isla.
Start: Llanbadoc Island car park (behind St.Madoc’s Church, Llanbadoc) OS Explorer Map 152, grid reference SO376000.
Head torches essential.
Pub: The Kings Head, Usk.

Walk: Carreg Cadno and Fan Fraith (Fforest Fawr). 17.5km/11miles, 610m/2000ft ascent (Moderate)
2023-10-01 10:00 - 17:00 | Penwyllt Quarry, SN856155
A moderate walk of 17.5km/11miles with 610m/2000ft ascent. For the discerning hillwalker, we explore rarely visited above-ground features in the Ogof Ffynnon Ddu National Nature Reserve. After attaining the rocky summit of Carreg Cadno we will proceed across the moor via Pant Mawr Pot and through the forest to head for the grassy summit of Fan Fraith, a peak often overlooked in favour of its higher and more well-known neighbour. After Fan Fraith we will return across the moor to find limestone pavements, and the locked entrance of the OFD cave below; finally descending back to the starting point via a disused quarry tramway with wood sleepers still in situ in places.

Start 10.00am. Penwyllt Quarry. OS Explorer map OL12, grid reference SN856155.

Walk: Mynydd Du/Black Mountain. 22km/14m. 1015m/3330ft ascent (Hard)
2023-10-08 09:30 - 17:00
Join Ralph on a stunning walk in the county of Sir Gaerfyrddin (Carmarthenshire) taking in the Mynydd Du (Black Mountain) area. The route takes in the summits of Waun Lefrith, Carreg yr Ogof, Garreg Las, Foel Fraith and Moel Gornach.

Please let Ralph know by email/Whatsapp/text if you intend to come along.

We will start at the Riverside Retreat campsite car park in Cwmsawdde near the village of Llanddeusant. Look for a sharp right turn (awkward and gated) off the steep hill before the bridge over the Afon Sawdde. £5 per car.

OS Explorer Map OL12, grid reference SN776241.

We will start at 09:30am covering around 14 miles with a total ascent of 1015m/3330ft.

Walk: Mynydd Garnclochdy. 16km/10miles (Moderate)
2023-10-08 10:00 - 17:00
Join Jen for a walk up Mynydd Garnclochdy. We will meet at 10am in the main car park in Abersychan on the B4246.

OS Explorer Map OL13, grid reference SO269034.

Night walk: Blorenge.
2023-10-12 19:00 - 22:00
Join us for a night time walk up Blorenge.

We will meet at the car park at Keepers Pond at 19:00. OS Explorer Map OL13, grid reference SO254107.

Head torches essential.

Pub to be confirmed.

Mountain walking, scrambling and climbing in North Wales
2023-10-13 - 2023-10-15
A weekend of mountain walking, scrambling and climbing in North Wales, based in Betws y Coed. Contact Gareth Jones for further details.

Walk: A different approach to Moel Prysgau remote bothy. 22km/14miles, 798m/2490ft ascent (Moderate/hard)
2023-10-22 09:30 - 17:00 | Claerwen Dam, SN870633
Join Ralph on a moderate to hard walk of 22km/14miles with 798m/2490ft ascent in the remote wilderness of the Elenydd Hills. The route will take you alongside the course of the Afon Arban, reaching boggy peat hags and tussocks higher up the valley before touching the edge of the forest near Bwlch Owen. The forest tracks lead you down to Moel Prysgau bothy where a track weaves alongside the Afon Tywi (note there are several river crossings) until the return leg takes you via Drum Nantygorlan and Llyn Carw and back to the start.

Poles and gaiters recommended. Although we expect to finish well before dark please also bring a headtorch.

Please let Ralph Goddard know by Whatsapp/email or text if you intend to join him.

Start at 09.30am from the Claerwen dam lower car park. OS Explorer map 200, grid reference SN870633.

Walk: Northern Blacks. 24km/15miles, 888m/2915feet ascent (moderate side of hard)
2023-10-29 09:00 - 17:00 | Hay Common (Hay Bluff), SO239373
A wandering route on the moderate side of hard (24km/15miles, 888m/2915feet ascent) around the northern end of the Black Mountains with Ralph Goddard, which includes the beautiful Olchon valley, Black Hill and and the outlier, Cefn Hill. This is a different route to a previous one Ralph led in the same area a while ago.

Expect damp weather. A headtorch is recommended.

Start: Hay Bluff car park. OS Explorer map OL13, grid reference: SO 239373
Time: 9:00a.m

Walk: Has anyone seen Caradoc and Gwadlys? 22km/13.5 miles (Moderate)
2023-11-05 09:30 - 17:00 | Parc Cwm Darren, SO113034
A moderate walk of 22km/13.5miles and 450m/1175feet of ascent with Rob Kemp around ‘Gelligaer’, with the added bonus of two trig points. This walk takes us into the realm of ‘Caradoc’ a ‘Silurian’ leader of the ‘Roman Empire’ before visiting a local 9th Century monument to a Kings daughter.
In the afternoon, after making friends with MANY common ponies (feeding apples are not supplied), we may see parasailers take to the sky to show us their learnt skills and talents.
Start at 09:30am at Parc Cwm Darren. OS Explorer map 166, grid reference SO113034.
At the end of the day members are invited to ‘The Bailey Arms’ to partake of liquid refreshment – Happy Days.

Training (half-day): Finding your way with a map
2023-11-11 13:00 - 16:30
Setting the map, staying engaged with the map whilst walking to maintain awareness of current position, and anticipating what lies ahead are fundamental to being able to find your way successfully in the outdoors.
Join Alex for an afternoon of informal instruction and practice to develop your skills at Garn Lakes, Blaenavon on Saturday 11th November 2023, 1-4pm.
For a maximum of six people, on a first come basis.
Further details:
Inform Alex by email or message that you’d like to attend.
Meet at 1pm.
Park on the access road for Garn Lakes, outside the parking area as there’s a barrier with timed closure at dusk. Grid reference SO234096. Lat/lon coordinates for GoogleMaps: 51.780506, -3.110990.
Bring wind/waterproofs and additional warm clothing/hat/gloves as we will stop often for instruction and discussion. Also, drinks/snacks as you desire.
There’s no need to bring a map. This will be provided. However, if you have a subscription to OS Maps or similar on your mobile phone, please bring this with you as it can help to embed your learning.
We will begin by learning to appreciate the landscape around us and our position in it. We will identify significant features and relate these to equivalent map symbols. We will orientate the map to align with the landscape and see our current position on the map. Walking forward, we will practice maintaining awareness of our position as it changes. We may do this several times, progressing from easier to more difficult parts of the landscape. We will begin to anticipate what is coming up ahead of us. Overall, we will probably walk 3 miles or so on gentle terrain. We will be stopping often to discuss what we are practicing and learning.

Walk: Cefn Cul and Fan Foel. 21km/13miles, 843m/2785ft ascent (Hard)
2023-11-12 09:00 - 17:00 | Tafarn-y-Garreg
Ascending and crossing Cefn Cul and the moorland to the east of Fan Hir, this harder walk of 21km/13miles, with 843m/2785ft of ascent, picks up the Beacons Way path northwards past Llyn y Fan Fawr until we reach the foot of the north ridge of Fan Foel. We ascend steeply to its summit and onwards to the trig point on the summit of Fan Brycheiniog. Weather permitting we are graced with glorious views in all directions around the Black Mountain. We descend gently in a southerly direction along the edge of the escarpment, Fan Hir to return to our starting point.

We begin at 9.00am from the chapel lay-by just south of the Tafarn-y-Garreg pub at Glyntawe. OS Explorer map OL12, grid reference SN847169. Note that parking is limited and that car sharing is encouraged.

Head torch is essential as the walk will finish in the dark. Poles are recommended for river crossing.

Walk: Blorenge from Abergavenny. 17km/10.5miles, 600m/2000ft ascent (Short)
2023-11-12 10:00 - 17:00 | Abergavenny, Byefield Lane Car Park
A shorter walk of 17km/10.5miles with 600m/2000ft ascent to ascend Blorenge from Abergavenny.

Start 10:00am. OS Explorer Map OL13, grid reference SO296140. Free car park (Byefield Lane) in Abergavenny. We will meet at the bottom of the Byefield Lane car park by the entrance to Linda Vale Gardens.

Walk: Mynydd Carn y Cefn from Pen y Fan Pond Country Park. 24km/15miles, 825m/2700ft ascent (Hard)
2023-11-19 09:00 - 17:00
Mynydd Carn y Cefn from Pen y Fan Pond Country Park.
We will start at 9am.
OS Explorer Map 166, grid reference SO198007.
Head torches essential.

Walk: Cwmyoy Roundabout. 19km/12miles, 450m/1476ft ascent (Moderate)
2023-11-26 09:00 - 17:00 | Queen’s Head, Cwmyoy, SO310221
A moderate walk of 19km/12miles with 450m/1476ft of ascent. The Cwmyoy Roundabout will ascend Gaer, Bal Bach (and the option of Bal Mawr – an additional 1.5km and 90m ascent) before descending to Llanthony and back along Hatterall ridge.

Start 09:00am. OS Explorer Map OL13, grid reference SO311221. Parking opposite Queens Head Pub in Cwmyoy. £2 required for carpark.

Christmas meet-up, Yorkshire Dales
2023-11-30 - 2023-12-03
A convivial weekend of walking and pre-Christmas cheer including Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings on Saturday evening, based in Chapel-le-Dale, near Ingleton, North Yorkshire. Handy for the limestone scenery of Ingleborough and the magnificent Ribblehead Viaduct.
We will stay for three nights in the Old School Bunkhouse, Chapel-le-Dale.

Walk: Gilfach Goch Where are we? Where are we going? 18km/11.5 miles, 345m/1150ft ascent (Moderate)
2023-12-10 09:30 - 17:00
A moderate walk with Rob Kemp.
We’ll start at 9.30am from the car park. OS Explorer Maps 151 & 166, grid reference SS 968859. Walkers are asked to bring both maps with them or share maps.

Walk: Christmas Pudding Walk Mynydd Llangorse. 8km/5 miles (Short)
2023-12-17 10:00 - 16:00
It’s time for the infamous Christmas Pudding Walk which will begin at 10.00am!
We’ll walk to Mynydd Llangorse and back along the Beacons Way to the Village Hall at around 1pm for lunch, mulled wine, mince pies and Christmas carols. Tea and coffee also available. Approximately 8km/5miles.
Cwmdu Village Hall. OL13 grid reference 180240.

Walk/Training: Bryn and Waun Rydd. 19km/12 miles, 950m/3100ft ascent (Moderate)
2024-01-07 09:30 - 17:00 | Talybont Reservoir (Nant Tarthwynni) SO099197
The first Sunday walk of the New Year. This walk will also be a training and practice session for ‘finding your way’ map-reading skills. It will be especially useful for those who participated in the first ‘finding your way’ training session last November.
We will start at 9:30am at the Nant Tarthwynni parking area alongside Talybont Resevoir. This is not the parking by the dam but around one kilometer further along the road, grid reference SO 099196 (OS Explorer Map OL12).
This moderate walk of 19km/12miles with 950m/3100ft of ascent will take us through the Talybont Forest, up to to Bryn (SO 071227), from where we will be able to see our further ascent onto the wild high plateau of Waun Rydd (SO 062206). Once on the plateau we have options, according to progress. We will eventually descend via one of the ridges leading back to the start – either Twyn Du or Allt Llwyd. This will be in the dusk/dark so head torches are essential.
A colder period of weather is expected, with sub-zero temperatures and northerly winds. See the forecast for Waun Rydd.
As well as being a nice Winter walk, we will practice ‘finding your way’ map-reading skills. You will need your own copy of OS Explorer map OL12. We will take the time to ensure that walkers know where they are and can follow along, keeping note of their position as we proceed. Some prolonged stops are likely so it’s essential you have additional warm layers of clothing you can put on for these.

Walk: Gray Hill. 6.5km/4miles, 212m/700ft ascent (Easy)
2024-01-11 19:00 - 22:00
A circular walk of 6.5km/4miles, 220m/670ft ascent over and around Gray Hill with beautiful views across the River Severn, on a clear night!
We’ll start at 7pm from the Forester Oak Car Park. OL14 Explorer Map, grid reference ST 428938. Don’t forget your head torch!
Rock & Fountain pub for a social beverage after.

Training (half-day): Finding your way with a map
2024-01-13 13:00 - 16:30
Setting the map, staying engaged with the map whilst walking to maintain awareness of current position, and anticipating what lies ahead are fundamental to being able to find your way successfully in the outdoors.
Join Alex and Keith for an afternoon of informal instruction and practice to develop your skills at Garn Lakes, Blaenavon on Saturday 13th January 2024, 1-4.30pm.
For a maximum of eight people, on a first come basis.
Further details:
Inform Alex by email or message that you’d like to attend.
Meet at 1pm.
Park on the access road for Garn Lakes, outside the parking area as there’s a barrier with timed closure at dusk. Grid reference SO234096. Lat/lon coordinates for GoogleMaps: 51.780506, -3.110990.
Bring wind/waterproofs and additional warm clothing/hat/gloves as we will stop often for instruction and discussion. Also, drinks/snacks as you desire.
There’s no need to bring a map. This will be provided. However, if you have a subscription to OS Maps or similar on your mobile phone, please bring this with you as it can help to embed your learning.
We will begin by learning to appreciate the landscape around us and our position in it. We will identify significant features and relate these to equivalent map symbols. We will orientate the map to align with the landscape and see our current position on the map. Walking forward, we will practice maintaining awareness of our position as it changes. We may do this several times, progressing from easier to more difficult parts of the landscape. We will begin to anticipate what is coming up ahead of us. Overall, we will probably walk 3 miles or so on gentle terrain. We will be stopping often to discuss what we are practicing and learning.

Walk: Cribyn via Bryn Teg and Fan Y Big. 24km/15miles, 1000m/3330ft ascent (Hard)
2024-01-14 09:00 - 17:00
Join Dave Bingham for a hard walk to Cribyn via Bryn Teg and Fan Y Big starting at at 9.00am.
OS Explorer Map OL12, grid reference SO 074258 at Llanfrynach. Car sharing encouraged as parking is limited in the village. Head torches essential.
Please let Dave know if you intend to join the walk.

Walk: Talywain to Cwmtillery Lakes. 19km/12miles, 700m/2300ft ascent (Moderate)
2024-01-21 09:30 - 17:00
Join Sara on this moderate walk of 19km/12miles with 700m/2300ft ascent.
The walk will take us on an old drovers road from Talywain, skirting around Coety Mountain to Cwmtillery Lakes taking in Mynydd James on the way. It’s mainly on good tracks.
We’ll start at 9.30am from Talywain Rugby Club car park. OS Explorer map 152, grid reference SO258044.

Walk: Mynydd Fforest and surrounding hills. 26km/16.5miles, 700m/2300ft ascent (Hard)
2024-01-28 09:30 - 17:00
Join Ralph on this 26km/16.5miles hard walk taking in the hills of Mynydd Fforest, Cefn Llwydiart, Cefn Clawdd, Twyn Y Post, Fforest Brycheiniog and Llandyfalle Hill. Total ascent 700m/2300ft following mainly good paths.
Please bring a headtorch.
We will start at 9.30am OS Explorer Map 188, grid reference SO117377 at Brechfa Pool.

Walk: Pengenffordd to Grwyne Fawr Bothy. 21km/13miles, 840m/2770m ascent (Hard)
2024-02-04 09:00 - 17:00 | Pengenffordd car park
Join Nia for a hard walk starting at Pengenffordd heading onto Y Grib and moving North East 713m to the Grwyne Fawr Bothy. Nia has recommended that walkers aim to bring some rubbish bags with them so a tidy up of the bothy can be done if needed. The return leg of the walk will be via Pen Y Gadair Fawr and Waun Fach.
We’ll start at Pengenffordd car park at 9am. There is a £2 honesty box for parking.
OS Explorer Map OL13, grid reference SO174296.

Night walk: Blorenge
2024-02-08 19:00 - 22:00 | Keeper’s Pond Car Park, Blorenge, SO254107
Join us for a 4 mile night time walk around the top of the Blorenge.
We will meet at the Keepers Pond Car Park for 7pm. OS Explorer Map OL 13, grid reference SO254107.
Head torches essential.
