Out at last

A few weeks ago, we finally managed to get so hill time, exploring an area we don't visit too often.

We went back to Capel-y-ffin (Last visited February 2007) to walk a 13 mile circular route taking in a boring bit of Offa's Dyke Path, the fantastic views from Hay Bluff and the serious stomp up Lord Hereford's Knob (or 'Twmpa', but that isn't half as much fun).

From Twmpa, it was a pretty gentle stroll along the ridge of Tarren yr Esgob to the Blacksmiths Anvil, (which is disappointingly just a waymark stone that doesn't even look remotely like an anvil). Rain started picking and by the time we reached the steep drop down the Tarren yr Esgob cliffs, it was pouring heavily and we were immersed in a full blown thunder storm. The forecast had predicted it, so we were prepared, but they got the timing wrong.

We didn't bother with waterproofs as we were soaked anyway and it was a warm day, so soggily,  it was straight to The Skirrid Inn, the oldest pub in Wales in which more than 100 people were hanged in the stairwell. It's a favourite with ghosthunters and has been visited by Yvette Feilding and her team. As it was a Bank Holiday weekend, the place was teeming with people scaring the shite out of each other. Apparently, there was a group coming later that evening and they would spend the whole night sitting in the bar, drinking strong coffee and tweaking the dials on there monitoring equipment.

Anyway, a spookily good (but uneventful) meal and a pint or two later and we were aquaplaning back down the valley to Swansea, still a little moist but with that happy 'fresh air 'n' a pint' glow about us.