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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Wales => Topic started by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 18:27:34, 05/08/17

Title: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 18:27:34, 05/08/17
I have very fond memories of crawling to the summit of Pen Y fan, back in the 1980s, almost expecting to be sucked off the mountain, such was the ferocity of the wind.
Living in South Wales, it was my main hunting ground, and for some reason, the winds encountered there, were some of the strongest ive experienced, nothing in Snowdonia has come close.
The park, is now celebrating its 60th bithday this year, and with its increasing popularity, it has a fine future ahead of it.
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: sussamb on 19:05:05, 05/08/17
For once I agree with you  O0


My most favourite stamping ground  :)
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: phil1960 on 19:42:36, 05/08/17
And I'm lucky enough to have lived all my life just a stones throw outside the boundary. I was at the Brecon show today chatting to one of the wardens of the BBNP, there's a lot of funding heading their way for path improvement and other projects, the future is assured but with that comes ever increasing popularity, can't have it all ways I guess  ;)
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 20:11:45, 05/08/17
I only wish i had been granted permission to copy Chris Barbers (well known Abergavenny author and owner of Blorenge Books) personal photographic collection.
Whilst taking part in his 1987 South Wales Marathon walk, he told us about a new publication that he was writing, and he had brought along a selection of very rare photographs he had taken in the early 1970s, late 60s.

The two that left a lasting impression on me even to this day, was the steep path up the side of Pen Y fan, from the Cribyn end, with no sign of any erosion, just fresh grass.
The other showed the Pen Y fan plateau, in a similar state, no sign of the severe erosion its now famous for, just grass.

For some reason, he would not allow any of his extensive photographic collection to be copied, even though several of us asked for a photocopy.


Over the years, ive never seen similar photographs, so the photographs must have been taken back in the 1960s or there about's, long before the Beacons became the main attention for walkers in Southern Britain.

I suppose well known authors are very particular on the copyright of their own material.

Ive even seen a photograph, showing the ascent of the east ridge of Crib Goch, from its start at the PYG track, with virtually no erosion.


Last time i visited there, the erosion of the mountainside must be at least six feet in depth, possibly more, so that photograph must be pretty old.

That was shown to us by Harvey Lloyd in the Tyn Y Groes hotel, in Capel Curig, many years ago, when i helped out in his annual 1000m Peak race.

He was warden of Pen Y Pass youth hostel for many years.
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: sussamb on 21:19:18, 05/08/17
The two that left a lasting impression on me even to this day, was the steep path up the side of Pen Y fan, from the Cribyn end, with no sign of any erosion, just fresh grass.
The other showed the Pen Y fan plateau, in a similar state, no sign of the severe erosion its now famous for, just grass.


I remember walking all the routes around Pen y Fan when it was like that. I've watched the paths slowly sink over the years.
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: phil1960 on 21:45:17, 05/08/17

I remember walking all the routes around Pen y Fan when it was like that. I've watched the paths slowly sink over the years.
From Fan Fawr it looks horrible Jon, when I was a kid back and fore Brecon in the back of my dads Hillman Minx, there was hardly anything on the road never mind a full Storey Arms or path erosion.
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: sussamb on 22:33:15, 05/08/17
Very true, Phil. At least we saw it at its best, but it's still a great place to walk  O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: phil1960 on 22:37:53, 05/08/17
Very true, Phil. At least we saw it at its best, but it's still a great place to walk  O0
absolutely  O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: Wayne s on 16:53:42, 10/08/17
For once I agree with you  O0


My most favourite stamping ground  :)


Another walking meet sometime maybe, Phil could guide us on the waterfalls walk which I had to duck out of?
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: sussamb on 19:19:52, 10/08/17
Sounds like a plan  O0


Would be good to see you and Phil again  :)
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: phil1960 on 19:35:41, 10/08/17
Sounds good to me guys  O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: Wayne s on 20:13:41, 10/08/17
Sounds good to me guys  O0


Let's plan it then, could do waterfall area and Blackmountain the day after.
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: phil1960 on 20:53:50, 10/08/17
Happy days let's sort it  O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: Wayne s on 17:58:12, 11/08/17
Let's go for it, see who in.
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: sussamb on 20:20:08, 12/08/17
Wayne, I'm in depending on dates but in France til end August so no idea about October. Will post back in early September  O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: Wayne s on 10:48:15, 13/08/17
Wayne, I'm in depending on dates but in France til end August so no idea about October. Will post back in early September  O0


 O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: sussamb on 15:37:31, 08/09/17
Sorry, meant to update this earlier.  October looking busy as last two weekends cover half term and 14/15 we're visiting one of my daughter's.


8th I'm committed to help with Chichester half marathon so that's out too.


Could make 4/5 November though  O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 17:56:50, 08/09/17
How busy has Pen Y Fan become ?
Its been nearly eighteen years since ive set foot on the mountain, and even though i visit friends near Caerphilly a few times each year, ive never thought of checking the parking at Pont Y Daf or Storrey Arms.

The last time i visited Pont Y Daf, is when they cut down the conifer trees next to the carpark, which is a long time ago.

Ive decided to pay the mountain a visit, to rekindle fond memories.

Do the car parks get full quickly, or are they slightly quieter mid week.
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: Mel on 18:29:06, 08/09/17
Sounds like you're a prime candidate for this meet up in the making then DA  O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 18:47:54, 08/09/17
I have very fond memories of exploring all areas of the Beacons, as it was my main stomping ground for nearly twenty three years.
It was the first and only time, that ive got out in serious  whiteout conditions on the ridge from the gap, towards Cribyns summit, sometime in the early 1980s.

I can vaguely remember there being some kind of stone built shelter, for those who got caught out, i bet that's long gone.

All those years ago, when i was living in South Wales, a trip to Snowdonia was an adventure, something to really look forward to.

Now i live within the Snowdonia national park, ive never had any reason really, to return to the Brecon Beacons, but it would be nice to see Pen Y Fan once again.

Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: phil1960 on 19:25:43, 08/09/17
The Beacons is so much more than Pen y Fan, which is horrendously busy these days as are Corn Du, Cribyn and to a lesser extent Fan y Big. If you can't find a bit of quiet in over 500 square miles of national park, then something's not right. Jon/Wayne November in waterfall country should be wet so a good chance of the waterfalls in spate  O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: Penygadair on 19:33:51, 08/09/17
Jon/Wayne November in waterfall country should be wet so a good chance of the waterfalls in spate  O0


Agree. It's a cracking walk around Pont Nedd Fechan area.  O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: sussamb on 19:42:54, 08/09/17
Yep done the walk around there a few times, including on the last Brecon Beacons meet  O0
Title: Re: Who would have thought Brecon Beacons National Park 60yrs young
Post by: sussamb on 19:43:29, 08/09/17
The Beacons is so much more than Pen y Fan, which is horrendously busy these days as are Corn Du, Cribyn and to a lesser extent Fan y Big. If you can't find a bit of quiet in over 500 square miles of national park, then something's not right.


 O0 O0 O0