Up and showered ready for breakfast at 8am (only available 8 ‘till 8:30). Very comprehensive breakfast: - cereals, yoghurt etc and a cooked breakfast of bacon, sausage, scrambled egg, baked beans and mushrooms. No, we didn’t have everything!!
From Abergavenny, we drove into Brecon Beacons National Park to the National Parks Centre at Libanus. Spoke to the man at the desk about a walk that would take 1 – 2 hours and he sent us on a walk from the centre to Twyn y Gear, a 1 ½ hour walk to a hilltop with 360-degree views of the Beacons and countryside around. The Beacons are very bare (ie no trees) but quite green. Pen y Fenn is the highest peak at 886m. It was interesting that in last night’s accommodation all the rooms had a different name and our room was called Pen y Fenn.
The walk was across a common which was moor country so was a pretty easy walk. Lots of sheep everywhere. The hill had the remains of an Iron Age Fort - all quite interesting and the views were amazing.
While driving along we contemplated the fact that New South Wales was named after South Wales and there should be some similarities. Certainly, there were times when we could have been on the south coast of NSW or for that matter, on the road between Bangalow and Lismore. Those thoughts soon disappear when you get to a town.
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| The Brecon Beacons |
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| Guardians of the Mount |
While driving along we contemplated the fact that New South Wales was named after South Wales and there should be some similarities. Certainly, there were times when we could have been on the south coast of NSW or for that matter, on the road between Bangalow and Lismore. Those thoughts soon disappear when you get to a town.
Our next stop was Hay-on-Wye which gets a write up as one of the 20 must-see places in the United Kingdom. It’s famous as a centre for second hand (and collector and antique) books – over 30 bookshops. Each one you walk into has books from floor to ceiling - quite amazing.
Jill went into one shop to see if she could get a copy of ‘Milly Molly Mandy’. They bought out an early edition – only £24. Perhaps not today.
Had lunch in a pub and a walk around town and later a coffee and almond and cherry gluten-free slice at the Granary (gets a mention in Lonely Planet). Also managed a sorbet/ice-cream. Jill was impressed with her Elderflower sorbet.
Jill went into one shop to see if she could get a copy of ‘Milly Molly Mandy’. They bought out an early edition – only £24. Perhaps not today.
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| Downtown Hay-on-Wye |
Had lunch in a pub and a walk around town and later a coffee and almond and cherry gluten-free slice at the Granary (gets a mention in Lonely Planet). Also managed a sorbet/ice-cream. Jill was impressed with her Elderflower sorbet.
In the car about 3:30 for the drive to Machynlleth. Up over the Cambrian Mountains - beautiful scenery including spectacular views across Llyn Clywedog Reservoir.
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| Clywedog Reservoir |
Accommodation tonight is in a Youth Hostel at Corris (just north of Machynlleth). Very basic (a four bed dorm) but cosy. Has an open fire to keep us company in the living area.
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| Dinner spot at Tal y llyn Lake |
Earlier in the evening, we drove about 3 miles (very narrow road for a change.) Most roads in Wales so far have been reasonably wide) to Pen-y-Bont Hotel which is in an idyllic spot overlooking Tal y llyn lake. It’s certainly one of those picture perfect postcard scenes.
You can see why Wales is so popular. The scenery is gorgeous.
