Fools that we are, we decided to climb a mountain!
It’s called Pen-y-Fan, as you may have guessed from the name it’s in Wales. Not Whales.
It’s absolutely stunning on the top of the mountain, and it’s a pretty easy climb too. Not that I’m suggesting we aren’t rugged types who should be admired for our stamina and all that but there is a footpath all the way to the top and you don’t need to know how to abseil.
Highly recommended!
Today Jo I are climbing Pen y Fan. The name ‘Pen y Fan’ comes from the Welsh, and it means ‘top spot’.
At eight hundred and eighty six meters above sea level, that’s two thousand nine hundred and seven feet for our American Friends, it’s the highest British peak south of snowdonia. On the summit awaits a Bronze Age cairn, with a stone burial chamber called a Cist. Our route today will take us just over five miles. This is a popular walk and it’s not hard to see why; the scenery is stunning,and the walk, although steep, afford some truly spectacular scenery. But don’t take this for granted.
The National Trust works hard to keep this route open to the public, whilst protecting its slopes from erosion and litter.
The steep gradient makes the walk a pretty decent workout.
It tests your strength and stamina.
It’s the challenge that makes it a popular location for charity walks and runs.
However, despite its difficulties, people from all walks of life, of varying age and fitness, are able to ascend this mountain.
It’s challenging, but accessible.
The well-maintained path makes it easy to forget how treacherous this mountain can be.
It’s always worth checking the weather forecast before you set out.
On a day like today the shadows of clouds skitter across the landscape at high speed, and it’s not hard to imagine how quickly the weather can turn on you.
So make sure you’re well equipped, and don’t stray from the path.
That’s not Pen Y Fan.
See, Pen y Fan is actually that one over there.
Which, even it doesn’t look it, is taller.
Which, you know, means we’re going to climb that too.
But don’t mind though, like it!
Having fun.
See you at the top!
Hello, I’m sitting here looking at an iPad to check our location.
I mean, I knew where we were, we’re currently sitting on Corn Du.
We’ve had a spot of luncheon, and soon we will be heading on as we go to Pen Y Fan.
It’s very exciting.
This is Corn Du
And that is Pen Y Fan
It is, as you can see behind me,absolutely stunning.
Here’s Jo in her hat looking absolutely stunning, hiding from the camera, she’s not gonna gerra awayfromme, theresheis! Ahhhhhhh!
Jo says: “I lost”
Well we’ve got the point where we are nearly at the summit, and I mean nearly at the summit, it’s yards away.
That group of people standing behind me you can see, that is the cairn at the top.
And in that cairn is a Cist.
The cairn itself was excavated in 1991, and a bronze brooch and a spearhead were found in its chamber.
A cairn is a Bronze Age burial chamber.
There are two on these mountains
One is on Corn du, but this one, nestled on the highest peak in the south of Britain, has become a landmark, which people who have climbed to the summit crowd around to have their picture taken as proof of their achievement.
That is corn du, and between corn du and Pen y Fan is what is called Arthur’s seat.
The idea being that between the two peaks it looks like a seat,and therefore Arthur’s seat for King Arthur, or possibly somebody else called Arthur.
Who knows, I don’t.
Jo, wax lyrical for me.
Wax lyrical?
Wax on, Wax off. (laughs at own joke)
I’m going to let the views speak for themselves.
So Ian, where are we going next?
Well, we’re going to double back on ourselves for a little bit.
And then we’re going to take a separate route, which will take us back to the car via a more sedate, theoretically, way.
We’re going to go down to the bottom of the valley, up to the top of another little ridge, and then over the top of that and then follow it down to the car through a bunch of trees, apparently.
Which will be nice.
I’ll like it, and so will you.
Oy, come back here you.
So, we have climbed Pen Y Fan.
Jo has worn her hat almost throughout and, it’s been a nice day, it’s been lovely.
So down there here’s is we’re going to walk now.
And in amongst those trees is where the car is.
So, we’ve stopped by this absolutely stunning stream, which nobody else seems to be giving a second look.
Which is a shame really, because of all the things that you can find when you explore a place, this is the kind of thing that you’re looking for.
So yeah, be mindful.
When you go for a walk don’t just do what everybody else does, actually look.
And don’t just spend your time taking selfies or looking through your phone.
Like I’m doing now, but with a camera.
I’m soaking my feet because my boots are too small.
Very slightly.
And me toes keep banging into the ends, and it hurts when you come down hill.
It’s fine going uphill.
Going to have to get new boots.
But soaking them in this incredibly clear water.
Jo says- Its is crazy isn’t it?
Ian- ‘oh, it is’.
Jo says- I should probably join you.
Ian says- It’s probably wind (laughs)
Ian says- It’s a great way to start a video isn’t it? “it’s probably wind”
More laughter
Ian- The thing we’re talking about windburn, not just wind.
Jo- That doesn’t sound any better (laughs)
Well, we have almost finished, we’ve got back down to the main road.
It’s just a question of walking on the pavement until we reach the car!
So that, was Pen Y Fan, which was a great climb.
Very thoroughly enjoyable, and I would recommend it to anybody.
The beauty of it is you don’t have to wear walking boots or anything like that, you can do in a pair of trainers.
The only thing we haven’t seen today are flip-flops.
But I bet you there are people that do.
Just not us.
Maybe that’ll be our next attempt.
Pen y Fan
In Flipflops!
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