Second attempt to Reach the Canadian Lancaster Crash site 26 March 2026

After spending the previous day walking the four waterfalls dodging the hail storms the weather turned fine so I decided to have another go at reaching the Canadian Lancaster crash site. To avoid the need to wade across the stream again I decided to start from the Talybont reservoir 

The route starts with walking up Twyn Du then it is fairly flat until you reach Carn Pica where you are greeted with a steep walk up some steps to the marker.

Continuing along Waun Rydd you turn left at the pathway intersection to the Memorial which can be seen glinting in the distance

There are a lot of aircraft pieces still on site (the engine rolled down the hill!)

Having got to 700m i decided to keep walking at this altitude going along Graig Fal Las turning right at the Cairn to cross the very Boggy path to Craig cwmoergwm, The views of the snow capped big 3 was impressive but i decided to go to Fan y big (which i had previously visited up the very steep Western slope) for Lunch

I took a different route back along the ridge at Craig Cwareli and Bwlch y Ddwyallt with fine views of breacon and Sugar Loaf Mountain nearer Abergavenny before descending back to the reservoir down Cairn Pica

7 hours 15.4 miles total ascent 3200'

Four waterfalls and Porth Yr Ogof Cave 25 March 2026

 As the forecast looked to be continuing damp, and not wanting a repeat of the previous days conditions i decided to go and visit the four waterfalls trail. Having a lot of trees it would at least be sheltered

I went to the Cwm Porth Car park  (very efficient parking machine in the middle of nowhere...they use Starlink!) where the attendant was just setting up for the rush starting at Easter. He was very helpful and suggested a route which would visit all 4 waterfalls , including avoiding the path closure

The four waterfalls are Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr and Sgwd yr Eira. The first three waterfalls are on the Afon Mellte (Mellte River) while the last is on the Afon Hepste (Hepste River).

After walking along the well signposted  track from the car park enduring two hailstorms, Sgwd yr Eira, (the ‘waterfall of snow) was visited first as you can actually walk behind the water sheet  and I wanted to avoid the crowds. Need not have worried there were just 3 of us and a dog there!

After walking behind the waterfall

Working Northwards Sgwd y Pannwr was next walking through another hail storm!

Sgwd y Pannwr

Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn was next although it was a bit hard to see as the footpath that goes by it was closed. This resulted in walking from Sgwd y Pannwr to a deadend then walking back again

Sgwd Clun-Gwyn was the last waterfall 

I then returned along the trail to the car park 

7.44 miles 3.5 hours

Having finished my HF holidays picnic i discovered there were caves nearby at Porth Yr Ogof which has the widest opening of any cave in Wales so I decided on an afternoon walk especially as it was now sunny blue skies!

Inside the cave

Outside the cave

First attempt to get to the Canadian Lancaster crash site 24 March 2026

 

This walk was to see  the Memorial on Waun Rydd marking the location of the 1945 crash of a Canadian Lancaster

The weather was damp but it shouldnt get any worse according to the forecast. I parked at Blaen y Glyn Isaf upper car park and walked down to the stream at Blaen y Glyn walking up towards the waterfalls. There was no safe way to cross the stream when the path changed sides so i had to remove boots and paddle across! I left the stream and headed up the slope to the Cairn at Gwalciau'r Cwym. The rain then got worse accompanied by high wind making it difficult to see through my spectacles. It would only get worse as I got higher so the decision was made to retreat (before reaching the Cairn) I took a shortcut across Waun y Gorlan back to the stream and after removing footwear again to cross the river returned to the car park for Lunch . The crash site would have to wait!

5 miles in 3 hours

CWOG: Colwall to Malvern Link 28 Feb 2026

This was my first time leading a CWOG walk.

We all met at Malvern link station (£1.25 parking on Saturdays) which had other hiking groups assembling. The train arrived on time at 0944and got us to Colwall on time at 1002.

We left the station over the footbridge and walked though the mud and surface water through Evendine up to British camp. There we paused for coffee, We then walked via Black Hill, Pinnacle hill and Peresevarance hill to the Wyche cutting where we had lunch in the sun.

We then went up the Worcestershire beacon which was crowded. 

We went over sugarloaf hill and around North Hill descending down the rocks to North Malvern and finishing at Malvern Link 

8.5 miles in 4.5 hours total