A Walk Along the Ystwyth.

Another grey and gloomy day. It was very hard to muster enthusiasm for going out on a walk especially as the start time had been brought forward by half an hour and it was a longish (45 mins) drive away. But go I did and I'm very glad I went.

The meet up place was by the waterwheel in Pontrhydygroes by the River Ystwyth. Due to the way the valleys run the road system loosely resembles a grid and most destinations have several routes of equal length to get there. It's usually a matter of either going up and then along or along first and then up. To get to Pontrhydygroes I decided to go via Devil's Bridge as that took me onto the ridge overlooking Cwm Rheidol and the hills to the north with the high country to the south. From Devil's Bridge I then drove across the high country and finally down the sides of a wooded valley. Normally I'm not a fan of viewing the countryside through a car window but that is a very scenic route.

From the village of Pontrhydygroes (The Bridge of the Ford of the Cross) we walked down the well maintained path to miners bridge high over the river Ystwyth.
 

Walking through the woods the ground was carpeted with coppery beech leaves. In Devon beech trees were the predominant trees making up both the hedgerows and  woodlands while around here it is more usual to see the sessile oak which in autumn fades to a dull yellow. Also underfoot were the large leaves of the Northern Red Oaks which I'm guessing would have been introduced as part of the 'picturesque' planting scheme on the nearby Hafod Estate in the late 18th century. Unfortunately, maybe due to the lack of frosts this year those leaves were merely brown rather than the spectacular red they are known for. Interestingly many had marble-like oak galls growing out of them. 

Our path eventually brought us to a viewing point high above the river. Here the youngest member of our group, a charming and bright as a button little chap, is being held securely by his mum as it must have been at least a 15ft drop to the fast flowing waters below.

As well as the river there were many small streams flowing down out of the hillside.

Eventually we came back up to a forestry track before stopping for lunch on a spoil heap of fine gravel from the old lead mines. Crossing back over another bridge we made our way along the road back to Pontrhydygroes.

As we walked we were intrigued by the sight of a long line of sheep (those small white dots) making their way up from the field on the right and on to a track that disappeared around the corner of the hill.  We wondered if they were following a farmer though I preferred my idea that one sheep had decided that she 'wanted to be alone' and the rest had simply followed her.

Back at the village we stopped at the tea room and served ourselves with tea and home-made lemon drizzle cake before settling down for a comfy chat. I'm so glad I decided to go on the walk as it had been a most pleasant afternoon.