Mountain Biking the Hill Boundary of Powys - Travel Journal and Stats

Day 1:  Thursday 26.07.90   Welshpool – Long Mountain – below the Berwyn

The big journey has started, three weeks non-stop sunshine and we’ve just picked the week that the weather is supposed to break, roll on the thunder!  Met up with Baz and Ma for a start at 6.10pm, first thing to happen was a 48 mph sprint down the Long Mountain, the backup vehicle then had an encounter with a very large combine harvester, followed by going the wrong way by Trewern.  Mind you, the occupant is a mighty fine cook and without Barry and the mighty fine cook none of this would be taking place.  Baz dropped behind at Criggion and later took over the controls at Llansanffraid.  The beautiful evening saw Mark and I set a good pace all the way to Llanrhaeadr, a 10min wait and away.  The next, and last four miles proved quite exhausting, by the end my legs were wobbling.  Camp was made by a fantastic small brook which can now be heard smoothly flowing by Mark’s left shoulder.  Lots of tea, hot dogs, cake and more and we’re on the sleeping bags.  Tomorrows the Berwyn, the first big hills and the weather seems stormy.  God this is bliss!!

Day 1 Stats:

 Mileage:  30.56 miles.

Ascent Cycling:  862m / 2,828ft.

  

 Time Taken:  2hrs 51mins 45secs.

Average Speed:  10.4 mph.

Maximum Speed:  48 mph.

Day 2:  Friday 27.07.90   The Berwyn – Bwlch y Groes – Dinas Mawddwy

Made it over the Berwyn and Bwlch y Groes and into Dinas Mawddwy, the last five miles took their toll – I nearly threw a wobbly, even now I feel a bit dodgy – more later.  Up at 7.00am, met the local farmer before our stream wash and brek.  The arrangement was for Baz and Mum to meet us on top of the Llangynog – Bala road at about 12.30pm.  We set off at 9.00am for a cycle ride into the mist, the rain soon started – a pleasant change from the last three weeks.  Through the forest with bikes on shoulders for a very knackering slog up to the ridge.  Thoughts of what lay ahead darted through my mind, I felt shattered and we had nine days of the same and worse ahead.  The mists ran up past us just enough for us to spot the way onto the ridge, one mountain done, seven to go.  The downward progress was haphazard; wind, rain, mist, peat bogs and compass readings.  An hour to do three miles in some wild scenery, brilliant when the bikes were going, in some places torturous when they weren’t.  Eventually we hit the road with yelps of joy to be met with mug after mug of tea, butties and cakes.  45 mins later and the elements hit us again for a spectacular four mile run downhill towards Bala, left by the lake for a great couple of photos with some cycling comrades, then Wales’ second highest public road, which took a bit of doing.  More rain but still brilliant, down and onwards to Dinas Mawddwy feeling decidedly wobbly with the few very minor up hills that were left.  Food was wanted and quickly, the camp site was reached with everything in place.  I felt wrecked and took hours to recover, tomorrows probably the easiest full day; Mach for bike lock and the County Times for a camp at the base of Pumlumon.  If the rest goes like today it should physically and mentally take its toll, but of course be worthwhile.

Day 2 Stats:

Mileage:  31.67 miles.  (Overall mileage:  62.23 miles).

Ascent Cycling:  498m / 1,634ft.  (Overall cycling ascent:  1,360m / 4,462ft).

Ascent Bikes on Hill:  462m / 1,516ft.

Time Taken:  5hrs 31mins 46secs.  (Overall time:  8hrs 23mins 31secs).

Average Speed:  5.6 mph.

Maximum Speed:  39 mph.

Day 3:  Saturday 28.07.90   Dinas Mawddwy – Machynlleth – below Pumlumon

Today has been bliss, sun and superb scenery; we’re camping at the base of Pumlumon, what could be better.  Snuggled up in the sleeping bag with a most beautiful half-moon shining over Nant y Moch, this really is just about perfect; the back-up is beyond belief.  Started off rather late due to my map holder, I sped off in pursuit of Mark and Barry only to find them behind me.  We cycled through Aberangell towards Mach next to hawks, hedgerows and the sun.  Found Mum in Mach, as well as a bicycle repair shop who’d read about our little venture in today’s County Times.  Mark’s Spitfire had a service while we roamed around the town, most odd coming in to what seemed a big city with its thriving population and we’ve only been away a couple of days.  A brilliant dinner followed by a quick spurt to Tal-y-bont, here we turned off and up the mountain road aiming for Nant y Moch and our next mountain Pumlumon.  Barry joined us for the spectacular ride up and up with the Cambrian coast stretching out as far as what I think were the Preseli hills way out over there somewhere.  The ride towards our camp site was very, very nice.  Bare chested feeling content for magical four or five hours with lots of food, photos, a paddle, music, more photos and a perfect moon, this just seems to get better and better.

  

Day 3 Stats:

Mileage:  37.7 miles.   (Overall mileage:  99.93 miles).

Ascent Cycling:  694m / 2,277ft.   (Overall cycling ascent:  2,054m / 6,739ft).

Ascent Bikes on Hill: None.   (Overall bikes on hill ascent:  462m / 1,516ft).

Time Taken:  5hrs 23mins 19secs.   (Overall time:  13hrs 46mins 50secs).

Average Speed:  6.8 mph.

Maximum Speed:  35 mph.

Day 4:  Sunday 29.07.90   Pumlumon – Devil’s Bridge – below Drygarn Fawr

The evening has been spent bathing in the local river, followed by extinguishing the local midge pest.  Took a bit of doing getting up this morning, but when we did, it only took about an hour to set off.  Up the track for a steady plod towards Pumlumon, first cycling and secondly carrying, more mist, rain and wind, seems to be our norm for the mountains.  Met Kevin Dawsom on top who very kindly sponsored us £2.00, one wind swept photo before a quick compass reading and away for a 25min dash to Eisteddfa Gurig, superb with Mark leading the way and the mists clearing, the back end flipped a couple of times giving me the immediate prospect of being sent into orbit over the handle bars.  The back-up moved towards Devil’s Bridge where we joined them for refreshments.  We carried on in showers towards Cwmystwyth and the mountain road for the splendour of the Elan valley.  Barry joined us at the top for the last 12 miles to the Rhiwnant, past the dams, another day of Wales’ grandeur with more brilliant none A roads.  The unsure thought of the daily mileage and hills has gone; we’ve now done three full days each over 30 miles, with two of the eight mountain ranges done in quite miserable conditions.  The cycling is OK, the back-up is very excellent, the hills seem OK and so far the bikes are sticking the bumps.  I think between the four of us we may pull it off.  It’s even pouring down with rain at the moment and it’s the one I wasn’t looking forward to tomorrow – Drygarn Fawr – and I’m not nervous / apprehensive at all, 41 miles tomorrow – the biggest / longest day of the trip.

Day 4 Stats:

Mileage:  37 miles.   (Overall mileage:  136.93 miles). 

Ascent Cycling:  577m / 1,893ft.   (Overall cycling ascent:  2,631m / 8,632ft).

Ascent Bikes on Hill:  402m / 1,319ft.   (Overall bikes on hill ascent:  864m / 2,835ft). 

Time Taken:  5hrs 07mins 15secs.   (Overall time:  18hrs 54mins 05secs).

Average Speed:  6.6mph 

Maximum Speed:  37mph.

Day 5:  Monday 30.07.90   Drygarn Fawr – Llanwrtyd Wells – below Mynydd Du

Beautiful camp site, beautiful evening, Mynydd Du with the setting sun on it, it rivals the moon over Nant y Moch.  The midges killed us last night.  Up at 7.15am, away at 8.30am, we pushed the bikes until some old mines and then just headed up, all through wet ferns and grass – due to another wet night.  We then carried the bikes for at least three miles through some quite disgusting wet, massive grass tussocks, peat, bogs and more of the same, quite horrible.  The top was reached for Mark to celebrate by pulling a wheelie on top of the bee hive cairn.  Down to hit the forest on the right track for a quick whizz down, hit the road for another one of those wild cycles – this time to Abergwesyn.  Barry came out to meet us for bacon and egg baps at Llanwrtyd Wells, next was the outskirts of Mynydd Epynt for superb views back to the wilds of mid Wales and on to the higher hills of south Wales – our next four mountain ranges were all evident – Mynydd Du, Fforest Fawr, the Beacons and the Black Mountains.  Weird country – just one through road with army personnel very evident, visited Trecastle for the first time for all of five seconds and then onto our great camp site for tomorrows hill – Mynydd Du to show itself.  The night is starry, hopefully clear skies, tomorrow for one of Wales’ most beautiful mountains.  We’re cracking it.

Day 5 Stats: 

Mileage:  37.19 miles   (Overall mileage:  174.12 miles).

Ascent Cycling:  608m / 1,995ft.   (Overall cycling ascent:  3,239m / 10,627ft).

Ascent Bikes on Hill:  395m / 1,296ft.   (Overall bikes on hill ascent:  1,259m / 4,131ft). 

Time Taken:  8hrs 03mins 35secs.   (Overall time:  26hrs 57mins 40secs).

Average Speed:  4.5mph.

Maximum Speed:  43mph.

Day 6:   Tuesday 31.07.90   Mynydd Du – Fforest Fawr – below the Brecon Beacons

The sun’s out and I’m getting burned, five days gone, three to go.  More midges and the little swine’s are killers, they are not pleasant.  The days are beginning to merge into one another, today Mynydd Du and Fforest Fawr, tomorrow the Beacons, yesterday Drygarn Fawr.  The round circle is slowly, that should be quickly, being completed.  Today we set off from the exquisite camp site to nearly overshoot a corner and end up in a dingle.  Boiling morning with us taking our time past the filter beds, then a slog up to gain the ridge, Mynydd Du is beautiful, cycling on the Fan Hir ridge was pretty spectacular as well, we cycled from the top to within a few hundred yards of the road to be met by Barry.  A great cycle down with arms and legs pumped up.  A quick drink in the pub and away in the increasingly hot temperature, one big hill took us to our late dinner spot and away again with the hills of Fforest Fawr on our right, the Black Mountains ahead with Pen y Fan and Corn Du rising up in the distance.  We set a good pace coming up the Storey Arms road in very hot sunshine, a quick rest before an incredible 30 mins with bikes to the top of Fan Fawr, only resting once for Mark to have a quick pee and me to take one photo.  On top was brilliant, a stunner of a summers evening, brilliant views.  We came down in 12 mins, it was a roller coaster of a ride and then the midges hit us, they are quite unwanted.  Another incredible day, our fitness and stamina is by now pretty good, the Beacons tomorrow.  Reached 52 mph from our dinner stop to the Storey Arms ‘A’ road, Mark shot past a car while I nearly had a close encounter with a sheep.

Day 6 Stats:

Mileage:  23.2 miles   (Overall mileage:  197.32 miles).

Ascent Cycling:  580m / 1,903ft.   (Overall cycling ascent:  3,819m / 12,529ft).

Ascent Bikes on Hill:  893m / 2,930ft.   (Overall bikes on hill ascent:  2,152m / 7,060ft).

Time Taken:  4hrs 15mins 09secs.   (Overall time:  31hrs 12mins 49secs).

Average Speed:  4.4mph.

Maximum Speed:  52mph.

Day 7:   Wednesday 01.08.90   Brecon Beacons – Crickhowell – below the Black Mountains

I feel exhausted; it’s getting to the stage when I can’t remember where I woke up in the mornings.  This morning we had a burn up to Pen y Fan, hot sun, clear views and lots of sweat pushing, and on an odd occasion riding the bikes for a slog up of 55mins, overtaking walkers with none overtaking us.  The ridge down was quite spectacular, trying to keep to the bumpy ridge path with an awful long drop off to the left.  We hit the road for a few sizzling hills – it was by now very hot; the van arrived for another superb long stop in the sun.  Barry picked up a puncture on the way to Crickhowell, to go with the minor adjustments to Mark’s brake block and my rear wobbling wheel (bad buckle folks).  Onward to our evening stop next to a stream with a magical fire and bangers and beans, two hills to do.

Day 7 Stats:

Mileage:  34.1 miles   (Overall mileage:  231.42 miles).

Ascent Cycling:  570m / 1,870ft.   (Overall cycling ascent:  4,389m / 14,399ft).

Ascent Bikes on Hill:  483m / 1,585ft.   (Overall bikes on hill ascent:  2,635m / 8,645ft).

Time Taken:  (too exhausted to make a note – 5hrs approx).   (Overall time:  36hrs 12mins 49secs).

Average Speed: (too exhausted to make a note).

Maximum Speed (too exhausted to make a note).

Day 8:   Thursday 02.08.90  Black Mountains – Gospel Pass – Hay-on-Wye

Radio this morning said it was going to be in the 90’s and this upcoming Saturday is being predicted as the warmest day ever in Wales – a possible 95°.  Wow, and here’s us taking 2½ - 3 stone of gear over big hills and mountain passes.  Out quick to feel kaput on the way to the base of Waun Fach, sweat dripping temperature soaring.  The hill didn’t look at all bad, I had horrific thoughts of a carry up and down, past the wild horses and there we were on top, 65mins with 15mins to come down – another magic ride.  Met Barry at the bottom for a cycle back down the road, and then a left for the last leg back to Welshpool – up the Gospel Pass, Wales’ highest public road, this was sweated over after another marvellous lunch stop – down into Hay overtaking the traffic, a quick drink, shop and then to find yet another great camp site for another very relaxing evening.  One hill and two days to go.

Day 8 Stats:

Mileage:  34.85 miles.   (Overall mileage:  266.27 miles).

Ascent Cycling:  485m / 1,591ft.   (Overall cycling ascent:  4,874m / 15,991ft).

Ascent Bikes on Hill:  396m / 1,299ft.   (Overall bikes on hill ascent:  3,031m / 9,944ft).

Time Taken:  5hrs 44mins 01sec   (Overall time:  41hrs 56mins 50secs).

Average Speed:  5.9mph.

Maximum Speed:  40mph.

Day 9:   Friday 03.08.90   Hay-on-Wye – Radnor Forest – Llanfair Waterdine

It’s been a little bit on the hot side today.  The first 16 miles out of Hay took its toll; we sizzled in the increasingly hot temperature.  Dinner was at Kinnerton, Barry joined us for the last of the eight – the Radnor Forest, nearly six miles of forest tracks took us to Great Rhos, coming down was fun.  The afternoon was again hot as we came through Knighton to our camp site.  I’m tired, the last leg tomorrow.

Day 9 Stats:

Mileage:  40.91 miles.   (Overall mileage:  307.18 miles).

Ascent Cycling:  931m / 3,054ft.   (Overall cycling ascent:  5,805m / 19,045ft).

Ascent Bikes on Hill:  405m / 1,329ft.   (Overall bikes on hill ascent:  3,436m / 11,273ft).

Time Taken:  6hrs 32mins 33secs.   (Overall time:  48hrs 29mins 23secs).

Average Speed:  6.1mph.

Maximum Speed:  50mph.

Day 10:   Saturday 04.08.90  Llanfair Waterdine – Kerry Ridgeway – Long Mountain

It’s over, we did it.

Day 10 Stats:

Mileage:  58.24 miles.   (Overall mileage:  365.42 miles).

Ascent Cycling:  1,152m / 3,779 ft.   (Overall cycling ascent:  6,957m / 22,825ft).

Ascent Bikes on Hill:  None.   (Overall bikes on hill ascent:  3,436m / 11,273ft).

Time Taken:  7hrs 21mins 25secs.   (Overall time:  55hrs 50mins 48secs).

Average Speed:  7.8mph.

Maximum Speed:  45mph.

Overall Ten Day Stats:

Mileage:  370 miles consisting of 322.75 miles cycling on roads and 47.25 miles with the bikes on the hill including approximately 5 miles carrying bikes (not registered on their speedo).

Ascent:  10,393m / 34,098ft consisting of 6,957m / 22,825ft cycling on roads and 3,436m / 11,273ft with the bikes on the hill.

Time Taken:  55hrs 50mins 48secs (time spent cycling on roads and with the bikes on the hill was not separated).

Average Speed:  6.6mph.

Maximum Speed:  52mph (Day 6).

Mountain Biking the Hill Boundary of Powys - Day 10

25 years ago today I set off with a good friend; Mark, on the tenth and last day of our attempt to circumnavigate by bicycle Wales’ largest county; Powys.  To add interest to the venture we planned on visiting the highest point of each of the eight 2,000ft hill ranges within the county, which are all situated around its periphery, bikes included.  We were backed up by Hazel and Barry; without whom our little adventure would not have taken place.  Prior to setting off and during our trip we raised money for the British Heart Foundation and the Ystradgynlais Mountain Rescue team.

The following is an account of this ten day expedition with each day’s journey appearing on the Mapping Mountains blog 25 years after it had taken place.

The county of Powys with the eight 2,000ft hill ranges positioned around its periphery

Day 10

04.08.90 – Llanfair Waterdine – Kerry Ridgeway – Long Mountain     

Throughout the last nine days of our journey we had endeavoured to keep as close to the border of Powys as feasibly possibly, and today, our last day of the journey was no different.  Therefore our planned route back to the top of the Long Mountain where we had started our adventure was set out to follow the eastern boundary of Powys, this is also the border between Wales and England.  Throughout its length this border takes a number of interesting diversions, it is also a border that seemingly is not confirmed by any written document from the time when it was agreed, this I find amazing.

As the tent was packed up for the last time and loaded into the back of Barry and Hazel’s camper van Mark and I prepared the bikes for the start of our last day’s cycling.  We filled our water bottles; I sorted out what maps were required for the day and folded them up so they were on show in the map holder at the front of my bike.  We loaded up with various snacks for the journey and made arrangements where our first meeting place was planned to be, and then it was away, following the B 4355 out of Llanfair Waterdine as it follows the River Teme which is at or beside the designated land border between Wales and England hereabouts.

As the River Teme meets the Rhuddwr Brook the land border swings right and follows the course of the brook northward, thankfully a minor lane also did likewise and we left the easy gradient of the B 4355 and continued on our way using sections of minor roads and B roads until we arrived at the Kerry Ridgeway.

The Kerry Ridgeway is an ancient route mainly used in the past by drovers as they shepherded their livestock from Wales into England, it now consists of country roads, tracks and bridleways, these are an ideal mix for a mountain bike and would give us a bit of off-road pleasure on our last day of cycling.

Although the sizzling temperatures from yesterday had cooled it was still warm and by now our bodies were accustomed to the rigours and mileage of each day, and having the sun and blue skies take us through to the finish was a pleasure instead of a sizzling grind, which some of the past few days journey had been.

As we swung onto the Ridgeway it felt great to be off-road once again, our route on this ancient trackway almost followed it in its entirety as we headed onto the forest track named as the Long Plantation on Ordnance Survey maps.  This took us north-eastward toward the Square Plantation which was then a patch of Common Land, this patch of land is now designated as open access.

As we approached the Square Plantation we cycled straight into a new age festival, which we thought great fun, there were vans, cars and buses parked and a multitude of people wandering around the site.  Music played and we stopped and chatted with a number of people, those we chatted to explained the status of the land and invited us to stay for however long we wanted, as a veteran of numerous Glastonbury Festivals I was tempted, as indeed was Mark, but we had a schedule to try and keep to and although the thought of taking in a festival on our journey was appealing we had to press on.  It is the one regret of the whole ten day journey that I did not take any photographs when we were at the festival as it was a surreal experience, which most festivals can become depending on how immersed one explores their inner depths.  We had arrived unannounced into a fully-fledged and legal gathering of new age travellers and probably looked rather alien in our Lycra shorts, helmets and sitting on mountain bikes.  It was great fun when it lasted but we thanked them for their hospitality and waved our goodbye’s and continued down toward the small community of Snead, where we quickly crossed the busy A 489 and continued up another minor lane toward The Marsh, which is another small community of houses.

We were nearing journey’s end but now had to encircle Corndon, which is a 500m hill that is wholly in Wales, but its affiliation to the mother country is dependent upon the border between Wales and England swinging out from its north - south route to purposely take it in, this is another one of those unexplained oddities of this land border, but as our route attempted to follow the Powys border as closely as feasibly possible we wanted to cycle around Corndon, and this we did and once done we were on the final part of the journey heading toward the base of the southern end of the Long Mountain.  However, we still had a few miles to ride and had arranged to meet Barry and Hazel at a cross roads next to Brompton Hall.

As we arrived Hazel was preparing food and drink which was a welcome addition to all the previous nine days journey, throughout this trip the back-up had been excellent, this was provided by my Mum; Hazel and her husband; Barry, without their help this trip would not have taken place as they provided the glue to stick everything together, it was me and Mark who did the cycling part of the journey with Barry joining us for a few miles each day, but it was Hazel and Barry who kept us on the road, fed us and encouraged us.

After our lunch stop we continued into Montgomery and headed north out of the old county town of Montgomeryshire on the long straight of the B 4388, the hedgerows had recently been cropped and there were hawthorn needles scattered over the road, I got off and delicately pushed and carried by bike over them but Mark suffered a puncture, remarkably this was only the second puncture of the whole trip, with the first one suffered by Barry many a day ago around the roads of the south Powys hills.

As we cycled into Forden we swung up onto the narrow lane that makes its way steeply up the southern part of the Long Mountain, Barry had joined us for the last part of the journey, which was fitting.  This road proved the same as its counterpart on the first evening’s cycle ride out of Welshpool as it was so steep we had to get off and push the bikes to the top.

Nearing journey's end as Mark and Barry push their bikes up the Long Mountain

Once near the cross roads at the top of the road we jumped back on the bikes and cycled the last mile toward where we had started from ten days previously, it was a beautiful summer’s afternoon with high wisps of cloud in a blue sky.  Our finish point was where the lands of England butt up against those of Wales with the hills of Powys across the landscape to our west with the hills further south now out of view.

Hazel was waiting for us as we arrived and gave us a cheer, we had done it!

At the finish line on the Wales - England border on the Long Mountain

It had taken us ten days to cycle, carry and occasionally fall off our bikes around the 360 odd miles of Powys’ border, only nine days when you take into account that we started in the evening of day 1 and finished in the afternoon of day 10.  We had taken in the highest point of each of the eight 2,000ft hill ranges that are within the county and included the bikes when we had done so.  It had been a fantastic experience, one that I shall never forget as it still ranks as one of the best things I have ever done.  Mark had been a great companion during the journey and Hazel and Barry had provided the necessary and all important back-up.

Before leaving our finish point I set my camera up with its self-timer ready to take a photograph of the four of us, five if you include Trudy, Mum and Barry’s dog, who had accompanied us and enjoyed herself during the last ten days journey.

Only one thing remained and that was to cycle back home!

Heading home

Tomorrow:  A Well Earned Rest!

During the trip I kept a travel journal which I have relied on during the writing of each day’s article that has appeared on the Mapping Mountains blog over the last ten days.  Mark and I also kept a record of our mileage and I later worked out the ascent per day, on and off the roads.  This travel journal with its detailed statistics of the route we took will be posted on this site tomorrow.

Potscript:

Mark and I are still good friends 25 years on from our little adventure around the Welsh hills.  Mark is the boss of his own successful business and now lives in Shrewsbury and is married to Sharon; they have two children; Evie and Poppy.  Due to a motorcycle accident Mark no longer hill walks or mountain bikes.

Barry and Hazel are no longer with us, Barry died in 1996 and Hazel passed away in 2012, they are both dearly missed. 

Mountain Biking the Hill Boundary of Powys - Day 9

25 years ago today I set off with a good friend; Mark, on the ninth day of our attempt to circumnavigate by bicycle Wales’ largest county; Powys.  To add interest to the venture we planned on visiting the highest point of each of the eight 2,000ft hill ranges within the county, which are all situated around its periphery, bikes included.  We were backed up by Hazel and Barry; without whom our little adventure would not have taken place.  Prior to setting off and during our trip we raised money for the British Heart Foundation and the Ystradgynlais Mountain Rescue team.

The following is an account of this ten day expedition with each day’s journey appearing on the Mapping Mountains blog 25 years after it had taken place.

The county of Powys with the eight 2,000ft hill ranges positioned around its periphery

Day 9

03.08.90 – Hay-on-Wye – Radnor Forest – Llanfair Waterdine     

We were now on our return leg home as it was almost a direct northern route back to our starting point at the Welsh / English border on top of the Long Mountain.  The doubts and worries from the start of our trip were a thing of the past as we had almost completed our set challenge.  However, we still had one mountain range to get over, and miles of cycling lay ahead, but the main worry was the temperature as by the time we surfaced from the tent it was incredibly hot.  Today would prove to be the warming day ever recorded in Britain (up until this date, it was exceeded in August 2003).

We set off after breakfast and headed north-west toward Clyro before finding our designated narrow country lane which gained height at an alarming rate.  Mark and I had to take our time on these uphill road sections as we were literally sizzling in the heat.  The narrow lane took us to a B road that heads from Painscastle to Gladestry. Beyond this we joined the A44 for a short ride before turning off of it onto another welcome minor road.  All of this section from our camp site on the outskirts of Hay-on-Wye to Kinnerton, where we rested and had lunch, was swelteringly warm, the only consolation was that we created a breeze when cycling and that an alternative to the heat could be heavy summer rain.

We met Barry and Hazel in Kinnerton where we rested, sought shelter from the sun and had a bite to eat.  It felt as if the whole land was ablaze with heat, the highest temperature recorded during the day was 98.8º Fahrenheit (37.1º Celsius) in Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, with 95.4º Fahrenheit (35.2º Celsius) recorded at Hawarden Bridge in Flintshire and 94.6º Fahrenheit (34.8º Celsius) recorded at Newport in Shropshire, the route we cycled on today was mid-way between Gloucestershire and Shropshire / Flintshire and therefore the temperature probably exceeded 95 - 97º Fahrenheit (35 – 36º Celsius) during our route toward and over the Radnor Forest.  It was forbiddingly warm and we cycled over 40 miles during the day with over 3,000ft of ascent, no wonder we felt poleaxed!

After lunch Barry joined us for our last hill of the journey, this was Great Rhos in the Radnor Forest, earlier in the year Mark and I had scouted the best route up this hill for a mountain bike and had driven miles on forest tracks finding where each went and what was the best route of access, we opted for the track that leaves the lane north of Kinnerton, this gave relatively easy access to the high point of Great Rhos.

Mark and Barry on the lower part of the forest track which Mark and I had driven up earlier in the year

The forest track weaved its way around the northern part of Bache Hill and Black Mixen

It was great to have Barry with us for our last hill, Barry was an avid cyclist and hill walker, and in his youth he had been a time trialist.  We made good progress up the hill on its forest tracks and even encountered some mud on the enclosed section through the conifers as we left the forest track to head out onto open hillside.

Breaking through the conifers just north of the summit of Great Rhos

All that remained was to push and cycle the last few metres toward the trig pillar at the summit of Great Rhos, as we arrived at the trig there were no great celebration as we still had a long way to ride to get to the top of the Long Mountain and the end of our journey, but we had done it!  We had got the bikes to the summit of each of the eight 2,000ft hill ranges that are within the county of Powys, and all within nine days.  We rested next to the trig pillar happy in the knowledge that the next 30 minutes would be a careering journey downhill on forest tracks – YYIIIPPPPEEEEEE!!!!!!!

Barry and Mark resting beside the trig pillar on Great Rhos

Beside the trig pillar at the summit of Great Rhos.  Eight down, no more to go

We headed down the same way as we had come up and zoomed down the forest track, all the uphill effort seemed to be over quickly as the downhill galloped past.  We met Hazel where we had left her; she was doing her utmost to keep out of the early afternoon sun which seemed to have increased in its intensity.

Another well earned rest back at the van

Barry joined Hazel in the back-up vehicle for the journey to our campsite, whilst Mark and I continued in the afternoon heat on the B 4357 through the small community of Whitton and eventually into Knighton.

Beyond Knighton we joined the B 4355 as it kept to a low level and thankfully a relatively flat route beside the River Teme.  As we cycled through Knucklas I started to think that the journey was very nearly over as we only had a mile or so to Llanfair Waterdine where we hoped to find a place to pitch the tent, and tomorrow was the last stretch on roads back to our starting point.

Our last night in the tent on the outskirts of Llanfair Waterdine

We spent part of the evening in a pub relaxing and having a drink before bedding down, me and Mark in the tent and Barry and Hazel in their camper van.  Tomorrow we had about 55 miles to cycle, all of this was on roads or tracks, no hills remained, we were almost there.

Tomorrow:  Llanfair Waterdine – Kerry Ridgeway – Long Mountain     

Mountain Biking the Hill Boundary of Powys - Day 8

25 years ago today I set off with a good friend; Mark, on the eighth day of our attempt to circumnavigate by bicycle Wales’ largest county; Powys.  To add interest to the venture we planned on visiting the highest point of each of the eight 2,000ft hill ranges within the county, which are all situated around its periphery, bikes included.  We were backed up by Hazel and Barry; without whom our little adventure would not have taken place.  Prior to setting off and during our trip we raised money for the British Heart Foundation and the Ystradgynlais Mountain Rescue team.

The following is an account of this ten day expedition with each day’s journey appearing on the Mapping Mountains blog 25 years after it had taken place.

The county of Powys with the eight 2,000ft hill ranges positioned around its periphery

Day 8

02.08.90 – Black Mountains – Gospel Pass – Hay-on-Wye     

By the time we got up and out of the tent it was already hot and as we devoured breakfast we heard on the radio that temperatures in Wales were going to be in the 90’s Fahrenheit.  It was also predicted that the highest temperature ever recorded in Wales would take place in two days’ time, and here we were carrying 2½ – 3 stone of mountain bike and gear over some of the highest mountains in Wales.

I felt completely wiped out as we cycled up the narrow lane following the Grwyne Fawr as it flowed down on our right.  The paved road ended further up the valley and a track continued toward the Grwyne Fawr Reservoir.  When we arrived next to the reservoir the water level was already low exposing the land below, this land always looks rather pitiful as it is stripped bare of growth and resembles decay.

On our way up Waun Fach with the Grwyne Fawr Reservoir in the background

The high point of the Black Mountains is Waun Fach which can be easily turned into a quagmire after a prolonged wet spell, as we carried and pushed the bikes up the hill the ground was parched and bone dry, we cycled across the summit plateau to the remains of what was once the base of the hill’s trig pillar.  The ascent had taken us 65 minutes; coming down was fun and only took 15 minutes from the summit back down to the dam at the reservoir.  These descents were incredible as arms and legged pumped away with the bike seemingly on an out of control downward pitch where gravity and speed took over.

Cycling across the summit plateau of Waun Fach.  Seven down, one more to go

As we arrived at the dam we were met by Barry who had cycled up the valley after he and Hazel had dismantled and packed our tent away.  Barry then joined us cycling back down the valley as our planned route would now take us over Wales’ highest public road; the Gospel Pass.  We did have another option from the summit of Waun Fach and that was to cycle down its north-western ridge and hit the roads above Talgarth, this would give us an easy cycle route into Hay-on-Wye, but as we were following the periphery of the county of Powys we wanted to ride as near to the county boundary as possible, and anyway it would be fun to include the two highest public roads on our journey as we had already cycled up and over Bwlch y Groes at the base of the Aran earlier in the trip.

Meeting Barry at the base of Waun Fach for the continuation of our route down the valley

Cycling down the valley was easy and relaxing but it did give an odd feeling of heading in the opposite direction to where we wanted to go.  However, as we rounded the southerly outlier of Twyn y Gaer we started to head north up the Vale of Ewyas.  The road we were now on was narrow and continued for miles with intermittent high hedgerows either side that enclosed us into our own little world.

Having a quick wash in the Grwyne Fawr before continuing up the Gospel Pass

The early afternoon was proving very warm but cycling created its own breeze which was welcome, otherwise the task at hand would have been incredibly debilitating.  We had a lunch stop before the ride up Wales’ highest public road.  As I crested the top of the Gospel Pass I looked back as Mark slowly made his way up the road in front of Hazel and Barry who followed in the back-up vehicle.  Ahead of us lay one more hill range, we had now completed seven out of the eight mountains and only Great Rhos in the Radnor Forest remained but we still had over a third of the whole length of Wales to ride to complete our journey.

Mark cycling up the Gospel Pass with the back-up vehicle behind him

Barry joined Mark to cycle up the last part of the Gospel Pass and then the three of us hurtled down the road overtaking cars as we did so, as Barry and Mark were more skilful on a push bike than me they took the corners seemingly without any hesitation, whilst I tried my utmost to slow down and keep the bike on the road, at every corner we faced the possibility of meeting oncoming traffic, at the speed we were going the cars may have ended up in a worse condition than us if we had collided.

Barry and Mark nearing the top of the Gospel Pass, Wales' highest public road

As we arrived at the outskirts of Hay we waited for Hazel who had tried to keep up as we flew down the road.  We stopped in the town for a welcome drink and to do a shop before heading out of Hay on the Clyro road to another wonderful campsite.

Tomorrow:  Hay-on-Wye – Radnor Forest – Llanfair Waterdine