I've got over it
Today I decided to give Moley's recommended run route around the Hafren Forest and Pumlumon a go.
I started from Natural Resources Wales car park, containing 1 other car, at Rhyd y Benwch and followed the forestry trail beside the Hafren (River Severn) to its source high above the tree line. Much of the forest has been felled in recent years and replanted with native trees and without those plastic things.
From the source at Blaen Hafren I visited the quartz cairn at spot height 618 then drooped down to the right of Nant Gelligogiau following faint trods that kept disappearing until I reached the boggy, tussocky and marshy ground in the valley bottom. It was hard work crossing the 100yds of it to reach the Afon Hengwm, which I was able to jump, and the another 50 yds on the other side to reach the footpath, with DRY feet, which is so little used and was no more than a trod in places, but easy to follow to the footbridge, which took me back across the river, and then a track all the way to Maesnant, 2 miles downstream.
As an aside, when I reached Maesnant, which was boarded up, I recognised it as the hut we stayed in the weekend that the Herald of Free Enterprise sank in Zeebrugge. We set up our base on the Friday evening and went to George Borrow Hotel for a few beers when the disaster unfolded. We were there until the early hours staring at the TV screen, which was hanging from a high bracket in the bar, and imbibing a skinful!
From Maesnant I followed a good path on the north side of Maesnant stream steeply up to the bwlch between Pumlumon Fach and Pen Pumlumon Fawr. It was so windy that I was struggling to stay upright all the way up the ridge to the summit where I dived into the stone shelter out of the cold wind. I was surprised not to see anyone else there but after 5 minutes heard a noise, looked over the edge of the shelter to see two young ladies on horseback! How they stayed aboard I do not know.
I then set off on a section of lovely runnable grass, followed initially by the horses, to Pen Pumlumon Arwystli passing the source of the River Wye down to the right. After Arwystli it was lovely running again down to the UCW weather station and then a series of forestry roads, tracks and paths back to Rhyd y Benwch
A total of just over 16 miles, 2'858 feet in 3hrs 4min. Clear skies and sunshine but a very strong, cold easterly wind. Only six people seen until I returned to near the car park which jam packed with cars also parked on the verges.
Another fantastic weekend in Mid-Wales and thanks Moley for a great route, although in wet conditions it would have be a different story!