A JOB WELL DONE

With recent incidents of vandalism and misuse at a couple of our mid Wales' bothies we have where possible increased the frequency of our visits and appreciated the support and assistance of both Natural Resource Wales and the Dyfed Powys Police Rural Crime Team.

Up at Nant Rhys near Llangurig all was well with a new barrier to the south providing an additional deterrent so I moved round to The Arch near Cwmystwyth and cycled in to check on Nant Syddion where a group of lads had driven two vans in for the weekend. Bothies are still closed due to the pandemic and unauthorised vehicles in the NRW forests are not permitted at any time - NRW will pursue these contraventions so please be aware of the current temporary restrictions that exist as well as the more long term ones.

After a quiet night above Tregaron I parked at Nantymaen and cycled in to Moel Prysgau which has seen the more serious misuse. This has been attributed to off road buggy drivers accessing the bothy from the Towy Track and I was pleased to see that some tactical felling of two large conifers will provide a substantial barrier to such access - thank you NRW. I enjoyed a few hours tidying up outside and in, but the heavy rain of the preceeding 48 hours was obviously deterring all but the most determined off roaders so I returned to the van.

 

A superb run along the Clywedog reservoir and a steep climb up from Dinas Mawddy put me atop the second highest road in Wales at the Pass of the Cross for a memorable night with stunning views.

After checking out the parking for a proposed excursion the following day I returned to Cae Adda at Trawsfynydd for a night taking time to enjoy a circuit round the lake on the reinvigorated bike after swopping out a tyre that had taken a slice to the wall after the forestry tracks. Then it was off to the station parking at Blaenau Ffestiniog in time to catch the train down to Llandudno passing almost immediately through the UK's longest single track railway tunnel before descending gently to the Conwy Valley passing Moel Siabod standing high above Dolwyddelan Castle, Betws-y-Coed and Llanwrst before spotting Conwy Castle and arriving in Llandudno. It was a sunny day to enjoy the promenade and pier before the journey home and a quick whizz across to the Caravan and Camping Club site west of Criccieth. As it was only a service night to empty tanks and bins, top up the battery and take on water it was adequate but being located on sloping ground adjacent to a busy road I was glad not to be booked in for a week.

 

Wednesday saw me in Porthmadog to do laundry and a food shop before around mid afternoon I arrived at the farm in the the Pennant Valley that would be my base for a week. I walked up to the bothy and gave it a good tidy up and sweep out before sterilising all work surfaces, doors, handles and other contact points in advance of the other volunteers arriving the following day. I then spent a quiet evening in after nipping across to the barn project who's roof was to be the focus of our efforts. Further work had been undertaken last October and it looked like the task would be completed if the forecast weather did indeed arrive.

A glorious day on the Thursday encouraged me to walk up to the head of the valley, pass the old slate quarries and mines and return via Moel Lefn, Moel Yr Ogof and Moel Hebog. From the latter I dropped down to the impressive workings at Cwmystradllyn where the little cafe did a very welcome cup of tea and a cake in their garden.

 

 

Other members of the team arrived on the Thursday night and in a light drizzle with low cloud we all trooped off to the barn on the Friday to organise the tools, equipment and materials before making a start. Slates were cut to size, nailed in to place and ridge tiles fitted but with better weather forecast we stopped by late afternoon and I returned to the comforts of the van.

Bright sunshine inspired us all to crack on during Saturday with everyone working in ones or twos on a variety of tasks - gutter and slate fixing at the bothy, roof work and pointing at the barn, the construction of two sleeping platforms there for occasional use and ongoing tidying up and site clearance.

A fine Saturday evening enabled us to hold our Area Meeting outside and review the challenges of the last 18 months in the bothy world, prioritise our immediate concerns and plan for their resolution over the next few months.

 

Even though bothies are still closed a trio of walkers turned up but were persuaded to move on - in such good weather this was hardly likely to be onerous. Otherwise we had the place to ourselves and achieved a lot with the support of Ed and his son Chris who ferried up the additional materials Martin and I had sourced in Tremadog that morning.

After a sustained effort on Sunday and Monday the final ridge tile was put in place by our AO Tony and a general sigh of relief was heaved by the assembled volunteers as this has been a major undertaking. We cleared away all the tools and equipment which were returned to the store shed at the bothy for future use and looked back one last time at this quaint building in a most spectacular location.

The team slowly dispersed and will with other members meet up again over the next few months but before then I would like to thank all those who attended for a week of laughter, hard work, great company and apalling humour.

This is what we've missed most and what makes all the effort worthwhile, despite the odd instances of misuse, we know that our work is hugely appreciated by others.

 

I now head south to the Brecon Beacons for a fortnight and have my second Covid jab on Saturday. Whilst at Lower Chapel the van will get a good look over, the shower mixer tap needs replacing and a group of us will be heading off on the bikes for some off road routes.

 

Piccies here.