A Walk in The Mountains - An Introduction

Pen Y Fan 

A Walk in The Mountains - An Introduction

Before we had children Mr P and I would spend our weekends wild camping in the Brecon Beacons. It would take all day Saturday to travel there and all day Sunday to get home. We didn't have a car so relied on public transport. Then I started nursing which meant working every weekend so our wild days were gone.


Fast forward a few years and our children were grown up and could be left alone so every Sunday for at least ten years Mr P and I would go for a walk. We started off walking along the Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal then we became more adventurous and walked in the Brecon Beacons, The Black Mountain and The Black Mountains (yes they are different) in fact anywhere in South or Mid Wales we could get to in a couple of hours.

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal at Govilon

Mr P then started to get a painful hip, our walks got shorter and less adventurous. Eventually they completely stopped. Just walking to the car was too painful.

Three months ago Mr P had a hip replacement. He is now pain free and walking again. I have missed the mountains. We haven't walked for two or three years and I have missed the isolation and the peacefulness. I have missed being out there on a clear day with the glorious views or on a foggy day when we couldn't even see our hands in front of our face.

Nursing was a really stressful job but within minutes of being out and away from people, walking along sheep tracks or Roman roads all my stresses would be gone. It would set me up for another week at work.  Now I am retired I do not have the same stresses but know walking is good for my body as well as my mind.

Pen y Fan in the snow

We walked rain or shine, snow or fog. Walking in the mountains can be risky and anyone venturing out needs to be prepared but there is a safe walk for every weather condition. We rarely didn't go out because of the weather, the only thing that would stop us was thunder and lightning. We didn't want to be the tallest things on a hill during a thunder storm.

Walking in snow and fog on Craig Cerrig Gleisiad

Now that Mr P can walk again we are going to be walking each week. Slowly at first to get our stamina and skills back up, then further. I am not sure if we will ever again do some of the more isolated walks but there are many that feel away from it all even though they are not.

If you live near South Wales you can do these walks too, if not then come on a virtual walk with us.

All the walks will be indexed on the tab at the top labelled Walks. I will do my best to add a new one every week.

We are always looking for suggestions so if you have a favourite walk please tell us about it in the comments.

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