Monday 23 February 2026 - A South Circular from Pen y Bont

Rick joined us yesterday afternoon, before Sue cooked some excellent roasted chicken breast wrapped with parma ham and stuffed with red onion marmalade and goats cheese. 

So it was a group of five that set off today on this southern circuit from our holiday home. 

After the steep ascent from the house with improving views (above), we joined a high level bridleway that certainly showed signs of recent rainfall.

We found a way round, but it was muddy!

We carried on along the Cefn Hir-fynydd track as far as Llidiart-cae-hir, with good views down to the Ceiriog valley.

We then continued west, up a pleasantly grassy path, to a far point beyond a cairn at 496 metres.

This was our turnaround point, from where we strolled down to Llanarmon on more grassy paths.

Lunch was taken on a bench next to the turn out of Llanarmon that I had taken yesterday.

We passed The Hand. Venue for tomorrow's evening meal.

There were snowdrops in profusion in the church yard, as well as some magnificent ancient yew trees.

Click on the image to make it readable

From there, an easy woodland path took us to Tregeiriog on the route taken by the other three yesterday. An enclave of friendly lambs chewing on swedes and Sue's fingers were passed shortly after I'd taken a break at the bus shelter where we acquired a couple of interesting books last Friday. 

Here's our route - 16km with 400 metres ascent,  taking about 5 hours.

And here's a reminder of days past on a plaque outside Pen y Bont. (Click on the images.)

Colouring - a leisure activity courtesy of Jeanette's postcard sized colouring ideas and her pencils of 72 different colours.