The four of us set off along the old tramway on a sunny morning.
After passing through Pandy, the horse whisperer and the rest of us strolled along beside the River Teirw.
The path at Gelli was missed, and we struggled up a byway in the unpleasant presence of trial bikes and 4x4 buggies. Elevenses were taken on a bridge in Tyn-y-celyn.
An unrelenting steep track, occasionally blighted with bikes and vehicles, led past the 484 metre summit of Bryn Du.
Lunch was taken in the shelter of a hedge near the top of the hill.
The other three decided on an extension to the planned route, but I stuck to our more modest intentions and continued along the track to Llanarmon.
It was difficult to walk past The Hand.
From there, a bridleway was soon taken up to point 442. This was a delightful rising path.
Near the high point, a view down to Tregeiriog.
On the high road near Pensarn I was distracted by a flock of starlings assembling at the end of their day. The flock was being boosted by the frequent arrivals of more birds.
Eventually I tore my eyes away from the starlings and continued back to Pen y Bont.
Here's my route - 17 km with 570 metres ascent, taking 5.5 hours.
The others walked an extra 4 km but returned via the valley rather than taking the excellent path to point 442.
