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Hereford Born

@wyeexplorermark

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Hi, I enjoy the river Wye, its amazing catchment, the great outdoors more widely and meeting fabulous people like yourself.

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I was up at Aberedw Rocks yesterday waking up from a wild camp on its eastern slope. The wind on top was to strong. Not many people would see it but I found a pitch amid the heather and bracken. Just below the summit it was calm and peaceful overlooking the Wye and Edw Valley. I was putting together more routes for www.wyeexplorer.co.uk It was another cracking mission with emotional memories of my dear late twin brother Paul and I camping there back in 2016. The Mid Wye Valley north of Glasbury is so beautiful. #wyevalley #wye #aberedw #aberedwrocks taken in Aberedw, Powys by @wyeexplorermark

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4 days ago

Gamallt, north of Rhayader from a different angle.

One of the things I find awesome about landscapes is how the story keeps changing as we move. Walk a few hundred yards, change elevation or simply shift position, and the perspective changes as if we’ve stepped into a different room.

I find spatial shifts and awareness exhilarating. I mean we don't experience the landscape as something flat; our minds are constantly judging distance, depth, scale and position. A ridge that seemed close can suddenly feel distant, while a valley opens up and reveals layers that weren't apparent a moment before.

The landscape we’re walking through hasn't changed — our relationship to it has.

And for me that's what makes walking through places alive with difference – it’s not just the sound and scent or colour. It’s the spatial shift. I love it. How do you feel about it? #cambrian #cambrianmountains #walkinginmountains #wales #walkinginwales #walesvalleys #gamallt #monkstrod #longdistancewalking #nature #perspective #spatial taken in Cambrian Mountains by @wyeexplorermark

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9 days ago

One of the most beautiful areas of the Wye Valley, 3 km north of Rhyader. #wye #wyevalley #midwales #waleswalking #welshvalleys #walescollective #rhyader #cambrianmountains #cambrian taken in Wye Valley by @wyeexplorermark

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15 days ago

So, I'm continuing the journey along the Monk's Trod Trail from Abeycwmhir to Strata Florida on the West side of the Cambrian Mountains in Mid Wales, and I'm posting photos of my favourite spot in the whole of the Wye Valley. For me, it trumps Symonds Yat or Tintern in its lower reaches. Where could it be? We're out of the valley now, about 50 metres above the river, in what I call the Gamallt, Yr Wylorn, Moelfryn bowl. From the river, the slopes of Gamallt rise almost 200 metres sheer. Accompanied by the others, it's an amphitheatre of a space that inspires awe and wonder. #wye #wyevalley #Wyewalks #Riverwye #monkstrod #longwalk #cambrianmountains #cambrian #midwales by @wyeexplorermark

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25 days ago

Hi, all. The start of the Monks Trod from Abbeycwmhir to Strata Florida in Mid Wales was fantastic. I stepped off at the Wye Valley because of an injury, but returned two weeks later to finish it through the wild heart of the Cambrian Mountains.

To start, I climbed out of the Wye Valley, which is wonderfully wide – almost like High Cup Nick in the Pennines from above. Down below it’s enchanting, as you can see in the photos.

Suffice to say, the second part was spectacular, as I knew it would be. With more epic views, space, an overnight in the Clairddu Bothy with some interesting chaps, great memories and a visually inspiring entrance to Stata Florida, I couldn't have asked for anything more. I recorded some video and have uploaded it to YouTube. The title is: The Monks Trod P2: Across the Wild Cambrian Mountains to Strata Florida | Llwbr Y Mynaich, or copy and paste the URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55V0i4lyIzs

If you have the time, please do sit back and enjoy this feature-length video. There are timestamps in the description if you want to skip through it, but I recommend letting it roll. More photos to come. Peace out. #Monkstrod #Themonkstrod #Wyevalley #Wye #Longwalk #Backpacking #Midwales #Wales #Waleswalking #Cambrianmountains taken in Wye Valley by @wyeexplorermark

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a month ago

Walking the Monk's Trod, or Hu Bira Minike, meaning The Monk's Path in Mid Wales, I was keen to swim in the Marteg that meets the Wye abover Rhayader. Both rivers were low, revealing the true extent of the glacial boulders that sit heavy midstream. I was bowled over - excuse the pun - by their size and the sheer presence of ancient history. After admiring the first set of boulders and admiring the Marteg from upon one, I proceeded to the Washpool, where many sheep had formerly been dunked. The waters weren't glacial, but they were fresh enough, leaving me with a buzz as I emerged invigorated and as clean as the sheep. #riverwalk #river #ancinethistory #glacial #midwales #walesriver #trek #longwalk #welshcollective #wildswim #swimmingwild #riverswim #rivermarteg #gilfach #gilfachnaturereserve taken in Mid Wales by @wyeexplorermark

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a month ago

The Monks Trod: Into the Marteg/Gilfach and Wye Valley. #wyevalley #wye #gilfach #gilfachnaturereserve #midwales #walkingwales taken in Gilfach Nature Reserve by @wyeexplorermark

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a month ago

Moel Hywel (505M) is one of the features you contour around on the Monks Trod from Abbeycwmhir to Strata Florida in the Cambrian Mountains. In the early medieval period, monks came over the top of Moel Hywel and dropped down to St Harmon - it was said. We skirted its southern flank because boundaries, as you might expect, have shifted - there is no right of way from the east. So, we make the route up as best we can, which is what I love about exploring. It's interesting to note that Moel means "bold" in Welsh and Hywel means "eminent". It certainly feels like a mighty hill in its midst. In the second photo spot Caban Goch Reservoir in the Elan Valley beyond Rhayadar, a unique view I've never had the pleasure of before. #monkstrod #themonkstrod #abbeycwmhir #stratflorida #midwales #waleswalking #scenery #bighill #backpacking #welshcollective #rhayader #elanvalley taken in Mid Wales by @wyeexplorermark

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2 months ago

It's an unfolding story, the Monks Trod and I'll be sharing more photos and thoughts about the walk. Heading west out of Abbeycwmhir, scholars aren't fully sure of the route the 11th C monks took to Strata Florida in the Cambrian Mountains. There is evidence of a medieval trackway on Cwm Hir Bank above St Harmon, and it's thought they took this path. One thing is for sure: they would have stayed out of the proper valley floor to avoid the marshland.

Walking out of the valley really does feel medieval. The deep valley and steep forested slopes add to that mood. It's an incredible area in the Wye basin - all waters from here feed the Wye. #abbeycwmhir #monkstrod #longwalk #walkingwales #walescollective #forest #forestwalk #midwales taken in Abbey-cwm-hir, Powys by @wyeexplorermark

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2 months ago

I spent the weekend in Mid Wales at Llamas Fest, hosted by my friend Plaxy. There were good people, great food, some great valley views, and amazing conversation that stayed with me.

From there, I stepped onto the Monks Trod, walking from Abbeycwmhir towards Strata Florida through the Cambrian Mountains. It didn't disappoint: ancient paths, wild country, and that feeling of being back where I belong.

But after Gilfach and the Wye Valley, my knee and ankle reminded me that recovery was still ongoing. After a long injury, there comes a point where determination has to make room for wisdom. So, I stepped away.

A few years ago, I wouldn’t have thought twice about carrying on. This time, I chose the long game. I've been out for too long already to risk turning a few extra miles into a few extra months.

There was an unexpected silver lining too. I'd packed five days' worth of food because I couldn't expect everyone at the festival to feed me (even though they looked after us brilliantly). That meant I started with a heavier pack than I'll need next time. When I head back in a few weeks to finish the trail, I'll only be carrying a couple of days of food—and a lighter pack in every sense.

Without doubt, a successful adventure isn't about reaching the planned finish. I reckon there's learning about where the line is, respecting it, and coming back stronger.

Mid Wales is always beautiful. The Monks Trod isn't going anywhere. I'll be back soon—and this time, fitter for it because of wisdom. #abbeycwmhir #monkstrod #midwales #walkingwales #longdistancewalking taken in Abbey-cwm-hir, Powys by @wyeexplorermark

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2 months ago

Camping at the embryonic Wye at the base of Plynlimon before we knew this was part of the Sweetlamb estate in 2014 (Respects, guys @sandrabennettevans ). Later it was a climb up through the Wye gully to the source. How divine to hike amid the resplendent heather, the colours radiating like fire across the mountainside. taken in Plynlimon by @wyeexplorermark

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2 months ago

Is this a stream or a river? It's actually the Wye at source near Plynlimon in Mid Wales. You can jump across it here.

I reckon life is like this. We often look at beginnings and mistake them for insignificance. But, hey, a great journey always starts as something small or as a tiny flow of courage.

The Wye doesn't need to look like anything much at its source. The thing it needs to do is keep moving. #wye #wyevalley #river #riverjourney #lifejourney #walescollective #flowingriver #riverwalk #walkingwales #plynlimon taken in Plynlimon by @wyeexplorermark

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3 months ago