#WormsHead Pen y Fan and your minds eye. A family weekend.

I am behind with my blogs. This is a report of a family weekend in South Wales over the weekend 20th April 2024.

This is a short account - a record - of a recent family excursion to South Wales - specifically to the Gower Peninsula and the Brecon Beacons. The whole family were there except for son James who was running the Blackpool marathon - (his 8th marathon ) instead. James is not keen on heights he says although he did the 3 peaks years ago!

Anyway we met up in Swansea - early Friday evening. We stayed in the town centre Premier Inn - very well located for a couple of beers and a Nando's !

Early next morning we were at Swansea Market for opening and some of us had a "Welsh Breakfast". It is a full English plus cockles and lava bread (fried seaweed). It didn't meet universal approval but a thumbs up from me!

It was then a quick getaway down to the Gower Peninsula. We were heading for Rhosilli Bay to walk out to the Worms Head. This is a beautiful place at anytime but we were blessed with what must have been probably the best weather day of the year - dry, blue skies, warm and calm. From Rhosilli Bay carpark you get a wonderful panoramic view of the massive unspoiled beach/bay with the white surf breaking in great arcs and out beyond it, the very prominent Worms Head.

There are 9 of us including my 2 granddaughters. None of them have done the Worms Head walk before. It takes about 3 hours. The walk can only be done 3 hours either side of low tide. The WH walk is best described as a scramble. It is a test of balance, common sense and determination. My granddaughters are proven campers - very happy outdoors - not snowflakes - but the walk will challenge them. It works out so well. The weather was exceptional - it was a great place to be - unspoiled - natural and very few other people. The views were amazing and there was considerable delight seeing huge seals swimming and basking. Fantastic and memorable really.

A lovely moment - the fam on the top of the Worms Head. A top effort. xxx

The plan is to have a picnic lunch on the cliff overlooking the bay and the Worms Head. An amusing misunderstanding occurs. I think I hear my 10 year old granddaughter is desperate for a wee. I am thinking she can find somewhere in the cliff top gorse bushes. We walk a bit - I say how about in there. She says no - not enough room - and points to an open area on the cliff - and says how about here ? Seems odd but I don't make much of it ! We walk on a bit. Same thing - too narrow - how about here !? It dawns me - we are at different purposes. Ayla is looking for somewhere for us to have the picnic !!!

The next stage -

We drive in convoy through the spectacular Brecon Beacon National Park ( and see the forbidding grey Pen Y Fan which we plan to ascend tomorrow) to the pretty village of Talybont - on - Usk a few miles south east of Brecon town. We have a drink in the sun in the White Hart Inn which backs onto the tiny guage Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal - a lovely spot.

It is then on to our accommodation for a couple of nights - the beautifully situated YHA hostel Danywenallt on the outskirts of Talybont. There is something special about YHA's. Nothing flash - basic - but wholesome. Invariably nice people - functional - warm and clean. Everyone settles quickly. The family have 3 bunk rooms - each with 4 bunks lol. It was great to see the Matthews all in a bunk each. The girls loved it and had such a laugh.

Dinner - the family are so flexible - ha! I made a massive pot of chilli on the day before we left the Isle of Wight and we brought it in the boot of the car - the pot wrapped in clingfilm ! Unwrapped and reheated. Everyone is hungry. A simple and practical solution for a feast - ha! and no one got food poisoning !

Just an aside. We had a family conversation at dinner about colour of eyes. I was genuinely astounded. This might seem mad but I did not / do not know the eye colour of anyone - including my kids and myself. I have never ever thought about it. By contrast Laura and Andy for instance knew the colour of everyone's eyes - they didn't even think about it - they just knew ! Victoria explained like her and George I have no "minds eye". Apparently when most people close their eyes they see images/pictures - their minds eye. We don't. Incredible.

Next day it is an early start. A good breakfast and packed lunches made - we head for the Storey Arms to start our walk up Pen Y Fan - the highest point in south Wales. It is a popular walk. There are a number of routes up Pen Y Fan. We chose to take the path to the left of The Storey Arms. It is quite a hard walk. It is a lovely walk. It is great for my young grand daughters to do it - a lot of kids would not be positive with the prospect of a 5 hour walk. They thrive. They are great company. So much time to chat. The surroundings are beautiful. It is a bit of an overcast day - unlike the spectacular yesterday - and views are inevitably impaired and a bit cold on top. However spirits are high and we sit an eat our lunch in the lee. Brilliant.

Eventually we take the route down - this time using the rather disparagingly referred to - "the motorway". It is true a lot of people use this shorter easier route for an up and down. It is a happy time. We are completing a challenging walk.

Back down we head for our YHA to shower and change before we go out for dinner at the White Hart to reflect on our weekend.

However before we leave the YHA I come down to the reception to find Ayla crying and in pain. She had squeezed her finger in the car door ! Horrible. Without thinking well meaning granddad starts suggesting burning a hole in the finger nail with a red hot needle to releave the pressure of blood under the nail - which is cause of much of the pain. It was not what my granddaughter wanted to hear at that time ! I was rightly told to go away or words to that effect - ha! Ayla was very brave and she loves her food. A good dinner helped a lot bless her xxx.

Here are a few more photos of a very worthwhile and lovely family weekend.