Hello 2017!

Well, here we are just less than two weeks into the year and we’ve probably gone past the bit where people talk about resolutions, so here I am. Last year I actually made some resolutions and stuck to 3 of them, which is a massive improvement on 0. One of the things I wanted to do last year was to get out and see more of the country. Since passing my driving test a few years ago it’s been something I’ve wanted to do, but arranging things  with friends has never really been my strong point so this year I’ve decided it’s time to actually do something about it.

As a result, last weekend I finally managed to drag a couple of friends out with me to The Skirrid (Ysgyryd Fawr) in the Usk Valley, just at the edge of the Brecon Beacons.

I don’t have a great record with mountains. I love them in theory- I love looking at them and I love going out walking in fields and up hills, but I’m not great with heights, and combined with a few days of not great weather we decided after a bit of research that it was a brilliant idea.

It was great. The views around the mountain are really lovely and we were just at the edge of a cloud which added a bit of drama to the view. Talking of drama, I only froze with fear about 3 times, slipped a few times but always managed to catch myself, then stopped a bit short of the top. I know my limits, so I told Adam and Ffion to carry on and I’d wait for them to get back, which they did and we made our way back down just before it started getting dark. A few people were still making their way up despite the weather getting worse and the light rapidly disappearing, but if you’re okay with heights and slipping in mud it’s fine. It was a great way to get out into the countryside and blow off the cobwebs while getting some absolutely lovely views of the surroundings. I’d definitely recommend it!

The sheep were quite friendly too.

Happy New Year!