Autumns End.........

Last official day of Autumn - winter from here! Weathers looking pretty OK so its a flexiday off work and a late afternoon run on the hill with the dog......

I go for the classic Central Beacons loop. Easy to get to and it will be quite on a friday afternoon. Park up at Storey Arms, up to Corn Du, Pen Y Fan and Cribyn. Down the Gap road then across the valley at the reservoir to regain the ridge and back to Y Gwynt. Then down the 'toilet track' and back to the car.



Up the track alongside Storey Arms, with Fan Fawr just holding onto a wisp of cloud.

Banks of cloud swirl over the col between the classic flat tops of Corn Du and Pen y Fan.

Looking back towards Corn Du from Pen y Fan.

The flat summits are an ancient seafloor. How many walk across these tops but never notice the fossilised sand waves under their feet?

Still water at the reservoir before beginning the return leg of the run.

Cloud hugs the side of the ridge and the main peaks, highlighting further the texture and shapes of the landscape.

The sun sets as I run along the ridge. Cloud obscures the view on the horizon.........

....though a final glimpse of the last sun of autumn is just gained as it sinks behind the distant hills.

Looking back west across the Brecon Beacons from Y Gwynt.

Dog at dusk.

A final view of last light before the final run off the hill and back home. A definate 'Autumns End'.

Snow fun.

With some decent snow and weather in the Brecon Beacons last week I grab a mid week opportunity to get another long run in. Again I relented and let the dog join in, knowing her love of snow.

looking towards Cribyn

Dog on the summit

Corn Du summit

To keep it simple it was a quick drive to the carpark by Storey Arms as this area is easily accessible, and hence often busy! The path up to Corn Du and Pen y Fan had a fair number of walkers out enjoying.

Pen y Fan from Cribyn

Summit of Cribyn

We kept going, and fewer footprints accompanied us up Cribyn, and even fewer up to Fan y Big. The ridge afterwards was hard work with a keen wind, spindrift and much drifting. Great fun in fell shoes! Despite her short legs the dog was loving it.

Looking back across the Central Beacons

We stayed high for quite a while braving the windchill, but eventually dropped down. eventually winding back to Ponsticil to regain the western ridge up to Duwynt and then back to the carpark. Around 17 miles but tough going especially on the ridges. Good training for next months High Peak Marathon!

Moonlight running

Todays original adventure plan had been for an epic sea paddle with Taran, but alas the timing belt on his fan decided to snap giving him a severe mobility and financial problem in one hit. 

Summit of Pen y Fan in the moonlight.

So advantage was taken of the fine weather to earn some 'brownie points' and catch up with tasks about home and garden, but with the cunning plan to drag the dog out for a run later on. 

That later on was just after sunset, as myself and hound set off up Pen y Fan in the tail end of the dusk twilight. A steady plod using night vision and light from the rising moon gained the classic summits of Corn Du and Pen y Fan. 

As usual the wind on these tops was much stronger, with a keen bite. The tops themselves had a dusting of snow, and the surrounding landscape had a dispersed moonglow to it as th moon tried to shine through the thin cloud.

I stopped to try to take some pictures, but a keen wind and a lack of gloves (as well as tripod) soon won over from photo creativity! So the dog lead was grabbed and steady pace back down the hill made, this time with torchlight as well, in an attempt to blast some warmer blood into the hands!

Looking back from the base of the 'toilet carpark' track

A short but magic run, with only the dog for company... the things you have to do to get a Pen y fan to yourself!