New Year celebrations at Llanwrtyd Wells 29/12/2022 to 02/01/2023

Twelve East Lancs LDWA members arrived a Llanwrtyd Wells for our New Year celebrations which many of us refer to as 'The Wicker Man Experience'

This involved our own walks on the first two days the second one being slightly shorter , the New Year Celebrations themselves ( The Wicker Man bit) , and a short history walk on New Years day led by local walkers.

Walk 30/12/2022 approx 12 miles 2000 ft ascent leader Neil Smith

Seven people set off on this walk after breakfast, A483 followed to Woollen mill to pick up rising path that used to be a full flowing stream! to a wooded area and open fields to Pystyllgwyn and tarmac track to Bwlchmawr (the pink farm)then turning left through farm yard to track and a leap across a stream where Roger fell for Alma??We descended passed a remote rental property with a wind turbine and fortunately a stream with a small arched metal footbridge and then uphill again to an enclosed track where we turned right to continue to then turn left to descend into a valley with another footbridge and another ascent up and out of the valley to an open plateau where after turning left for a short distance we stopped for a lunch break.

This break was hurried due to a change in the weather and we continued to eventually enter a forest where we had to negotiate several fallen trees (one snagging Barbara and putting her on her back) The tracks in the forest were followed until we reached a point where we had to descend a narrow wet and slippery path near Crugwydd .More forest walking took us to a cross junction where a decision was taken on the route to take and after a short discussion we turned right with another ascent towards the Irfon forest then turning left to an open area to Pen -y-Band and a descent to the river path back to Llanwrytd.

Walk 31/12/2022 approx 10miles 1780 ft ascent leader Neil Smith

Eight people set off passing the Stonecroft pub to take the footbridge over the river and turn right on the back road before turning left on footpath across field to enclosed track to take us to the back of Victoria Wells from where we took a track to the left to zig zag uphill to an open area with excellent views of Llanwrytd .A brief rest was taken to take in the views before continuing upwards to eventually come out on a forest track and turning left following track around Nant Gyrnant before descending to minor road ,turning left towards Llanwrytd church and left again on the road uphill to enter forest track on the right to a wide spot where we took our lunch break. Of course it started to rain again so no time was lost before we continued along the track to turn right and climb up and around Pen y Ddinas to arrive back at the point we had lunch.

We then retraced our steps to pass the church again and the minor road before turning left through a field path to the road at the front of Victoria Wells which was followed back to the river footbridge and back to the finish.

New Year celebrations

Based around the Neuadd arms , following our East Lancs traditional early evening nibbles and Champagne in the 'Cottage' annex , we had an excellent three course meal in the main hotel. We then waited outside for the sound of the Gaelic Band and the leaders whistle, as they approached the hotel, from down the road. On arriving they continued playing in front of the Neuadd arms as we lit our torches in preparation for the torchlight precession. The procession went about half a mile, down the road, to a local hall with drinks including mulled wine readily available. Then back to the Neuadd Arms where the Gaelic band played outside through to the New Year , then celebrations continued in the hotel 'Dangerous Dave' and his band playing through to around 2.30 am.

The pictures below were taken from the New Year excursion to Llanwrtyd Wells. Walking and partying!!