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| This walk
shouldn’t be undertaken if you like organized paths and
firm, level ground. Unfortunately, the official Wye Valley
Walk doesn’t actually go to the source (it veers off to join
the Severn Way) so it’s worth a bit of a scramble if you
want to do the last leg properly. It’s Open Access land so
take the usual care not to disturb critters. You can park at
Pont Rhydgaled. |
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| Cross the A44
and take the track north past a small and slightly incongruous
industrial unit. It’s well marked as the Wye Valley Walk.
There are also signs telling you to look out for rally cars
– a portent of things to come if you are unlucky. Carry on
north and west through the beautiful if largely treeless
valley. You begin to get an idea of the climb ahead as
Plynlimon swings into sight. |
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| After 2½km the
dirt track turns north, now with the river on your left. On a
bad day you should be able to see dust rising and hear cars
screeching ahead. The reason for all this activity is a rally
driving school slap bang in the middle of the valley.
There’s lovely. As you approach the old lead mines, keep the
rally buildings on your left and follow the signs north. |
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| Another 300m and
you see a path directly west, sloping slightly into the
valley. When you reach the flumes (concrete water channels)
you are leaving civilisation. The path ahead peters out in no
time and you have no choice but to trudge ahead through bogs
and over scrubby ground. Keep higher up the right bank if you
want to find a firmer footing. |
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| By the time you
get to the confluence with the Nant Gerrig stream you will
probably be fed up with this. I decided to take to the ridge
at this point, crossing to the left bank of the Wye and
heading up to where it says “shafts” on the map. It’s a
bit of a slog. |
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| Where the ridge
flattens slightly you come across a strange lunar landscape of
banks and craters (hags and groughs) caused by water erosion.
The black bits can be very boggy. From here you can see your
destination – the source is in the furthermost of the three
gullies at the head of the valley. |
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| Make your way
down to the faint sheep path that runs around the contour line
at the base of the gullies and start scrambling up the last
stretch. |
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| Someone has
kindly marked the first free-running water with a piece of
wood with “SOURCE OF THE WYE” scratched on it. A good time
for a bit of a sit down and a pasty. |
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| You can, of
course, return the way you came. If you can’t face all that
ankle-turning terrain again, head south. You will, however,
have a long stretch of busy A road to negotiate. |
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| Follow the line
of the fence until you overlook the dirt track to your left.
The views to the east from here are fantastic. |
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| Make your way
down to the path and follow it down the Nant y Maen valley to
Eisteddfa Fach. Left here on the main road and 4.8km will
bring you back to your starting point. |
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