Land Rover SIII 'TTK', 14

A further update on TTK: I went on a hill bagging trip to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park in Wales last week and kitted out the Land Rover so I could sleep in it. The trip doubled as a bit of a road test to see how TTK would cope and overall, it went well. There were a couple of minor leaks in the roof which were easily repaired and still some ongoing issues with starting... I had put this down to a fuel pump problem, but when I did some further testing after I came back, it turned out to be the battery. So a replacement battery was purchased, and things are much better now! The temporary (or should I say removable) bed frame worked well, so I am definitely up for a repeat at some point... It was bliss to be driving local A- and B-road at a very steady pace!

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, 7

Due to the forecasted rain, I nearly decided to drive home last night but instead decided to pop into the Brecon Jazz Festival to soak up a bit of the atmosphere. The rain did arrive during the early hours so I had another morning of chilling, reading, drawing and cooking in the back of TTK and I also went to the National Park Visitor Centre again.

By lunch time I drove over toward the Fan Llia and Fan Nedd area which took me up the beautiful, mountainous Sarn Helen road. The rain was still driving in in waves from the south but despite the wind, it was not cold. From the Devil's Elbow pass, the peak of Fan Llia (632 m) was actually not far and not so high up either, so I realised a quick dash up there was the way to do it. I just took an energy bar and, after a bit of struggle crossing the fast flowing stream, I was up and back down again in no time. The ascent was dry and windy - of course, as I reached the summit, it started pelting down with rain!
I was soaked through and through, so once back at the car I got changed, managed to get a quick picture of the Maen Llia Standing Stone nearby and I drove back to Gloucestershire!

Total kilometers hiked: 3.4 km
Total elevation gain: 211 m
Total Nuttalls bagged: 1

What an amazing trip - thank you Bannau Brycheiniog! I will be back...

Grand totals for the week: over 117 km of strolling/walking/hiking; total elevation gain 2825 m; total Nuttalls bagged: 15!!!

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, 6

I had set out to summit Craig Cerrig Gleisiad (629 m) and Fan Frynych (629 m) today, knowing that I’d assess afterwards what else I could do on this trip - as my energy levels were reduced and the weather was going to turn at the weekend. 
But once I reached the top of the Craig, I realised that the other two Nuttalls nearby were actually within relatively easy reach. And, certainly for one of them, it would save me from having to ascend again right up from the road! So, I managed to summit Fan Fawr (734 m) and Y Gyrn (619 m) all on the same 16 km hike!

The weather was very changeable with bouts of sun and definitely some rain too. The moors on the top felt very isolated despite the thousands of sheep, the nearby humdrum of the busy A470 and the popular Storey Arms car park area for the Pen Y Fan day trippers! It was also great to be able to use a section of the seemingly ancient drovers road between Merthyr Tydfill and Brecon (now part of the Taff Trail) on the return leg of today’s 16 km hike! Perfect to finish with a coffee once back at the Land Rover...

Total kilometres hiked: 16.0 km

Total elevation gain: 737 m

Total Nuttalls bagged: 4

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, 5

After 3 days of clocking up around 63 km around the Black Mountains I was due a rest day! I relaxed and rested, did some reading and some drawing and took a few local walks to stop my body from ceasing up (still ended up walking 14 km!). I also stayed at a campsite and enjoyed a much needed shower! 

The weather was warm and there was a good breeze which offered plenty of excellent views from the Visitor Centre area of all the mountain ranges in the National Park! Simply stunning… 

Total kilometres hiked: 13.9 km

Total elevation gain: unknown 

Total Nuttalls bagged: 0

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, 4

On my third hiking day in the National Park I aimed to complete the last 4 Nuttalls of the Black Mountains. Again, the initial ascent was steep but the views made it all worthwhile. Today’s peaks were Mynydd Llyssiau (663 m), Pen Twyn Glas (646 m), Pen Alt Mawr (720 m) and Pen Cerrig Calch (701 m). The hike was just over 21 km  and the weather was perfect: plenty of sun, some cloud and a good breeze to cool me down.
Amazing views of Waun Fach (which I had hiked on a previous trip - in dense fog!) and across to the Brecon Beacons range. The Pen Y Fan seemed to be covered in cloud all day. The combination of the flowering heather (Calluna vulgaris) and the emerging bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) on the heaths was stunning! 

I had decided to have lunch at Pen Alt Mawr but it was covered in millions of swarming bugs (flying ants?)! Pen Cerrig Calch made up for it though, as did the far reaching views all day! I also really enjoyed spending some recovery time at the 618 m pass between Mynydd Llissiau and Pen Trumau. 

Total kilometres hiked: 21.4 km

Total elevation gain: 727 m

Total Nuttalls bagged: 4