Day 12: Llangynidr to Brecon

Yesterday evening we managed to walk a quarter of a mile to the nearest pub, wolfed down plates of steak and chips and a bottle of wine, staggered back to the B&B and slept for ten hours. I felt much better this morning with, at last, a beautiful sunny day to lift my spirits.

We started off along the canal again, transformed by the sunshine, then decided it was time to make sure we could still manage hills (and I think I would have jumped into the canal in boredom if we’d had another full day of it). The paths up were clear and not too steep, no cows only sheep, and glorious views. The first climb took us up above the Talybont reservoir, then we descended along an old tramway, rather stony underfoot, crossed the river leaving the reservoir and climbed the ridge the other side, where we found orchids growing and a nasty little dog (Ian says it was a Corgi, I tried not to look at it).

After another steep path down, we stayed on the road for a while to avoid a winding section of canal and take the opportunity to stop at a pub for non-alcoholic beer – it was a hot day and we needed to keep hydrated. Then finally back with the canal, now populated with day-trip boats, for the last 3 miles into the middle of Brecon.

We now have a day off to rest and reflect and ponder the contours of the route ahead – we’re well over halfway, but maybe that was just the easy bit!