NEVER JUDGE A BOOK ….

I climbed a hill today.

It wasn’t a big hill or a well known hill. It’s not particularly steep (although the sound of my puffing and panting would persuade me otherwise…..) and the views from the summit at 356 metres aren’t particularly spectacular.

For the record, I’ve no wish to undermine the hill’s self-esteem, but you’d drive past it to get to higher and more well known hills here in the Brecon Beacons National Park. 

So why climb it? I love discovering new (to me anyway) photography locations and this place fitted the bill perfectly as it has a huge slice of history associated with it.

At its summit are the remains of an iron age hill fort and although little evidence exists, there are still significant earth ramparts that confirm the settlement’s considerable size. It’s quiet there now, but if you sit for a while you can imagine a bustling community living off the surrounding fields and forests. I had a moment when I thought of how things came to an end. Was it invaded by a rival tribe? Did the Romans or Saxons come this far? After researching the area on the internet, I can’t find any clues as to its actual age, or when it ceased to be occupied. Perhaps that’s a good thing. The ghosts that now inhabit the place can rest undisturbed. 

At the edge of the surrounding woodland are the first signs of Autumn - a good mix of freshly minted mushrooms among the sessile oaks, birch and pines. This mixture of old growth and plantation woodland looks a great location for a misty Autumn morning, so I’ve logged it for a visit later in the year.

The walk back to the car takes me along the Bryn Oer Tramroad, an early 19th century horse-drawn railway. It has a fascinating history and provided an important service in its day. It runs for 8 miles from Talybont-on-Usk to Trefil, within the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. It was operational between 1815 and 1865 and linked the Tredegar iron works and Trefil limestone quarries to the Monmouth & Brecon canal at Talybont. Its route passes through the dramatic and scenic valleys of Talybont and Dyffryn Crawnon before reaching the uplands of Trefil mountain.

So this nondescript hill, overshadowed by its bigger, showier neighbours, has a proper tale to tell, and it’s one that I’m happy to share here. For the record, its name is Craig Danywenallt.

Just goes to show you should never judge a book by its cover.