From Van to the Dam

Another walk, this time with parents and sons starting below Clywedog Dam, the highest concrete dam in Britain don't you know?!

Across the Afon Clywedog and up through the remains of the Bryntail Lead mine. Still plenty of snow about which the boys loved. I forgot to put my boots in the car so almost immediately had wet, cold feet!

Over the hill and down the valley towards Fan, Y Fan or just Van if you're anglicising, which used to be the site of the most productive lead mines in Europe. You wouldn't know it now as most of it has returned to nature. Only a chimney and a few mine tailings give the game away.

This valley in the picture rises up from Van towards the Clywedog reservoir, the sole purpose of which is to control the flow of water into the Afon Clywedog. Afon Clywedog joins the Severn a few miles away in Llanidloes. If you are one of the people who regularly gets flooded in Gloucestershire you might argue the dam isn't quite performing its function but for towns further up towards the start of the river it has solved a regular flooding problem.

A trudge back up from the dam, by this time carrying Son #2 on my shoulders, and back to the start.

Just about the right length and most participants happy!

I've just had my first bath in six months, managed to fall asleep but generally enjoyed it. I am not in a rush to reinstall a bath in our house though. A steam bath though? Well that's another thing I could happily live with!

A cup of tea and the paper. The boys are keen to have a bonfire with marshmallows. Let us see what happens.