Feb 24: Pen y Bannau and Pen Dinas hillforts

My final walk with Brenda Lees was to Pen y Bannau hillfort for the last morning. Naturally, some snow had fallen to make things more pleasant, and a howling wind added further interest.


Pen y Bannau is not a particularly steep climb, but it was tough going on the slippery snow. I also discovered that the summit was the only place in the area from where I could use a mobile. In any case, by the time we reached the summit the wind was too strong to ponder such matters for long. At least we enjoyed great views of the surrounding hills.



We parted in the afternoon, by which time the weather had changed completely. I had time to climb Pen Dinas, the hillfort south of Aberystwyth. The hill is now dominated by the monument to the Duke of Wellington, erected in 1852. There are superb views to the south from the hill.

From Pen Dinas it is clear the Aberystwyth is a strange name for a town that doesn't lie on the river Ystwyth. It lies on the Rheidol, while the Ystwyth flows harmlessly into the sea south of the town.

Today: 6 miles
2006 total: 79 miles