Brecon Beacons 2023
The Autumn half term saw the return of our annual Brecon Beacons (or should that be Bannau Brycheiniog) long weekend expedition.
On Sunday we headed out onto the hills, hoping to bag a trio of summits, including Pen Y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales.
The weather started gloomy and by the time we reached our first summit of Corn Du, the wind and rain had picked up.
Continuing on to Pen Y Fan, the temperature was dropping and the rain persisting. So after a group shot on the summit cairn, we decided to head to lower ground and make our way back to the minibus. There are times when its cold and wet that you have to accept what you have achieved and make a retreat
Back at the minibus, we even had the chance to try out some DIY motor mechanics, changing a flat tyre!
Monday gave us the chance to try a new activity, for most – caving. Despite a few apprehensive questions about what we might expect, everyone was raring to go by the time wetsuits, caving suits and helmets were donned.
After being posted through the “Letter Box” crawling on belly’s, squeezing through gaps gazing into huge fractures in the rock we surfaced for some well earned lunch.
Then back down for some more, this time a lot wetter as we entered through an underground river that came all the way from the very beacons we climbed the day before.
We were shown some fantastic stalactites and stalagmites and explored more of the caves. Then it was time for the dreaded finale, “The Washing Machine”. Swept down a phreatic tube dissolved through the rock by the full force of the river was a definite highlight. When we emerged back into the daylight, all agreed it was a fantastic experience!
