ROBIN and his spaniel Pepper were joined by nine walkers for the journey down to Ystradfellte which is renowned as being part of waterfall country and attracts hill walkers, gorge walkers and cavers and the aim of the walk was to explore both the Mellte and Nedd valleys which lie within the western region of the Brecon Beacons Country Park.

Leaving the car park of the New Inn they first made their way across the Afon Mellte, which is formed by the Afon Llia and the Afon Dringarth joining together before it flows southwards through Ystradfellte to Pontneddfechan. The name derives from the Welsh word mellt which translated means lightning and this is due to the fact that the river tends to rise very quickly after heavy rainfall before falling just as rapidly.

The river at this particular point can run dry because it disappears underground upstream of the bridge, but on this occasion was flowing well indicating that recent heavy rainfall had overloaded the underground waterway.

Tramping south and reaching Porth yr Ogof which means gateway of the cave they paused for morning coffee and pondered on the fact that it has the largest cave entrance in Wales, which is almost 20m wide and three metre high. It has been referred to as White Horse Cave because of calcite streaks inside the cave which resemble a horse’s head and it has 15 entrances, but over the years there have been fatalities amongst novice and experienced caver, mostly in the resurgence pool at the water exit because of the depth of the icy water which has strong undercurrents, so as with any sport or leisure activity care has to be taken.

Continuing south along the river bank beside the fast flowing river, they eventually reached a footbridge on the west side and following a path they reached the first of the three waterfalls situated on the Mellte, Sgwd Clun-gwyn or white meadow fall, below that is Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn meaning lower white meadow fall and below that is Sgwd y Pannwr or fuller fall which was used for washing wool.

Climbing up to the road and passing the tiny shop they crossed a stile and began their journey through the Nedd valley which the leader had pre-warned the group would be the muddiest part of their journey and it most certainly was! Making their way in a northerly direction along the narrow, slippery muddy pathways which were tricky in places and needed their full concentration, they eventually crossed the River Nedd and stopped for a well-earned lunch making use of moss covered rocks in the wood for seating.

Refreshed and rested it was time to move on climbing up through some muddy fields to emerge onto part of Sarn Helen, which is 160 miles in length and connected Roman forts in Aberconwy in north Wales to Carmarthen in the south and in some places is still well preserved. Then re-crossing the River Nedd a misty rain began to fall and tramping eastwards the last part of their walk was across Ystradfellte Common which returned them to their start point.

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