Llanwrthwl

Spent the weekend staying with friends in Llanwrthwl, Powys. Apart from enjoyable Hay festival, myself and Steve walked from Cnwch to Llanwrthwl via ancient sessile oak woodland and the open moor of Carn Gafallt. The weather was perfect - not a breath of wind, deep blue skies - and the land is devoid of people. A superbly diverse habitat with lots of pied flycatcher, redstart, wood warbler, whinchat and even a goshawk. There is apparently a breeding pair of hen harrier around here, but we couldn't find them. A few runs this week, mainly on local trails, as preperation for this weekend's Capenhurst 10k, which looks like being a hot one. Some bike rides too: one around the excellent red circuit at Llandegla, which has some new fun bits added, and a few around the Gwysaney tracks.