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Event Report

Martin and Steve go riding in Wales
Sep-2006

A few months back, realising that we both needed a break to unwind and relax from plodding the beat, Martin suggested we go away for a short holiday trail riding in Wales, using Llanerchindda Farm as our base. What a good idea it turned out to be!

Planning the trip was easy, Martin did it all!
We decided on a mid week visit, and chose to go from Tuesday 12th to Thursday 14th September as this suited our work shift pattern. Martin contacted Llanercindda Farm and made the booking. Apart from having to fit the road legal kit to his Beta RR 400 (which he mainly uses in Time Trials and Hare and Hounds events) Martin was ready to go. Me on the other hand, having not ridden the mighty Kawasaki KLR250 for about ten months had to dust it off, check it over, MOT and tax it. This was no great problem though, quality motorcycles such as this survive long term storage as well as they do enthusiastic use!

Tuesday 12th.
Martin arrived at the gates to my estate at 9am, by 10am we had both bikes on my trailer, had hitched the trailer to the back of his Mondeo and stuffed the car so full of kit, spares and travel sweets that we only just fitted in ourselves! It was difficult to know what spares to take, so we took everything we had. Spare front and rear tyres (for both bikes), chains, chain lube, oil and air filters (several), tools (loads) more chain lube, two spare trailer wheels, lights, bulbs, more chain lube etc etc. Thankfully as it turned out all the spares were brought home unused, apart from the chain lube. Martin likes spraying on chain lube!
We set off and not wanting to get stopped by the police took a steady drive to Wales. Three and a half hours later we arrived at Llanerchiddna Farm having stopped for lunch on the way. We were greeted warmly by our hosts Lyn and Martin Hadley and shown to our room, a very nice on suite room with French doors onto the patio, with great views of the valley and rail viaduct. But, the hills were calling and we wasted no time getting changed and setting out to explore and play in the 50 acres of land owned by the farm.
Keeping faithful to my love of water I headed straight for the rocky river that runs along the edge of the 50 acres, and as if wanting to bond quickly with mother nature, no more than 5 minuets into the ride and 5 meters off the smooth track I was in the river, on my side, boots and pants full of water! I could hear Martin laughing above the throb of his Beta! We then spent about an hour and a half just trying to get out of the river and the 4x4 playground alongside it. This is an area that 4x4 drivers use to practice their winching skills and was a maze of very deep, sticky, watery holes. There was also and area used for trials. The river wasn’t all that deep but was full of slippery steps and rocks the size of footballs which you couldn’t see and which made riding up or across it almost impossible. Numerous steep climbs led out of this area and after sending Martin off to find a route out we both made it up to the flatter area higher up. This was an area of bracken over peat over clay and made for easier riding, though by now I was knackered and severely overheating. Whilst Martin kept warm by doing some fast laps and impressive power slides, I cooled off by watching him for a bit and studying his skills. I was thinking that if I was going to survive the next day and a half I needed all the input I could get!
After playing on the farm land for about 4 hours we headed back. We washed the bikes off with their excellent power washer, parked our bikes in the heated garage / workshop, hung our kit up in the excellent drying room, showered, served ourselves some lovely local cider from the bar, then sat down to dinner.
If there is one thing we would recommend about staying at Llanerchinnda Farm (there is nothing we could or would critiscise) it’s the food! Not only was every meal excellent, there was just so much of it! It just kept coming and coming! A three course evening meal is £14.00 and was worth every penny. Each day there is a different set menu but all dietary needs can be catered for (like me being a veggie). The food is very tasty, well presented and plentiful. More than either of us could eat, even after a long days riding without lunch! The only thing that stopped us drinking ourselves into oblivion on the local cider or beer in the evening was that we just had no room in our stomachs to put it!
We had met Lynn and Martins sons, Mark and Andrew that evening and they had suggested some good local byways to ride the following day. The map room at the Farm proved very useful, they were even able to provide us with an up to date map as I had taken along my trust old 1970’s copy which was just a little out of date!
We then went to bed feeling like a couple of fat bloaters (sadly we hadn’t met any during the evening to chat up) and dreamt of the trails to come.

Wednesday 13th.
After waking up from a good nights sleep, we sat down to a hearty cooked breakfast (as if we needed it) the choice was plentiful and so was the quantity!
We were soon on our way in glorious sunshine to explore the area North and East of Llanerchiddna. Some pleasant country lanes took us to the Llyn Brianne reservoir and on to the Strata Florida, mile after mile of rocky track with numerous river crossings. I think there was about 9 or 10 rivers / streams to cross, some were quite shallow and short others a bit more challenging. The route even takes you along one of the streams for about 30m but we found the going quite reasonable. We stopped outside of Strata Florida Abbey ruins for a quick photo then rode down into Tregaron to top up with fuel (just to be safe) then headed East over the mountains and around the edge of the Claerwen Reservoir. More photos here then perhaps the most challenging river crossing of the trip at the base of the dam, wide, deep and with a big unseen rock the size of a table in the middle. I made it across in one go, I don’t know how as I was floundering and swerving all over the place but I was dammed if I was going to wash my pants for a second time! So then being a good mate I walked back across to hold the gate for Martin, who paused half way across to inspect the big rock and check for fish! Bugger didn’t even stay down long enough for me to get a decent photo!
The next mile or so was more like trials riding, big chunks of awkward bed rock sticking up with loose boulders in between but well worth the challenge.
A few more country lanes followed taking us just south of Rhayader then up over some vast peat covered mountains, where I took a small but very artistic tumble in one of the few ruts we encountered on the entire trip. Fortunately Martin was some way ahead so didn’t manage to photograph me hugging the bracken! 
Some great river fords followed then a long run through the Crychan Forrest and back to Llanerchiddna stopping off for some photos by the viaduct.
In all we had covered 98 miles with about a 50/50 road / trail split, we took it easy stopping off to admire the fantastic scenery every few miles and arrived back with enough time to check the bikes, shower and grab a pint before yet another huge evening meal.
The original plan was to ride Thursday morning then head back in the afternoon, but having enjoyed ourselves so much during the day we decided we would like to stay an extra night and travel back after breakfast on Friday, which would give us another full days riding. Not only were Lynn and Martin very happy to accommodate us at short notice they even agreed to give us the evening meal on the Thursday for free!! Did we need to think about it? NO!!

Thursday 14th
The day started with yet another monster of a tasty breakfast, we then set off on the bikes in a little bit of Welsh rain. This didn’t bother us though, it was hardly enough to wet us and after all, the more that falls out of the sky, the less there is up there!
We had fuelled up shortly after we set off in Llandovery, the route for the day as recommended by Mark and Andrew was to be South and East around the Brecon Beacons. The first off road section was a very slippery climb up a bed rock track just South of the A40, this took us along an old Roman road towards Trecastle. We had heard tales of a very steep track here called Motel Hill. We stopped took a walk along to the top and decided to give it a go. We both made it down in one piece. True to reports it was a very, very steep, narrow gully with a very loose surface of big and small rocks. For as long as Martin was in sight he made it look easy but coward me trickled down very slowly using both feet most of the time. Having got to the bottom we thought time permitting we would try and ride up it on the way back.
Next we rode the tarmac lanes due South to Coelbren, then rode the Sarne Helen route North East towards Brecon. This is an amazing route, a mixture of fast gravel, bumpy rocks, big, big puddles and a drop down some rock steps to a river crossing then more rocks, climbs, and descents that went on for mile after mile, Fantastic! We avoided the last mile of the legal route which ends at a mountain centre as we understood it to be a bit sensitive with the locals. The last thing we wanted was to upset anyone.
We then criss crossed some very narrow roads to the start of the Gap Road which runs North South between Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil. We were lucky as it was open to use, normally it is closed to vehicles, but between the beginning of September to mid October, and I believe for the month of May it is open. This was a real challenge (for me at least) a very steep, slippery rocky climb for about a mile and a half leads to the top just East of the summit of Pen y fan. You can see all but the last bit of the climb as you ascend, but then there is a sharp right hand bend that you cannot see up as you approach. Just as well really as when you round the bend you are faced with a set of rock steps that climb up into the clouds! I had to take a breather here and I must admit if Martin had not demonstrated that it was possible to ride up it I may have not even attempted it. However I was not about to get left behind or wimp out so I put my faith in the KLR, took a deep breath and went for it. I made it about a third of the way before resting against the rock for a moment, then with Martins encouragement made it to the top without stopping albeit doing a good impersonation of Tigger on a pogo stick!
After a bit of a rest we set off down the other side which was a bit easier than the ascent, we then came to ‘The Gully’ 45 degrees down, 45 degrees up! Of course I let Martin go first, it was only fair as he had let me go through nearly all of the river crossings and deep puddles first. Hmm?. Martin of course made the gully look easy, then came back and said ‘no problem Steve, you’ll be OK’ It was then I noticed he was getting his camera out. Hmm? Anyway going down, no problem, going up, splat onto the rocks! Tumble number 3. Martin laughed his way over to me, we picked up the bike and I rode back to the start, then tried again, this time I managed to slip, slide and bounce my way to the top. Phew!
We then decided that this was a good turn around point for the day and headed back up to the Gap. Going down the rock steps at the top was a lot easier than going up, but the main descent was very tricky as there was no clean line between the loose boulders and lumps of bare bed rock which were very wet and slippery.
Having arrived at the bottom in one piece we rode into Brecon and fuelled up, this is about the only time we encountered any traffic when we had to wait for about 6 cars to pass before we pulled out of the garage. Other than that the Welsh roads and lanes were deserted!
We then rode some very scenic back roads to Sennybridge, then along the A40 through Trecastle and stopped at the base of Motel Hill.
A short breather was then had whilst we talked about the ascent. Martin offered to go first and said he would sound his horn when he got to the top to let me know it was clear for me. Anyway after about 5 minuets he reappeared, exhausted, surprised and most put out that he had not been able to get all the way up, explaining that it was just too steep, rocky and loose. I of course couldn’t not have a go, so Martin went ahead with the camera expecting much entertainment. Well I gave it my best but soon crashed, tried again, crashed, tried, crashed. It was so loose and rocky I couldn’t get any momentum, rocks were flying everywhere, I could only make a few feet of progress before lurching to a halt. Martin had another go, he got a lot further up than me but in the end had the wisdom to call time on the attempt. We had had two and a half days of fantastic riding without injury or damage, if we kept attacking this hill then one of us was going to burn out a clutch or suffer some other damage or injury. So we slid the bikes around and went via tarmac to the Roman Road we had started our day on. Coming back down the hill was heart in mouth time for me as the steep bare rock surface was like ice. It was only fear of the pain of falling that kept me upright!
Arriving back at Llanerchindda Farm we had covered 95 miles with about a 40/60 split of trail / tarmac, again we had taken a gentle pace with plenty of breaks and arrived with perfect timing to get cleaned up before yet another amazing evening meal, and this meal was FREE!!

Friday 15th
We woke form another good nights sleep, enjoyed another hearty breakfast, wrote lots of nice comments in the guest book, loaded up the bikes and kit and set off home having thanked Lynn, Martin, Mark and Andrew for looking after us so well. We are determined to revisit, if only to conquer Motel Hill going up!

Considering the terrain and the distance we covered during our trip it was pleasing that we suffered no punctures or breakdowns. Martin had a slight problem with fuel siphoning out just after he filled the tank, I broke a mirror lens after resting the KLR on the rocks at the top of the Gap and sheared a bolt on the hand guard after clipping a gate. Even then Martin produced a jar of nuts and bolts out of his pocket and had an exact replacement! I have to say I am amazed at the abilities of the KLR, it went every where the Beta did albeit rather slower and not so stylishly (probably mostly down to Martins riding skills) Both bikes started first time every time despite all the river swimming they did!

We would both highly recommend Llanerchindda Farm as a base for exploring South Wales. It is ideally suited for the Brecon Beacons and the Cambrian Mountains. There are many areas for good trail riding that we didn’t have time to visit during our short stay. I’m already thinking of taking the BSA’s over to spend a few days exploring the road network in the area.
We couldn’t fault the hospitality or the facilities at Llanerchindda Farm. We were rather spoilt being the only trail riders there, if there were more than four of you though then the garage and drying room would be a bit cramped. Interestingly during the two long days we were out riding we never saw another off road motorcycle or 4x4. Our only contact with humans on the trail were a couple of cyclists and a handful of walkers on the Gap Road, all of which were very friendly.

In typical back to front style, I wasn’t motivated to read about the history of the trails we rode until after we came home. Strata Florida, Sarne Helen and the Gap Road are all mentioned in Ian Thompsons book ‘Exploring green roads and lanes of Great Britain’ published in 1988. Fascinating history to all of them going back a thousand years or more, wish I’d read it before we went! Still it has motivated me to go and explore another historical road in the area, The Monks Trodd. However I will be exploring this one ON FOOT as it has been TRO’d for the last 6 years or so. Plans are underway to walk it this winter and will probably use Llanerchindda Farm as a base, just as soon as I’ve knitted a bobble hat!

Steve H

 
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