The moment the video started, I thought: "Wait, I KNOW that grass verge he's parking on!" It's a great, manageable trail up to the ridge, it almost surprises you how high you've climbed, the ascent is so gentle. I tried coming up the other side via Pen y Gadair Fawr a while back, and it was hell by comparison. Excellent stuff.

@longsufferinghiker

4 ай бұрын

Thanks. Yes; a delightful path and a pleasant way to gain the ridge. I know what you mean about Pen y Gadair Fawr; it's a long, long slog up to the top!

That was rather special. Subscribed.

@longsufferinghiker

3 ай бұрын

Thanks mate

Absolutely brilliant video mate, going for a camp up that way next year. After watching this, it's a must. Thanks for sharing

@longsufferinghiker

7 ай бұрын

Thanks mate; hope you have a fantastic time; it's a wonderful area!!

Fantastic. If it's the Black Mountains I always like to kick back and enjoy. This didn't disappoint. Lovely walk up the Grwyne Fechan. It is a beautiful bridge. Camped just up stream from there about 10 years ago. It's a super awesome valley. Your pitch above it was pretty cool in the morning. What a surprise. Well, spectacular and in November. The second pitch was awesome to. I reckon you had a prime couple of days of sunshine, valleys and cloud inversions not to mention views. Good going. Subscribed on account of the great trip. Mark

@longsufferinghiker

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Mark. It was one of my nicest ever trips; everything came together perfectly (apart from the rain shower just as I was about to pitch!) and I’d happily do it again! The Black Mountains are always delightful to walk over. If the pubs at Llanthony were on top of the ridge then it would be perfect 😁

@WyeExplorer

Жыл бұрын

@@longsufferinghiker A pleasure. I found it a real joy to watch. Re- the pubs if they were on top I'd be elsewhere. I haven't drank in 13 years. Have a cool week ahead.

That high spot reminds me of being tent bound in four days of continuous rain up there in the late 1980s , before we could get accurate weather forcasts.

@longsufferinghiker

3 ай бұрын

That sounds very grim!!!

Cool subbed 😎

Thank you Charles I enjoyed that. Done a little in the Black mountains with my son in law who lives in Cardiff. Merry Christmas to you. 🍻

Enjoyed this 👍

I absolutely loved this video, my channel specialises in the Brecon Beacons and it was great to watch a walk to so many of my favourite summits. The cloud inversion was insane! View from Waun Fach perfect and Crug Mawr and Mynydd Llysiau Bwlch cairn are amazing choices to pitch. Have subscribed…

@longsufferinghiker

10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you Charles, much appreciated. 🍻

The Grwyne Fechan is the most beautiful of valleys and ashamedly although I have walked the Blacks for 30+ years I only went through it a few years ago for the 1st time so I share your feelings. I have made up for that since mind - I have been in the valley 4 times in the last 2 weeks. The fact your can't fully see it from Pen Trumau makes it a little secret paradise. There is a camp spot up the fechan from Tal y Maes bridge although I camped up near the boundary stones 2 weeks ago. At 7:17 you stop to admire the path. I walked up the edge of the forest in the background this week to find Maen Llwyd, a standing stone that has been on my radar a while -there is a spot near the bottom of the path for a quiet pitch if you are ever in need of a low down night out. Surprisingly the valley behind it is a lot bigger then what it appears on the map. Btw, that smooth path is probably made by John Macnamara back in the late 1700s when he he had the land and used it to travel from Llangoed Hall to the Hermitage. There is something about the blacks in the colder months that has that magic quality.... the khaki colour of the lanshan compliments its surroundings so well looking at that 1st sunrise view. Your view at 21:07 - I was stood there on Tuesday this week but I have to say nothing as grand as that which you experienced, I was a tad jealous at that moment, lol. That pitch at Crug Mawr was probably the stuff that wild campers dream . At 34 mins I would not normally watch someone videos that long but the fact its local to me and seeing the conditions made it real easy to watch.. and very enjoyable. The sound and footage were excellent too. atb Al

@longsufferinghiker

Жыл бұрын

Wow, thanks!! I’m so pleased that you liked it 😁 I’m definitely going to check out the spots you mentioned; a great excuse to revisit it a fantastic valley!

@longsufferinghiker

Жыл бұрын

BTW I checked out your channel too; very nice. I’m particularly interested in the microphone you use - I presume that it’s Bluetooth? Can you tell me which one it is? Cheers

@thevalleywalker

Жыл бұрын

@@longsufferinghiker Hi Charles, I am not sure what has happened but my comment seems to have disappeared, did you get a notification of my reply?

@longsufferinghiker

Жыл бұрын

No, not seen anything yet… cheers

@thevalleywalker

Жыл бұрын

@@longsufferinghiker Not sure why this happens but I wrote quite a long reply - perhaps there is a max number of letters you can use? Anyway, basically I have a few set ups. I sometimes use a go pro with wind muff on. On other occasions I will use the go pro with a lav mic and the adapter (its an old GPH7B). I have also have a zoom H1 set up which means I have to sync the audio in post. I have a rode micro, also the rode go's Which I also use with the rode lav mic) It all depends on how much time or how lazy I am on the day..lol. PS I have not found the perfect set up yet.

Wow this is awesome

@longsufferinghiker

10 ай бұрын

Yep; one of my best trips ever. Thanks

Lovely walk. I've done all the hills and mountains in the Black Mountains but I've not used that gentle walk up. Looked like a great one. The could inversions lasted days here in South Wales but I wasn't able to get out for a camp sadly. Thanks for sharing.

@longsufferinghiker

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Kev. That path is a wonderful route up. BTW I see that you've been checking out the Saunders 'Spacepacker' tent; I used mine for many years, and only replaced it with a Lanshan last year; it's a fantastic bombproof bit of kit. Just a bit short of headroom!

@TheWalkingKev

Жыл бұрын

@@longsufferinghiker hoping to take it out tonight! Great little tent for £20! Was your second pitch on Crug Mawr?

@longsufferinghiker

Жыл бұрын

Spot on! That pitch by the trig point was a very welcome sight, as I was starting to run out of options. The shortage of water is the main issue in that area, so I carried around 2 litres with me, which wasn't ideal. The vestibules on the Spacepacker are cavernous!

@TheWalkingKev

Жыл бұрын

@@longsufferinghiker Crug Mawr has plenty of purple heather at the right time of the year. It was a stunning pitch in those conditions, all the little foothills above the cloud.

Hi, I see you’re using the Exos 48. Do you find when it’s on the heavier side there isn’t sufficient padding around where it cuts into the underarms from the chest? I tend not to over pack but carry what the bag can take. My Aether70 has much better padding in this area.

@longsufferinghiker

11 ай бұрын

The Exos is an excellent pack, and I've found it very comfortable and capable, especially given its light weight. Mine has been back to Osprey a couple of times for repairs, and I'm happy with their support. I've been thinking about your issue, as it's not something that I've personally had a problem with. I wonder if it is because the shoulder strap tensioners at the top are too slack, allowing the pack to sit too low on your shoulders? I find that the tensioners work loose over time, especially if the pack is heavy. Likewise, the shoulder straps slip gradually. I have made small marks on the straps with white paint so that I know if they have slipped.

at 12:10,,, the inner mesh did a great job collecting water before it falls over you,,, cant see "pro" model advantages over it,,,

@longsufferinghiker

Жыл бұрын

Yeah; not my best ever pitch! 😒

I commented before the end and didnt realise it was a 2 nighter, top job. Any plans for a long hike next year Charles.

@longsufferinghiker

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Dave; glad you enjoyed it :-) Yes, as it happens I do have a 'Long' hike planned for 2023; I will be doing the Skye Trail in April with a friend. After doing the Cape Wrath Trail last year, I'm really looking forward to heading back to Scotland. In the meantime I'm hoping to get out as often as possible to my regular stomping grounds in Dartmoor and South Wales; I might bump into you!

@longsufferinghiker

Жыл бұрын

Hi again Dave. I've just checked out your videos; excellent work! I especially like the B-roll stuff.

Great video. Do you have a gpx route that you could kindly share, by any chance, please?

@longsufferinghiker

10 ай бұрын

Try this; explore.osmaps.com/route/18791916/waun-fach-circuit

@rp8164

10 ай бұрын

@@longsufferinghiker Absolutely superb, thank you 🙌

High and low pressure as mentioned in the start of the video, what does this mean for hiking/camping?

@longsufferinghiker

Ай бұрын

Generally speaking in the UK High pressure conditions tend to be stable, less windy, with clearer skies. Low pressure means more cloud, wind, and more chance of rain. I hope this helps! 🙂

@JC-ok4pi

27 күн бұрын

@@longsufferinghiker awesome reply, thanks!