Esgairnantau

New Radnor

Water Break it's Neck to Esgairnantau & back

28/1/04

Today was supposed to be the arrival of 'the big freeze' according to the media. Not having too many other commitments, I decided that as there was no sign of snow in Hereford, I'd drive over to the Welsh hills in search of it. It was raining when I left Hereford at lunchtime, (in the car). The ride starts just beyond New Radnor at the 'Water Break it's Neck' visitors car-park. I then just continued all the way up the forestry track, bearing right at the first fork that you come to. Up & up I went, through the Warren Plantation (as refered to on the OS map), until finally the snow started! At first it was just big soppy flakes floating down, but as I approached the grassy turnoff through the pines to the north (after negotiating the slate surfaced switchbacks, covered in snow) it started coming down sideways and stinging my face! Once through the pines heading north on the grassy track, you are confronted by a gate onto open moorland with a vague track that continues on a northerly bearing. The plan was to follow this up a mile or two before crossing the gulley to the west of me onto the Llanfihangel Rhydithon to Water Break its Neck track. However, the wind was so strong up there that it almost blew my bike away when I negotiated the gate, and the snow was now coming down from Great Rhos in a more threatening manner! Concerned that I might get lost in a white-out, I short cutted across the heather onto the track and hooned it down on the 4WD trail as fast as I could. It was a pretty hairy descent, and I had to remind myself that it would be dark soon and that I was alone, as I skidded down the off-camber, muddy, icy track at 30 odd MPH!

This is a great ride and in better weather I hope to recky the Llanfihangel Rhydithon to Water Break its Neck track with a view to coming up with an all day circuit of the Radnorshire hills & forest. watch this space!

Top of the warren plantation, before the switchback section. This track is very slatey and would be mental coming down. Must try coming down it sometime....

At this point the snow is closing in behind me and I'm wondering where the track between Llanfihangel Rhydithon & Water Break its Neck has gone! Have I gone and got myself lost? Shortly I was to realise that all was well and I had a thrilling descent in store.

OS MAP 148