Rhayader to Llangurig

These elderly gentlemen were eager to begin their walk today. Its a big walk but we've been told a beauty. About five kilometres into the walk we will stop for morning tea at the Gilfach Nature Reserve. But before we reached there we had to climb again

Again the sheep are our companions. The sounds from the different flocks are quite lovely and relaxing.

This part of Wales is really vast. We feel very small among these hills.

We had to bush bash to get down the hill to our track.

Just vast and beautiful countryside.

We eventually arrived at the Nature Reserve but nobody was around. A couple of bird photographers came out of the bush loaded up with huge cameras and sat waiting, I think for us to leave so the birds could come out.

This was what we were looking at as we walked on..

We walked over a bridge and past a waterfall and couldn't walk past this seat without sitting down.

At this point Allan was very happy with his day and his place in it.

This whole area is a nature reserve and a big attraction for bird watchers or twitchers. We met a group from London, they told us there was 27 of them. We waited while they walked past, loaded up with huge cameras, tripods, binoculars and some even with small cameras. They all seemed very excited. How would you ever keep that many people with cameras together?

Graham has been very keen to see a salmon leaping out of the water. He may have to settle for this.

We cross another small stream and commented that the river has diminished in size.

The bluebells have returned. They are like old friends cheering us on.

That old song 'On the Road Again' came to mind. We noted that the Welsh stone walls are very different to the English. Good use of all that slate.

We've seen very few houses today and then here was one right on the road over looking the beautiful valley,

with a lovely cottage garden across the road. How delightful.

While we walked along this country lane, Allan found some companions. A couple of very plump partridges running along in front of him. Let's hope they survive the hunting season.

This beautiful scenery was making us hungry for lunch, as were our weary bodies.

The farm gate was so 'comfortable' while we ate our lunch, it was hard to get up!

After lunch we walked to a small hamlet I think was called Dernol. As we passed one of the houses we saw this sign on an open gate in the front of the house... Now we had to make a really big decision. The route to Llangurig now crosses high open countryside. A low-level alternative can be chosen, which requires 6kms of road walking. We considered both options but felt that our priority was finishing our walk tomorrow, which will take quite an effort, so didn't want to totally wear ourselves out today by climbing another high hill. But 6kms of road walking is a killer on the feet. Anyway that's what we did! And enjoyed this last look at the beauty all around. Once we started on the road, the hedges block any view. It's just heads down and go for it.

The two routes join together as one just before entering Llangurig so we can say we entered according to the guide book's instructions and rejoined The Wye.