Falls Revisited 2009
Picking up some more stragglers in Blaen-y-Glyn and the Mellte.
Map of the Brecon Beacons National Park, showing the locations of the various mountains and ranges.
Waterfall just below the car park track on Nant Bwrefwr, the host of many of the Blaen-y-Glyn waterfalls, on the eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons range in the middle of the national park.
A little way below the next waterfall is a series of small cascades. This was only an attempt to pick up waterfalls that I had failed to photograph before, so many of the waterfalls will not be pictured.
Shattered cascade below. Just after this is a tall waterfall (my favourite on the stream), followed by a cascade.
Next are a series of 5 large stepped waterfalls. Most are not tremendously visible from the path, and require a little imagination to get a good view.
Second step.
Third step.
Fourth step.
Fifth step.
Next comes the biggest waterfall on the stream, at 6.5 metres tall. It looks pathetically small in most pictures, but the fallen tree gives it away here.
A side stream tumbles down its own waterfall to join Nant Bwrefwr. A series of smaller cascades and waterfalls then take it to the Afon Caerfanell ... or Blaen-y-Glyn ... or whatever it's being called today.
A step in the Caerfanell, upstream of the first main cascade above the main Blaen-y-Glyn waterfall.
Just before a secluded pretty cascade is a tiny waterfall on the left, with a path leading to the ledge it lands on, with enough space to walk behind it. It's so small that it can hardly be seen against the background, but it's there, and it can be done, so whatever.
Small spout waterfall with nobbly trees just downstream of the main waterfall.
Now in Waterfall Country in Fforest Fawr, this is the view down the second stage of Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn from the cliff path.
The upper stage has an obviously big undercut, with this partial gap in the veil on the right, which should get more significant after some more dry weather. How I managed to miss it - despite being told about it - while I was there last time to go behind the bottom section, well ... I must have been too focused on other things. The water in the plunge pool is about as deep as normal walking boots.
Plenty of space behind it, though the water flows over the floor. Gorge walkers like to go behind this then jump out through the veil onto the platform at the top of the next stage of the waterfall.
As the waterfall curves around, the undercut ends. The spray is quite strong behind this waterfall, and with the lens cap off for just a couple of seconds, it had already covered the lens in water.
Looking out from behind the waterfall onto the platform. This is another section of the veil where it might be possible to get out without getting too wet, but there's still more water than the way I got in, and even that was enough to soak my legs on the way out.
Looking down from the lower platform towards the bottom stage of the waterfall, which it is also possible to walk behind. It may be possible to climb down from here onto the ledge behind it, to avoid fording the river, but it looks far too slippery for me to try it - it's certainly not something I would recommend.
The top two stages of the waterfall, seen from the opposite bank. An impressive view, and quite different to the normal one. The two largest gaps in the veil can be seen in the middle and on the right.
Overflow chute that takes the excess water down beside the top two stages when the river is in spate.
On the way back. Flip-flops. Mud. Cliff paths. Pedal pushers (short trousers). Brambles. Nettles. Need I say more?
Map of the Brecon Beacons National Park, showing the locations of the various mountains and ranges.
Waterfall just below the car park track on Nant Bwrefwr, the host of many of the Blaen-y-Glyn waterfalls, on the eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons range in the middle of the national park.
A little way below the next waterfall is a series of small cascades. This was only an attempt to pick up waterfalls that I had failed to photograph before, so many of the waterfalls will not be pictured.
Shattered cascade below. Just after this is a tall waterfall (my favourite on the stream), followed by a cascade.
Next are a series of 5 large stepped waterfalls. Most are not tremendously visible from the path, and require a little imagination to get a good view.
Second step.
Third step.
Fourth step.
Fifth step.
Next comes the biggest waterfall on the stream, at 6.5 metres tall. It looks pathetically small in most pictures, but the fallen tree gives it away here.
A side stream tumbles down its own waterfall to join Nant Bwrefwr. A series of smaller cascades and waterfalls then take it to the Afon Caerfanell ... or Blaen-y-Glyn ... or whatever it's being called today.
A step in the Caerfanell, upstream of the first main cascade above the main Blaen-y-Glyn waterfall.
Just before a secluded pretty cascade is a tiny waterfall on the left, with a path leading to the ledge it lands on, with enough space to walk behind it. It's so small that it can hardly be seen against the background, but it's there, and it can be done, so whatever.
Small spout waterfall with nobbly trees just downstream of the main waterfall.
Now in Waterfall Country in Fforest Fawr, this is the view down the second stage of Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn from the cliff path.
The upper stage has an obviously big undercut, with this partial gap in the veil on the right, which should get more significant after some more dry weather. How I managed to miss it - despite being told about it - while I was there last time to go behind the bottom section, well ... I must have been too focused on other things. The water in the plunge pool is about as deep as normal walking boots.
Plenty of space behind it, though the water flows over the floor. Gorge walkers like to go behind this then jump out through the veil onto the platform at the top of the next stage of the waterfall.
As the waterfall curves around, the undercut ends. The spray is quite strong behind this waterfall, and with the lens cap off for just a couple of seconds, it had already covered the lens in water.
Looking out from behind the waterfall onto the platform. This is another section of the veil where it might be possible to get out without getting too wet, but there's still more water than the way I got in, and even that was enough to soak my legs on the way out.
Looking down from the lower platform towards the bottom stage of the waterfall, which it is also possible to walk behind. It may be possible to climb down from here onto the ledge behind it, to avoid fording the river, but it looks far too slippery for me to try it - it's certainly not something I would recommend.
The top two stages of the waterfall, seen from the opposite bank. An impressive view, and quite different to the normal one. The two largest gaps in the veil can be seen in the middle and on the right.
Overflow chute that takes the excess water down beside the top two stages when the river is in spate.
On the way back. Flip-flops. Mud. Cliff paths. Pedal pushers (short trousers). Brambles. Nettles. Need I say more?