CRoW - Amazing Legislation

These Southerners find that their Countryside and Rights of Way Act just gets stranger and stranger - now it may be used to prevent people from using rights of way. Go figure!

Details on Grough's newsdesk.

Blessed are the Peaks

What the heck did this video clip come from? John Hee pointed it out: "Brian Blessed Saviour of the Universe".

He just takes the mickey out of himself - hardly pausing for breath.

It is from "Fun at the Funeral Parlour" (IMDB details). There's even an official site. I'd never even heard of the series, and now I have the urge to buy the dvd. Strange the way that the Internet works. Of course, the clip is probably in breach of copyright, but is enough to generate a sale from me.

Cross-referencing the official site finds the clip to be from Series 1 Episode 4 - The Mountains of Doom.

There's even a rude outtake.

Out of stock on Amazon just now, but they have information on the dvd - which contains both series.

Wild Camping Petition Day 2

Darren's posted a few updates across on his blog. John Hee's been cross-posting on forums. I dug out some photos and added some words to them.

Look, the worse the access laws are elsewhere in the UK, the more people come up to Scotland and hike and wild camp here. The more tourist-based revenue we have. So, why should I care if Johnny Englisher isn't allowed to camp on someone else's land despite it being empty, not damaging anyone. It's not my problem as the English lawmakers make it clear that they don't want me down there wild-camping. I'd prefer spending my money where I'm welcome, and we seem to be quite welcoming up here.

I went back and added a border to the earlier image.

And finally, one more before bed, and a weekend of marking and prep.

I'd love to go legal in England&Wales. But the landowners own the land and their rights have to be respected. It is the Law.

Ychwanegiadau o bob math

Oherwydd ei fod yn waith mewn llaw, erys llawer o wallau ynddo o hyd. Croesewir sylwadau adeiladol. Dylid e-bostio sylwadau o'r fath at AktoMan.

Source. Reason - comment left elsewhere.

Brecon Beacon Meet, August 07.

Apologies to Cymru upset by my cut-n-paste of the language, and I hope it worked out okay. I think my cousin is still working for the NHS down in Cardiff.

Wicipedia, y gwyddoniadur rhydd

Blog Cymru

Post Retort

A point-by-point reply to answer to Darren's "Brecon Beacon Bloggers Meet" - nae hoorhouse sidestep from me.

1. we missed a turning to Neath
   No, I (me) missed the turning, there was no "we".
2. Duncan was finding that the E-Lite is not really suited for night walking
   I'd used it in the dark before, and it does the job as a path-walker's torch. But with brighter torches around, the photons seem to get beaten up. I've already looked out my old Petzl Tikka to put in the pack.
3. Duncan erected the object of his year long tent lust
   Love, not lust.
4. Duncan striking that classic pose looking for his Akto (it's behind you)
   LOL
5. Photo
   Bob - man maketh fire. Poor chap, he's turning a few twigs and hygiene products into a flame that will cook their dinner, and we are cracking jokes.
6. So sorry folks if you think I was being anti social I wasn't honest.
   More whisky, saké, gin, chocolate, Hello Kitty sweets (no, it's not catfood), seaweed cakes, fruit brittles, etc for the rest.

Brecon Beacons day 2

Damp start to the day. We tabbed it back to car.

Mike's sheltered pitch


Our tent/tarp lines.

Darren's Fortress of Solitude.

Sunday farewells

We leave the hill behind us and all head down the single-track road.

We made it back to the car, where I covered my matted hair with my sporty new AktoCap.

Darren recognised the Tescos and made a quick call to Jules and Stu, who greeted us with not only a cup of tea but also a full cooked breakfast. And a recommendation for sun cream that lasts all day. And a look at the glasses that Jules paints (available through ebay and taking orders for Christmas already). Nice visit; nice folk; thanks for the break. And the sun's come out again. Only my third time in Wales and the people and Nature have all made up for me being asked to leave during my first visit. It has been a voyage of wonder for me. No sign of a black land rover being driven by a chap in WW2 RAF uniform. Oh, love what they've done with the language, even the roadwork signs are bilingual. Arafwch. 400 llath. Am 6 milltir. Achub di-dal.

Kanpei

Finishing the last of the sake in my tent, eating the Belgian cooking chocolate, I notice on the map places called 'bwlch'. My pronunciation guide says that 'w' in welsh is pronounced 'oo'. So that would be boo-lach. Maybe. Sounds similar to bealach, and in passes too. Similar but different.

The seaweed soup was great, the almond & fungus pudding less so, nori crackers made a change from crisps. All good fayre from the oriental supermarket. Variety is the spice of life.

It was great to have Alan Sloman look over my Akto and point out the improvements that Hilleberg have made. I tend to be lazz when it comes to guying, so good to get pointers. Other new people i've met: Mike the chef (just so passionate about food) and Ali, who braved the llyn (loch) for a swim.

Brecon Beacons day 1

Having tabbed it in from the carpark on Saturday night, we pitched about 2km from the meeting place that the others would be at. Mike pitched his tarp, and Darren sleeping on his so that he could watch the Perseids meteoroids. I was in my Akto, but left the outer door open.


Once the neighbours were away, we broken camp and headed off to find the others.

And I couldn't resist looking back at where we had camped.

Then we saw the local wildlife, not only sheep but ponies, and a bird of prey too.

Alan's silhouette was quite easy to pick out as they walked along the ridgeline.

Alan and Geoff gave us the low-down on the previous night, and that we'd missed Gayle and Mick.

Bannau Sir Gaer

Mike on the ridge.

Ridge without Mike.

We came down from Bannau Sir Gaer, and Darren cut down to the low path, whilst we followed the high track....

to Fan Foel.

Spot the Darren competition.

Our pitch was at the llyn below, and there was a path down the bwlch.

We came down 130m on a decent path.

We arrived at the pitch by Llyn y Fan Fawr by 3pm - a sunny, lazy, enjoyable day for me. Later being joined by Dawn, who had been hiking in the area for a few days, Ali and Lay, and Bob and Rose.

We pitched in the shadow of Fan Hir...

And chatted until it got dark.

Another Country

The country that's so nice they name everything twice.

Summertime Blues

I've been pondering over the last few days, and now come to the conclusion that I can't be bothered with the Wainwright Coast to Coast this Summer. Mainly I can't be bothered with the lack of wild camping. legal wild camping that is. Everyone tells me not to worry, the police have more to do with their time, etc etc. But it is a breach of the law of the land.

And I don't want to walk across a land that doesn't want me sensibly wild camping upon it. They might be happy with me paying for B&B or campsites, but I can't afford it. I also prefer the solitude of wild camping. I can't be bothered hiking across a country that declares such pleasures illegal.

That too rules out Offa's Dyke, and a Welsh coast-to-coast.

The fallback position was to tab it somewhere wild in Scotland and see how many Munros I could get to. Or chose a long distance trail in Scotland.

It isn't an anti-Welsh or anti-English choice; but why visit a country with the intention of breaking its laws? I have more respect for the law than that.

Cambrian Way

Catching up with Chris Cowell's blog across at Hike Wales. Cambrian Way? I'd never heard of it before. It isn't a national trail, so wasn't in TGO's special on them.

• Map of the Way.
• Walking World's page.

441km, 274 miles. Cardiff to Conwy.

It looks more my cup of tea, away from the farmlands along Offa's Dyke. I'll get some investigating done. Thanks for the inspiration, Chris.