Radnor Forest

Started out from Stafford straight from work at 06.00hrs. full of Red Bull and Pro Plus to keep me awake on the journey to New Radnor. I find that once on the hill I don't require any further stimulants to keep me awake, which is a good thing as it would cost me a fortune.

I parked at the bottom of Mutton Dingle and got dressed for the hill, then I walked round to Newgate lane and headed up into Harley Dingle on a good Bridle way, keeping the MOD Danger Area to my right. It is quite obvious that this a little visited area as the paths are not well maintained or kept well defined by a large quantity of footfalls.

As I approached the summit of Great Rhos the path ran out altogether and I ended up tramping across bog, clumps of Grass and Heather for about 400mts to the summit trig point. After a quick drink and a Mars I set off again across the same terrain towards the forestry at the top end of Harley Dingle. Having reach the plantation I proceeded through the forestry towards Black Mixen, the summit not difficult to find as it has a huge radio mast next to it.

Reaching the summit at Black Mixen was not quite as bad as the previous hill but the fact that these quiet hills are more favoured by off road motorcyclists makes any type of path deeply rutted. Once at the summit I thought I might text my wife to tell her how far I had got. The theory was.....I must get a good signal being so close to the mast. Nothing could be further from the truth.........No signal at all.

Anyway I trotted off down towards Bache Hill taking in a slight detour to bag Great Creigau, where I took this photo looking back across the valley to Great Rhos,

then back to the path and on towards Bache Hill. To reach the summit required some fence hopping, so being tall was a definite advantage.

On the descent back to New Radnor. a snow storm blew up the valley and I ended up looking more snowman than mountaineer and I was glad to reach the protection of the forestry. A good long break was taken and finally a gentle walk back to the car.

I don't think I will be visiting these hills again, as they are not the most inspiring but at least now, I have done them. Something I failed to do even when I spent 12 years on RAF MR.

Aha, and now with added map. Excellent!

I did try to find out what was on that mast. I'm sure I used to have a link to an Ofcom web site with a database of such masts in but can't find it again now. I'll have to ask another member on here who works for Ofcom whether they know.

Aha, found it now. OK, it looks like there's two operators working off that mast:

1. Airwave up at 60m, which will be those two white poles at the top I suspect. But that's TETRA (i.e. emergency services stuff)

2. Orange lower down at 36m, so that collection of aerials that look like tall thin speakers presumably, with GSM.

So if you weren't getting a signal I guess you're not with Orange or T-Mobile (as I think they now share cells) ...

Ha ha! Now there's a coincidence. Only 4 weeks ago I lost my (very cheap) mobile in the Peak District,(which was with Virgin, which I am pretty sure use the same network as Orange and T-Mobile), it must have fallen out of my pocket when I was getting out of the car. Maybe if I had not been in such a hurry to get on the hill, I would have still been able to contact the outside world, from the top of Black Mixen.

Hell! Paul, it appears, that you know almost everything about almost everything and the few things you don't know. you either know where to look for the information or know someone, who can get you the information. It's a good thing you don't mind having thick sods like me posting on these forums.

Jim (nice but dim)

I thought I would never visit these hills again.....but my mate Tim, was staying at the Old Station Caravan Park, in New Radnor, so I suggested we do this route.

We got caught up in the tail end of this major incident

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-34890405

Now considering there were 3 vehicles in total and one of them fell off the track, its funny how as we ascended Great Rhos, that we passed these 2 abandoned Land Rovers

Here is my mate Tim on the route

Fantastic weather and a good walking companion, if it wasn't for the poor underfoot conditions, this would have been the perfect day.

J.

When I remember how to post photos I will add some to this post!!!!????!!$%!!