The highest spot in the Beacons, the summit of Pen Y Fan, is the highest point in Southern Britain, with the second highest - Corn Du - almost within a stones throw of it.
This view of Pen Y Fan was taken from the summit of Corn Du. All during the climb up, the tops had been in bright sunlight, but just as I reached the first mountain top the clouds rolled in spoiling the view. By the time I reached the top of Pen Y Fan the visibility was down to about 20 feet so I can't show you the spectacular view I was promised.
This young family had no difficulty getting to the top of the mountain, they even had time to stop for a picnic. What a pity the weather up there couldn't have been better for them.
To show you why you would not wish to fall off the north edge of Pen Y Fan -
- this is the north face which is almost a sheer drop - and yet sheep somehow manage to find a foothold and graze on what bit of grass survives on the stony slopes.
On the way up the route went near to an ancient glacial lake which looked very placid and inviting, but in reality was bitterly cold.
I don't know how deep it was, but though it was a hot day and I had worked up a good sweat I had no intention of diving in to find out.
Also on the way up was this sad reminder of how dangerous it can be on these mountains.
This is a memorial to a little boy, Tommy Jones, who wandered off into the hills and died on this spot before he could be found.
On the last leg of the final climb to Pen Y Fan summit and another climber in the distance (that little speck two thirds down the slope) illustrates the steepness of the last few yards -
This pic has the date embedded on it just to remind me of how long ago it was. (Seems like only yesterday).
On the way down I went off the beaten track and wandered down to the banks of a lovely little stream. My appearance startled a Dipper which disappeared in a flash before I even had time to get a hand to the camera. I was compensated by finding this waterfall -
Further downstream was another one -
and then another -
until eventually it began to level off and became a little more demure -
Finally I reached the end of my trek and enjoyed a paddle in the ice cold water to cool down my steaming feet -
Must go again!