6B Waterfall trip to Ystradfellte

On Saturday 18th September, a party of intrepid explorers from 6B undertook the annual expedition to visit the beautiful waterfalls found in Ystradfellte in South Wales. 

The trip set off early in the morning, leaving the remaining boarders slumbering and headed off into the land of strange vowels.  After a stop at South Wales’ most beautiful and most ineptly designed tourist toilet, we arrived raring to go in the mountains above Pontneddfechan.  An early disaster befell one of our sturdy minibuses, which became mired in the misty mountain’s mud, leaving Mr Mitchell on a mercy mission to find a tow rope in Neath; we were already one man down…

The depleted party set out towards the first set of waterfalls, marvelling at the majesty of nature at its most moist.  After stopping to admire several waterfalls, we arrived at Sgwd Clun Gwyn, possibly the most peaceful place to enjoy a hearty lunch.  While building our strength for the next phase, we were somewhat surprised to see a party of 40+ river swimmers run past us one-by-one and plunge into the freezing water.  We were even more surprised to see each one climb out after swimming less than 5 metres and we can could only assume that they were working up to some feat larger and more impressive…

After lunch we yomped out toward the mythical waterfall of Sgwd-yr-Eira.  As we marched to the tune of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’, with an ‘unusual’ solo by Mr Williams, it wasn’t long before the cry of ‘Man Down’ was heard and fearing the worst the party stopped to take stock; luckily our fallen comrade (who shall remain nameless) had only bruised her pride and we were able to continue through stunning scenery until we reached an ethereal wood that became the site of our now traditional surprised-squirrel-impression photo.

And then, just as we neared our first objective, another tragedy befell the party.  Zenia’s walking boots, recently rescued from her fencing kit bag after multiple years in hibernation, chose this beautiful place to finally expire and we mourned the passing of their soles.  This meant that we lost another 2 members of the party before even reaching Sgwd-yr-Eira.

In a sombre happy mood, the remaining trekkers bounced down the myriad of steep steps to the waterfall-that-you-can-walk-behindtm like mountain goats, oblivious to the fact that what goes down is going to regret having to go back up.  Once at the bottom of the ravine and thanks to some generous shoe shuffling, the party availed themselves of the opportunity of walking behind Sgwd-yr-Eira - a beautiful and exciting moment, making the early start and the privations of the trail all seem worth it!  Then they climbed back up…

At the top of the steps, the now breathless party was reunited with Zenia and Miss Williamson and meandered purposefully back to the parking site where we found that Mr Mitchell had rescued our trusty 17-seated steed and we pressed on, down a country lane no wider than the minibus until we eventually arrived at the site of our second walk!

The second walk proved a step too far for around half of the party, tired by their relentless battle with gravity and deprived of their 3G (or indeed, any G) signal.  The party split into two – those bound in one minibus for an afternoon of gentle contemplation, reading and internet surfing in the bus with Mr Mitchel and the waterfall junkies with Miss Whitaker, Miss Williamson and Mr Williams.  It was the 3Gs against the 3Ws!

Our second section of the walk took us past many more beautiful waterfalls, including a rare horseshoe fall and stunning, natural vistas.  Eventually, leaving one more of our party behind at the fork in the path that lead back to Pontneddfechan to nurse her bruises, we headed towards the last waterfall of the day, Sgwd Gwladus.  While standing in the middle of the river on a stony bank, trying hard not to think about the risk assessment we had just shredded and watching other visitors’ dogs frolic in the water, the members of the party who had made it to the end of the adventure with great personal effort, and in one case a pair of hastily borrowed boots, felt a sense of inner peace as they admired the majesty of nature.  Mr Williams was even seen to weep a small tear of joy while muttering something about the true power of the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

With buoyant spirits we headed to Pontneddfechan, having re-joined with Miss Williamson on route, not yet realising the terrible price that our journey would inflict on one innocent bystander, Shaun the Sheep…

While members of the party availed themselves of the facilities of Wales’ most beautiful toilet one by one, Mr Mitchell drove Mr Williams back up the mountain to retrieve the second minibus.  Just as we made the turn on to the road that would eventually lead to the second car park, Shaun decided to pop out and say hello.  Sadly, Shaun quickly decided that Badminton minibuses, especially when driven by Mr Mitchell, are quite scary and he took off down the road!

In true Badminton style we then set off back towards Bristol with a renewed sense of purpose, only allowing ourselves to be briefly distracted by a stop for food!