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Walks South of Craig Y Nos
Walk: SOC 14
Location: Woods above Ystradgynlais
Directions: Proceed south from the Castle and into Ystradgynlais town centre, taking a left at the roundabout by the Continental Garage and filling station. Carry on down the hill into the centre of Ystradgynlais and turn left at the town's only cross roads, this being a left at the cross roads before the pelican crossing (you will see Barclays Bank on the corner).
Leaving Barclays Bank behind you on the left, carry on up the hill, past the police station on your right, over a mini roundabout, and up on to an open hill. Just before the open hill, there is a parking lay-by on the right, with woodland walks signposted.
Distance (miles): 6.7 to the Cross at Ystradgynlais then another mile or so.
Time (hours): 0.20
Length of Walk: 2-3 hours or more.
Dates Walked: 20/12/2009,
Parking: Free
Pop in to: Ystradgynlais: Actually quite a large local town with a fully functioning high street full of independent non-chain outlets. The lack of chain shops and more of a local business community means there are, as yet, none of the boarded up shops we are seeing in other towns nowadays. The forthcoming arrival of a new Tesco a couple of miles to the South may have some effect however. Hopefully the current variety of shops will not be displaced by Tesco as the sort of services on offer should not be impacted by a supermarket. There is a good Gents barbers half way down the hill coming into town. My favourite shop is the large plant shop by the ‘Cross’ in the centre of town, near the town’s only pelican crossing. This has a wide selection of plants and pots at good prices.
This town does not yet possess a set of traffic lights, which is a plus, but sadly it has recently gained the occasional presence of a traffic warden, which is a minus. Free parking is limited to 30 minutes in the centre and spaces are limited. You may be tempted to give up. However there is a hidden, little used, and inexpensive pay and display car park behind the plant shop. This you can only get to by wriggling your way behind the plant shop in a somewhat twisting turning route. To get to the car park, going north as if towards the castle, you pass the plant shop on your left, turn left at the Crossing (known to locals as ‘The Cross’ but not signed as such), carry on down the narrow street of shops and take the next left down the first (I think) one-way lane and then left again into the car park. Going south from castle, simply turn right instead of left at the central crossing, and then do the a Left - Left into the car park. Look out for the not very obvious parking signage or simply ask where it is. On foot you can ‘do’ the town in about 40 minutes.
There is a pub, the Ynscedwyn Arms, at one end, by the river, which you could stop in for a meal or a drink. I’ve not been there for a while but I understand they are doing well. There is also a very useful pet shop, ‘Paws and Claws’, recently moved to a new shop the opposite end of the town from the Ynscedwyn Arms. This shops is well worth supporting by getting your dog groomed here (book in advance via our Reception) if you are staying in the area with your dogs. They are very friendly and competent here and with all the walks locally, your dog may need a wash and a groom before returning home! They can also do the ‘anal glands’ which not all dog grooming parlours will do and which on some breeds of dogs, is a regular chore that needs doing for the dog’s comfort.
Further south, the town has another pub or two, and some riverside walks, which run along behind the hospital from just south of the central cross. You can get to these on foot while leaving the car in the above mentioned car park. Within a mile or so, driving distance south, there is a sports centre with a large indoor swimming pool, as you come into another little town called Ystalyfera. This is about to gain a Tesco’s, apparently, which will do no favours to the local Co-Op at this end and will probably bring some other unexpected changes to the area.