Early birds traveling from East/London - River Usk at Llangyndr bridge, Coed Yr Ynis (OS grid ref SO152202) - south of Bwlch/Talybont, 7.00am ish. Target species dipper, grey wagtail and possible goosander (note there is a further 1 hour drive to Elan Valley from here, so you must leave by 8.00am latest) - park just beyond the bridge towards the village and walk back
Elan Valley reservoirs visitor centre (OS grid ref SN929648),9.00 am for 9.30am start (note car parking toll by ticket, toilets and light refreshemnts availabe at the visitor centre.)
Morning walk up a zig zag hillside path through ancient oak woodland. Target species; pied flycatcher, willow warbler, also present in the woods; redstart, wood warbler, tree pipit
Lunchtime/early pm - to be confirmed following my reconnaissance trip w/c 7/5/07, either another dipper site, river Elan, or wheatear site
"Snapped" - cheeky b*gger, well executed and planned by the organiser I will have you know........
I don't want to get peoples hopes up, the otters are about in the area and have been seen by Chris at Gigrin, well pinching his muscovies (painfull ), but as in any river system it is a long stretch of water to "luck in on".........
Is anyone going to this and planning to stay over either Friday or Saturday night? Have to get up v early to make it for 7am! So possibly thinking of camping.
Cheers
Gavin
Posted by Mike Smith on April 20, 2007 at 10:23 AM
The first element is really aimed for any nutters like me travelling long distance, to get to Elan for 9 am I have to leave Reading around 5.30 am latest, so 4.30 am is not much different really! It gives me a chance for a leg stretch somewhere more interesting than a lay-bye!.
For anyone interested the bridge is very picturesque being an old drovers bridge barely wide enough for vehicles, the Usk is shallow and bouldery at this point so has the added bonus of being a fairly reliable dipper site, but light levels will be fairly low under the bridge where they usually nest - a chance to practice your blurred water shots!
If Peter de Hartog is tuned in - this is the site I mucked up the OS co-ords last year and meant to go to!
If you plan to camp Fri/Sat, there is a good camp site on the south eastern outskirts of Brecon (SO 069278)about 5 miles from the bridge site - at A40 roundabout turn right onto A470 up the hill and take 1st right - sorry I cannot recall the name of the site (possibly Brynich?), but it has a nice restaurant in a converted barn on site - all very civilised!
Posted by Paul Gibbs on April 20, 2007 at 12:07 PM
Hmm want to come, have to ask the missis if i have permission
Well I'm now aiming to be one of the 7 O'Clockers!!
See you there
Gavin
Posted by szekiat chan on April 23, 2007 at 4:34 PM
it would be great if someone could furnish GPS co-ords as i'll truly be relying on my TomTom to guide me around, being new to driving in the UK. Can someone please help? I'll buy a pint at lunch time!
Szekiat,
I'm afraid I can't help with the GPS co-ordinates,but if you do a Google search for The AA or RAC you'll be able to print out the route using their route finder service.
For Gigrin Farm you want a place called Rhayader.
Afraid I'm going to have to work on that Saturday now - I'll still make the early morning shift, but then I'll have to dash off to Cardiff rather than join you at Gigrin/Elan.
Discussion
26 repliesOrganiser: Mike Smith
Outline itinerary for the Welsh Trip
Early birds traveling from East/London - River Usk at Llangyndr bridge, Coed Yr Ynis (OS grid ref SO152202) - south of Bwlch/Talybont, 7.00am ish. Target species dipper, grey wagtail and possible goosander (note there is a further 1 hour drive to Elan Valley from here, so you must leave by 8.00am latest) - park just beyond the bridge towards the village and walk back
Elan Valley reservoirs visitor centre (OS grid ref SN929648),9.00 am for 9.30am start (note car parking toll by ticket, toilets and light refreshemnts availabe at the visitor centre.)
Morning walk up a zig zag hillside path through ancient oak woodland. Target species; pied flycatcher, willow warbler, also present in the woods; redstart, wood warbler, tree pipit
Lunchtime/early pm - to be confirmed following my reconnaissance trip w/c 7/5/07, either another dipper site, river Elan, or wheatear site
reconvene 2.30 pm Gigrin Kite feeding station, Rhyader, (OS grid ref SN979677)
Paul
T
I don't want to get peoples hopes up, the otters are about in the area and have been seen by Chris at Gigrin, well pinching his muscovies (painfull
Is anyone going to this and planning to stay over either Friday or Saturday night? Have to get up v early to make it for 7am! So possibly thinking of camping.
Cheers
Gavin
For anyone interested the bridge is very picturesque being an old drovers bridge barely wide enough for vehicles, the Usk is shallow and bouldery at this point so has the added bonus of being a fairly reliable dipper site, but light levels will be fairly low under the bridge where they usually nest - a chance to practice your blurred water shots!
If Peter de Hartog is tuned in - this is the site I mucked up the OS co-ords last year and meant to go to!
If you plan to camp Fri/Sat, there is a good camp site on the south eastern outskirts of Brecon (SO 069278)about 5 miles from the bridge site - at A40 roundabout turn right onto A470 up the hill and take 1st right - sorry I cannot recall the name of the site (possibly Brynich?), but it has a nice restaurant in a converted barn on site - all very civilised!
Gary
See you there
Gavin
I'm afraid I can't help with the GPS co-ordinates,but if you do a Google search for The AA or RAC you'll be able to print out the route using their route finder service.
For Gigrin Farm you want a place called Rhayader.
But you will have to hold that pint as unfortunately I will not be there, I'll be in the outer isles
Afraid I'm going to have to work on that Saturday now - I'll still make the early morning shift, but then I'll have to dash off to Cardiff rather than join you at Gigrin/Elan.
regards
Kevin
Droitwich
Shame as I was looking forward to meeting people and putting faces to names.
Anyway, enjoy and I look forward to some incredible images being posted from the day