CEFN YR YSTRAD
Cefn Yr Ystrad is not that photogenic as you can see - its a broad ridge rising above the waters of the reservoir at Pontsticill, rising to a considerable height but with no distinct peak. I headed up from the waterworks at Ponsticill, just near the dam, and followed a bridleway through fields on the lower slopes before striking out towards the top across rocky open ground. The going was good - slopes easy enough to keep up steady running. Once at the top, it was the familar game of "find the trig point" and I was once again running a criss-cross route on an upland plateau looking for the feature that marked the actual highest point. So it was about three quarters of an hour before I actually stood at the summit, and another half hour spent returning.
There were nice views across to the higher peaks of the Brecon Beacons, and I saw lots of falcons and plenty of wild horses (they were a bit too shy to get a good photo of them). It was a good opportunity to get a sustained run under my belt, on a day that was otherwise spent driving to small mountains, running up incredibly steep slopes, then collapsing back in the car. Also, while it can be frustrating running backwards and forwards looking for the top, it does help you work on your patience and perseverance - as well as your endurance. And the feeling when you find that elusive trig point, and you know you've reached the true summit, is....well, you can imagine.
Waun Rhydd from Cefn Yr Ystrad
A taste of the summit area of Cefn Yr Ystrad - rolling country with loads of rocks to hop and dance across as you search for that trig point, which is definitely utilising a Star-Trek cloaking device.