ON THE last day of October in beautiful warm autumnal sunshine a group of 12 walkers and Pepper the spaniel met with leader Clive at the historic Goytre Wharf situated beside the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, built at the end of the 18th century to speed up the transportation of minerals.

Firstly a stop to admire the well-preserved lime kilns, where limestone that had been carried down horse-drawn tramroads from the mountainside was burnt to provide lime, which was then placed in barrels before being transferred onto boats on the canal for exportation.

Then Machine Cottage now renamed Aqueduct Cottage, where the toll collector who weighed cartloads of coal and lime to work out a suitable toll resided, before heading up beside the mooring basin to tramp south along the towpath where pairs of mallard ducks were swimming on the still waters of the canal.

After acknowledging a workman in an odd-looking Land and Water craft used for dredging purposes, ahead of them a grey heron was standing motionless under one of the many stone bridges that cross the canal.

Not wishing to frighten the bird as it would be difficult for it to take off safely, the group paused to see what would happen and sure enough the heron did a belly flop into the canal and after flailing around, took off in disgust with a raucous screech.

Passing sheep-filled meadows with their first glimpse of the Folly high up on the ridgeway in the distance, morning coffee followed on top of a footbridge before the route continued across soggy fields, where they came across a sheep entangled in brambles that was soon cut free with secateurs and scampered safely away to join the rest of the flock.

A wooded area lay ahead where the path had been totally blocked by fallen trees, but after a request from the leader the path had been cleared which meant a free but muddy passage into open fields.

Heading towards a hedge line behind which a Roman cobbled track runs, a brief climb led them up to the Folly tower which is visible for miles around. Built in 1772 by the Hanbury family of Pontypool as a summer house, it was demolished during the Second World War then rebuilt in 1994 and made a suitable place for lunch in warm sunshine.

Following the undulating ridgeway to the trig point on Mynydd Garn-wen situated at 425m and surrounded by outcrops of pudding stone made up of white chunks of quartz set into silicate, a short stop for refreshment to admire the 360-degree views with the far distance covered by a coat of mist followed.

A narrow track through tall bracken and parallel with the gnarled beech wood at Cwm Cam led them steeply downhill through woodland paths covered in autumnally tinted leaves, where several members slid almost gracefully on their rumps down the hillside, whilst another successfully hung onto an overhanging branch to reach the stile at the bottom.

Carefully negotiating the slippery pathway interspersed with tree roots and stones downhill beside a small brook in Coed Peggy-Shams, led them to the perimeter of Coed Howell and the Holy Well.

Otherwise known as Ffynon Angaeron, when it was cleared out in 1890 as well as its obvious source to provide clean water, pins, needles, nails, pencils and buttons were found indicating these items were left in order to cure ailments and promote good luck.

Then climbing uphill past the changing colours of a forestry plantation, a narrow pathway above fields of sheep, horses and goats, through woodland at the base of Pentre Hill led them back downhill through grassy meadows to join a road for the short journey back to the car park at the wharf.

On November 14, please note the change in start time and meet 8.30am at Cogan Leisure Centre for an eight plus mile/mod/hard walk taking in the Llanfoist Incline and Blorenge; contact Clive on 029 2065 4156.

On November 18, the mid-week walk will leave Cogan at 9am for a 12-mile moderate walk taking in Llangybi Castle and the Usk Valley from Llandegfedd reservoir; contact William on 07528 701 952.

Wear suitable clothing, preferably boots and carry waterproofs, food and drinks. Some degree of fitness is required and if you are in any doubt, then please contact the walk leader for advice.

To follow the group log onto www.penarthramblers.wordpress.com. Programmes and membership advice can be obtained from Pam on 029 2025 5102.