STARTING off on in below freezing temperatures and a light mist, 12 walkers joined Barrie from Penarth and District Ramblers at the Visitor Information Centre in the delightful market town of Brecon and heading along The Struet, with its variety of Georgian houses overlooking the River Honddu, which gave the town its Welsh name of Aberhonddu a stop to view the King’s Steps.

This steep cobbled walkway is associated with King Charles 1 who visited the town in 1645 to raise troops for the march to save Hereford.

A footbridge took them across the Honddu and following a stone-walled walkway uphill, the beautiful Brecon Cathedral beckoned them into the warmth of its stunning interior to view carvings, stained glass windows, the unusual carved font, the Havard Chapel dedicated to the South Wales Borderers and the outstanding intricate stone carved Reredos behind the high altar in the Sanctuary, which was designed in 1937 by W D Caroe.

Exiting and pounding pavements through Pendre and part of a housing estate led them to the Grade II listed Maen-Du Well described as a Holy well or sacred spring.

It is situated in a domed stone well-house inscribed WW 1754, but may be much older and has a stone-lined leat leading to a pond which is now looked after by a small community group as a community space, but originally is believed to have provided water for Brecon Castle.

Entering open fields painted white with heavy frost and under blue skies and in bright sunshine two red kites soared overhead whilst horses quietly grazed.

Following pathways gradually uphill to the trig point on Pen-y-crug situated at 331m, a stop for morning coffee in bright sunshine whilst admiring the frosted leaves on the gorse bushes and overlooking misty views of the central Beacons.

Descending steeply through the ditches of the Iron Age hillfort onto hillsides covered with thick bracken, white frosty paths led to a narrow track between hedges and out onto the road.

Carefully continuing in single file along the road to the small village of Cradoc, opposite an old stone horse trough a half-open stable door and a kind invitation into the Old Smithy led to an interesting conversation with Mr Williams, who although untrained himself comes from a family of blacksmiths in this property going back to the mid-1800s.

Following a road onto a farm track leading to Gaer Farm, a frozen muddy farmyard led into the atmospheric Roman hillfort of Y Gaer.

Walking the perimeter of this huge fort which was established around 75AD above the River Usk where parts of the walls, corner turrets and gatehouses still remain, the original fort was protected by banks of clay and a wooden palisade until it was rebuilt in stone during the 2nd century.

It contained a granary, bath houses, stables and a barracks and outside was a civilian settlement containing craft shops, blacksmiths and tanners.

Following lunch in warm sunshine and continuing the journey around the perimeter of the fort with evidence of recent excavations taking place carefully covered over with plastic sheeting, part of the old Roman road led them into a field full of sheep, then into woodland with glimpses of the fishing lake at Gludy.

A leafy lane led to a footbridge over a stream at Pennant before a pretty path with the first view back to Brecon brought them back into meadows with views of the south side of Pen-y-crug and more red kites.

Then heading down to the promenade beside its weir on the River Usk, after a short pause at the Boathouse watching a heron and two cormorants, the short journey below Brecon Castle led them back to their start for a pleasant drink in a local hostelry before the journey home.

On February 4, meet 9am at Cogan Leisure Centre for a nine-mile moderate walk at Goodrich in the Wye Valley; contact Joy on 01446 737131.

On February 5, meet 9am at Cogan for a 10-mile moderate walk at Ystradfellte taking in the Mellte and Nedd valleys; contact Robin on 029 2051 4051.

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 please log onto penarthramblers.wordpress.com or Facebook. Programmes and membership advice can be obtained from Pam on 029 2025 5102.