Birthday Adventure: Taf Fechan Valley

Thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes!  Yesterday was a fun day, despite the atrocious weather.  It rained, non-stop, the whole day.  But when you're British, you don't let the weather stop you, else you'd never leave the house.  So off in the car we went, heading up to the Southern edge of the Brecon Beacons.

First stop was a second-hand furniture store, but nothing exciting there, so we went around some charity shops in Merthyr of all places (it was en route!).  It's not one of those places that's a 'destination', as a lot of it is the usual depressing array of betting shops, cheap clothes shops, Wetherspoons and kebab places that you generally find in historically deprived Valley's towns, but as always, we are spoilt silly with history here in the UK, and if you look for them, there are a few architectural gems.  The magnificent Grade II listed Old Town Hall dating from 1896 caught my eye straight away, as did a water fountain outside a church.





Alas, I will remember our visit most as the place where I found the most ridiculously expensive Tenovus on the planet (£45 for a second hand dress, Hobbs, but still, second hand - you can get one new in the sale for that price!!).  My other half fared much better and picked up a 1960's jacket for £1 in a different shop.  There's a lovely looking tea room, Flook's, at the top of Merthyr, just down from a great little antique's shop where we had a good browse, I'll have to try it out another day, but we had to press on.

Just a few miles north of Merthyr and you're suddenly in the depths of the countryside, with winding roads snaking their way down valleys that reminded me of West Wales.  It was very beautiful and atmospheric in the mist and rain. In the unpronouncable village of Pontsticill we found a cosy pub, The Red Cow Inn, awaiting with a real fire burning in the hearth, so we stopped off there to dry off and refuel.



After a good meal and being warmed up, we headed off again in the car, driving alongside the Pontsticill Reservoir.  It's pretty, forested landscape, and further up there are more reservoirs, and a starting point for those wishing to do the long walk up to Pen Y Fan, South Wales' highest peak.  I'm saving that walk for a fine day when the views will reward me.







On the way back, we stopped at Pontsarn viaduct and had a stroll across it.  Another pretty spot that would be well worth doing a proper walk along when the weather's better.







We headed home then, for a relaxed evening, watching a film, drinking Prosecco, eating chocolate and watching the latest episode of Nashville.  I was quite spoilt, receiving some Hendrick's gin, books, plants, a couple of skirts for work, chocolate, make-up, Ted Baker bubble bath, and an Elvis karaoke DVD!  I bought myself some shoes also. My main present from my other half has been some hard work, as I bought a vintage dressing table last week and he's been painstakingly revamping it for me.  I'll be sure to share some before and after pictures once it's finished, it's looking good.

Do you go on days out in the rain?  Or do you think that's crazy?!