We woke early to the sound of our rooftop tent flapping in the wind, and light rain pattering the sides of the tent. We drove to our camp spot under complete darkness, so neither myself nor Rob knew what awaited us outside our tent door. We laid for a second, taking the sounds in before unzipping. Rolling hills of green and brown stretched as far as the eye can see, all cloaked in low hanging clouds. We were in Wales, the was no doubt about that.
We climbed down from the tent and had our breakfast, marvelling at the views we were lucky enough to wake up to. Once our bodies were fuelled and we were all packed away, we began our short drive to the first hike of our trip, Herbert's Quarry, in the Black Mountains.
In this blog post, I plan on sharing my time hiking Herbert's Quarry trail in the Black Mountains, discussing tips on how to get to Herbert's Quarry, tips on what to wear hiking as a woman and hiking routes for Herbert's Quarry.
What is Herbert's Quarry?
Herber's Quarry, or Black Mountain Quarry is a former mine located on the western side of the Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales. The mine was active up until the 1950s, where it was used to make quicklime for agriculture. Now, the remains stand in ruin, quietly watching over the western side of the Geopark.
How to get there
The quarry is located on the Western side of the Brecon Beacons National Park on the A4069 between Brynamman and Llangadog. There is a small free carpark for visitors named Mountain Road Carpark and is easily accessible to the general public.
Hiking routes
There are a couple of routes you can take from the carpark, neither of which are overly
strenuous. You can either take the West wall or East wall route. The West wall route will take you around the left side of the quarry, boasting panoramic views of the valleys below, well preserved lime kilns and old tracks for the quicklime. The paths are clearly marked and there are useful information boards scattered around the quarry. The East Wall Route will take you around the right hand side of the quarry, exposing huge black cliffs, around 24M high. It took us around 1.5 hours to explore the entire site. With that being said, my husband and I are photographers and like to take our time to explore, get our shots and walk. I would recommend spending around an hour at the quarry, perhaps stopping by on the way to or from a day at Carreg Cennen castle, which is approximately 22minutes west.
Rob and I got out of our car and headed for the west wall. The clouds had truly descended on us by this point and the sky grew dark. This only added to the moody atmosphere and the jet black cliffs which dropped off of the quarry. We walked for around 20 minutes, stopping for photos along the way. When we reached the top, we lingered for a while, snapping away before heading towards the Eastern walls. Eventually, the rain subsided and glimmers of light began to shine through the clouds.
What to wear
South Wales is notoriously wet and much milder than other parts of the UK. The black mountains stand around 535m above sea level, which can lead to some windy, cold weather. It's important to check the weather forecast before leaving, ensuring that you are equipped for the conditions you will be walking in. Before leaving, I checked the following websites: - Mountain Weather Information Service
My husband and I made this hike in early February, where temperatures didn't exceed 5C and winds were between 15mph and 25 mph.
Here's what I wore...
Base Layers
You can either go with Merino Wool or a synthetic alternative with your base layers. More and more, I find myself reaching for my Merino thermals. Typically, Merino wool is much better at moisture wicking and regulating a steady temperature, meaning you don't sweat out underneath your layers. It's also much better at performing as an anti bacterial, meaning if you're on a multi- day adventure, you can get away with wearing the same thermals for longer without having to pack 1 set per day. Recently, I have been using smartwool to grab my base layers, or Mountain Warehouse for a cheaper option.
Sports Bra
I have linked this sports bra from Decathlon in previous posts, simply because of how soft and comfortable it is. The fabric is made of Merino, ofcourse which makes it great for multi- day adventures.
Mid Layers
Mid layering is one of my favourites, because it's completely down to you and your personal style. When hiking, I personally like to wear the same clothes I work out in which is typically: A Durable pair of leggings
I've tagged these Acai leggings in previous posts, but that's only because I cannot believe just how good they are! I have had issues in the past with leggings from highstreet brands (not naming names) developing holes when used frequently, but these ones are just so luxurious, you can just feel it. They're soft, stretchy and thermal, which means they're perfect over the top of your base layers as another warm layer.
Moisture wicking long sleeve
My choice of colours vary depending on what I've chosen to wear that day, but I think you just can't go wrong with a plain long sleeve. Something thin that adds another layer of warmth in the winter and wicks any moisture from the skin. These long sleeve tops from Mountain Warehouse are so versatile, I've also got them in other colours! You don't have to spend too much on a decent mid layer top, I've also worn many a Primark long sleeve whilst hiking and they have been absolutely fine. The key is, to avoid cotton at all costs!
Warm fleece layer
Honestly, there is very little room to go wrong with fleece layers. I have actually purchased many of my favourite fleeces from highstreet stores, ASOS etc. Here's one I'm loving by Patagonia at the moment, which comes in several different colours!
Outer Layers
Here's where you're going to want to make sure you're equipped, because once you're wet, you're wet. There's no going back and there's nothing less fun than walking around damp all day. I took my Fjern puffy down jacket and layered with my Mountain Warehouse waterproof jacket. The one I wear religiously has sold out, but this one is very similar.
I also like to bring a cheap pair of waterproof trousers with me, on any hike. You never know when the weather is going to change. Decathlon do a fantastic cheap pair you can roll up in your hiking bag and layer if needed on hikes. The material doesn't make them very breathable, but I can tell you now- I've never been wet!
Whilst our hike was short and the weather not traditionally favourable, I feel the ruggedness of the landscapes and dark, atmospheric feel of the cliffs was truly emulated in the foggy overcast weather of the day.
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