I wake early. I’ve got a bit of altitude and there is still a breeze so it’s a cool morning, but it’s sunny…again. No rain last night either! This is just too incredible. I pack hastily, but set off slowly to warm up stiff muscles. First spot will be a ride through the Hafod Estate, which I’d been looking forward too. I feel like I could finish Friday and achieve my five day goal, but it will depend of course on how the day pans out.
Hafod doesn’t disappoint. There is a serene, peaceful air, with a hint of eeriness lying over the place in the early morning. There is not a person to be seen and I feel like I’m wandering through a secret. This is magnified when I find a walled garden tucked in the bottom of a valley. I stop to explore, enjoying the strange, but magical feel of the place. The riverside ride is wonderful and as I hit my first climb of the day I feel buoyed by the glowing morning and my now warmed up muscles.
Leaving the Estate behind I cross stunning upland, appreciating the odd track and flowing lines on hillside cut fine by sheep teeth. I pass a couple of exceptionally isolated properties, probably old forester or estate manager homes. Given their location it’s difficult to imagine choosing to live in such a place, but they both show signs of habitation.
Today brings me to the Elan Valley, another stretch I’ve been looking forward to riding, but I confess I’m a little disappointed. Looking back I think this is partially down to a high expectation. The route briefly touches on the A4120 before joining some flowing track that brings you to a junction and a choice. I opt for what I see as being the “original route”, as opposed to what the writers describe as the “Optional route to avoid Claerwen Ford”.
What follows is a hard slog across upland, before joining a route absolutely smashed by off-roaders. The journey consists of brief spells on the bike, before having to get off to navigate around huge cuts in the peat, filled with rain water, or large areas of trashed boggy ground. It’s infuriating and saddening; were it not for the huge ruts and wallows I could have ridden the length of the summit I’m sure.
Amazingly I bump into a couple mountain biking in the other direction (the only time this happens outside of Snowdonia). I warn them it’s grim ahead, although they look fresher and I suspect, without laden bikes they will probably fair better. We enjoy pleasantries and then say our goodbyes.
A long, fast down hill along some much improved, dry single track out of the hills to a cracking riverside spot brings the smile back to my face. A quick snack is then followed by a very steep road climb, but then into some more quality downhill.
A late, but very tasty lunch is enjoyed at the Old Swan Tea Rooms in the heart of Rhayader. Again, lovely staff cater with some great food, fill my water bladder and let me charge my phone. Feeling done I pack up and start to leave the town, but I am drawn to a riverside green where families and folk are lavishing in the unbelievable weather. It’s impossible not to resist cooling my feet and midge bitten legs in the river for while and lap up the happy sounds around me.
Feeling utterly refreshed I head off. Rhayader to Builth incorporates a lot of roads, but they’re peaceful quiet lanes offering great views along the Wye Valley. I confess to enjoying the relaxing ride after the past days intensities.
A quick fish and chip supper is had in Builth and I decide to get back on the bike and just ride as far as I can in a bid to get closer to the finish and my five day target. A poorly timed puncture slows me and, as darkness draws in, I end up pitching in the middle of common land.
The Sarn Helen Trail 