Bwlch Nant yr Arian – Western Midlands weekend

Walk in any designated Forest and you'll be sure to find some large object (Installation Art to the cognoscenti) made entirely of wood. If it's GOC, you'll also be sure to find members climbing on top of said objects, demanding their photos be taken. So it was on Western Midlands weekender's Sunday Treat – Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest, 10 miles east of the Ceredigion Coast

We arrived deep inland, where Red Kites replaced seagulls and Martin D's laid-back 10.30 start was compromised by wake up and smell the coffee. Who could resist a wonderfully-stocked Breakfast Kiosk with NO queue (cash or card)? He was soon guiding over 20 of us through truly evocative Forest Trails, where ancient Cairns and traces of former industry could just be detected. Mountain bike riders were waved at, lakes encountered, previous night conversations re-ignited, mobile signals lost, stragglers found.

Then, after lunch and seemingly without warning, huge views emerged, way beyond the conifers, across to lush valleys and peaks. Just how high were we? Was that Cardigan Bay in the far distance or a named Storm heading towards Aberystwyth? At this point paces quickened, bracken crunched underfoot, and we all arrived to de-boot just before the Heavens opened and temperatures cooled off.

Many thanks to our irrepressible leader and his choice of Sunday venue, bracing and different.