The Rosko Chapters - EP16 - Rhiwargor Falls - Waterfall Walk

26.4.25

Its been a couple of weeks since we got back from the wye valley and I'm itching to get some miles on the clock and hopefully in some more rugged scenery.

The weather looked fairly decent and my eyes seemed to wonder west on the OS maps app. I fancied seeing something scenic and leave behined any mountain top bagging this weekend. So picked an area that I've only really visited fleetingly, lake Vyrnwy.

I'm unfamiliar with the area, I know its got some well signposted routes but that isn't our kinda style. I noticed "waterfall" to the west side of lake Vyrnwy up a patch about 1km away from the lake, so I plotted a circular route by the side of that and over some hills to the west of the waterfall mark. What awaited us completely took me by suprise!

We landed at the western car park after a slight detour, the southern road around the lake was shut. after we parked I could see why. Storm Darragh that had hit this area in the December before our visit funnelled through the valley causing severe winds, resulting in thousands of trees being uprooted. I was shocked to see such a site and shows the barbaric nature the elements can have on our landscapes sometimes.

We started off away from the lake alongside the river on a well trodden path. This seemed to be quite a busy place so I clearly hadn't done my research of the area, I was after a remote day which I was still in hope for as part of the leg that I'd plotted was off piste. After a short time I could see the waterfalls in the distance..... which surprised me, I must of been over a kilometre away and I could see them clearly, this looks like we could be walking into something pretty cool. With each step I got more exited, the watery cliff side grew larger and larger until we was about 200meters away, I stopped to take it in and let Rosko have a good look at it. IT dawned on me, I dont think he's ever seen a waterfall before! he had a happy but bemused look on his face, we walked through a small plantation and popped out next to the waterfall. This was an obligatory moment to get the drone out surely. There was some lovely pools I was eying up for a dip maybe in the summer months also.

After we finished taking photos and oggling at the waterfall I decided to start the steep incline to the left hand side of the falls. it was seriously strenuous and loose underfoot however each break served as a little bit more time to check out the surroundings. I was in no rush here at all. as the people were left behined at the falls, it started to get quiet so I struck up some conversation with the youngster, he seemed really happy to be here, we was loving it!

Not before long it started to flatten out and we was met with a steady river at the top between a shallow valley. I had to find a place to cross the river to start travelling North but i couldnt see any decent area. so.... it was time to get the feet wet! the water was freezing but quite soothing considering the strain I had just been trugging up.

now this next stretch was a bit of an issue. the ground was a mooreland; wet, boggy, high grass and uphill. disgusting ground to walk on. It was also very featureless ground. Even Rosko got bored and fell to sleep! not much else to add here other than it was 45 minutes of pain until we reached the top. I carried on off piste and came down the opposite side, over an awkward fence and down some more steep ground until we reached a very quaint house next to a bridge. time for a sandwich stop and let Rosko stretch his legs by the riverside. We did some wrestling also, just what you need after lunch.

all that was left now was a good walk back along the road. I dont normally like road walking but this was desolate, the weather was good and the surroundings were magnificent! Rosko was chatting away as we meandered through the valley with the drone overhead. Times like these make me feel really grateful. Happy I made the effort to come out today and spend some quality time with the lad.

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