What an incredible day leading the Merthyr Valley Ramblers deep into the Black Mountains! Our journey began at The Hermitage, a secluded historical gem nestled in the Grwyne Valley. Originally built in the 18th century, The Hermitage was once a serene retreat, now a picturesque ruin surrounded by nature. Ordinarily, we would have crossed the ford and explored the ruins, but with the water level higher than usual and slippery rocks, we opted for a safer route towards the Grwyne Valley. The rain initially seemed relentless, but it soon subsided, leaving us with near-perfect walking conditions. We paused for a group photo on the Tal-y-maes bridge, a charming structure on the historic Macnamara's Road. From there, we began our slow and steady ascent up the valley. Heading towards Pen Trumau and the Cambrian Way path, we soon changed direction towards our highest point of the day, Mynydd Llysiau. The wind was fierce on the approach, but once on the sheltered side, we enjoyed an early lunch break. The mist was heavy, limiting our views, but we caught fleeting glimpses of the Dragon's Back and beyond. Our journey continued southward towards Pen Twyn Glas, passing the disused quarry and cairn. We encountered a young couple embarking on a 12-mile hike, a rare sight as we had only seen one other person all day! Finally, we descended to the farmyard at Pentwyn and picked up the lane back to our starting point.