Well what an interesting day to travel!!

Started from Porthcawl (Half-way between Swansea and Cardiff on the
coast) about 11 am with rain and a temp of about 3.4. By the time we
were on the M4 travelling east the trusty windscreen was soon showing
pronounced sleet (that's s.l.e.a.t. - pronounced - sleet :-))

Shortly after junction 35 Pencoed, the sleet had become definite snow.
As we approached Cardiff the slightly raised areas were showing snow
accumulating. Shortly after Cardiff we were in heavy snow with large
flakes. The third lane on the motorway was treacherous, and showing
white in quite a few areas. Temp now at 2C. By the time we reached
Newport everywhere had a covering - at least an inch deep.

We then turned north up the Ebbw valley - where for a while the
precipitation was lighter and the grass greener. Approaching Cross Keys
the snow became more intense and by the time we were a 1000' up, in
Abertillery thick snow was covering roads as well as pavements etc. Temp
at 1C.

Snow continued moderate into the early evening when we decided to return
via the heads of the valleys road. Travelling north to Brynmawr the main
road was thick with slush, parked cars had 3-4" of snow, and it was a
Winter wonderland. At the highest point 1350' up traffic was crawling,
as the road was only one track wide at best.

We then travelled westwards towards Merthyr. Snow was still falling
heavily and by now the temp was at 0C. But shortly after Merthyr the
scenery went brown and we lost the snow cover apart from the high ground
to the south - the Rhigos road e.g. remained closed. The run down from
Hirwaun to Neath brought only light rain with the temp by the end at
about 4C .

Arriving back in Porthcawl, and the temps have been falling for the last
hour or two - now down to 2C.

It looks like there could be a frost tonight, with the roads and
pavements as they are means a lot of ice.

So as far as I am concerned Will can come out of the bunker now - close
but no cigar!!

Cheers

James
--
James Brown

Thanks for that report James, it was really interesting and got me
looking at S Wales maps to see the places you mentioned. I was surprised
that given the interest in snow in the group that no-one else seemed
interested.

All the best


In message , James Brown
writes
Well what an interesting day to travel!!

Started from Porthcawl (Half-way between Swansea and Cardiff on the
coast) about 11 am with rain and a temp of about 3.4. By the time we
were on the M4 travelling east the trusty windscreen was soon showing
pronounced sleet (that's s.l.e.a.t. - pronounced - sleet :-))

Shortly after junction 35 Pencoed, the sleet had become definite snow.
As we approached Cardiff the slightly raised areas were showing snow
accumulating. Shortly after Cardiff we were in heavy snow with large
flakes. The third lane on the motorway was treacherous, and showing
white in quite a few areas. Temp now at 2C. By the time we reached
Newport everywhere had a covering - at least an inch deep.

We then turned north up the Ebbw valley - where for a while the
precipitation was lighter and the grass greener. Approaching Cross Keys
the snow became more intense and by the time we were a 1000' up, in
Abertillery thick snow was covering roads as well as pavements etc.
Temp at 1C.

Snow continued moderate into the early evening when we decided to
return via the heads of the valleys road. Travelling north to Brynmawr
the main road was thick with slush, parked cars had 3-4" of snow, and
it was a Winter wonderland. At the highest point 1350' up traffic was
crawling, as the road was only one track wide at best.

We then travelled westwards towards Merthyr. Snow was still falling
heavily and by now the temp was at 0C. But shortly after Merthyr the
scenery went brown and we lost the snow cover apart from the high
ground to the south - the Rhigos road e.g. remained closed. The run
down from Hirwaun to Neath brought only light rain with the temp by the
end at about 4C .

Arriving back in Porthcawl, and the temps have been falling for the
last hour or two - now down to 2C.

It looks like there could be a frost tonight, with the roads and
pavements as they are means a lot of ice.

So as far as I am concerned Will can come out of the bunker now - close
but no cigar!!

Cheers

James

--
James Brown

James I'm sure it was read and appreciated. It happens sometimes. I've given
many accounts of walks etc in my area with interesting conditions and not a
murmur in reply.

I'm out of my igloo now LOL :-)

PS I've driven in that area myself on detours back from Pembrokeshire, never
in winter though!

Cheers,

Will
--

"James Brown" wrote in message
...
Thanks for that report James, it was really interesting and got me looking
at S Wales maps to see the places you mentioned. I was surprised that
given the interest in snow in the group that no-one else seemed
interested.

All the best


In message , James Brown
writes
Well what an interesting day to travel!!

Started from Porthcawl (Half-way between Swansea and Cardiff on the coast)
about 11 am with rain and a temp of about 3.4. By the time we were on the
M4 travelling east the trusty windscreen was soon showing pronounced sleet
(that's s.l.e.a.t. - pronounced - sleet :-))

Shortly after junction 35 Pencoed, the sleet had become definite snow. As
we approached Cardiff the slightly raised areas were showing snow
accumulating. Shortly after Cardiff we were in heavy snow with large
flakes. The third lane on the motorway was treacherous, and showing white
in quite a few areas. Temp now at 2C. By the time we reached Newport
everywhere had a covering - at least an inch deep.

We then turned north up the Ebbw valley - where for a while the
precipitation was lighter and the grass greener. Approaching Cross Keys
the snow became more intense and by the time we were a 1000' up, in
Abertillery thick snow was covering roads as well as pavements etc. Temp
at 1C.

Snow continued moderate into the early evening when we decided to return
via the heads of the valleys road. Travelling north to Brynmawr the main
road was thick with slush, parked cars had 3-4" of snow, and it was a
Winter wonderland. At the highest point 1350' up traffic was crawling, as
the road was only one track wide at best.

We then travelled westwards towards Merthyr. Snow was still falling
heavily and by now the temp was at 0C. But shortly after Merthyr the
scenery went brown and we lost the snow cover apart from the high ground
to the south - the Rhigos road e.g. remained closed. The run down from
Hirwaun to Neath brought only light rain with the temp by the end at about
4C .

Arriving back in Porthcawl, and the temps have been falling for the last
hour or two - now down to 2C.

It looks like there could be a frost tonight, with the roads and pavements
as they are means a lot of ice.

So as far as I am concerned Will can come out of the bunker now - close
but no cigar!!

Cheers

James

--
James Brown

On 19/02/2010 21:31, Will Hand wrote:
James I'm sure it was read and appreciated. It happens sometimes. I've
given many accounts of walks etc in my area with interesting conditions
and not a murmur in reply.

I'm out of my igloo now LOL :-)

PS I've driven in that area myself on detours back from Pembrokeshire,
never in winter though!

Cheers,

Will


I see, a fair weather tourist. ;-)



--
Howard Neil

In message , Will Hand
writes
James I'm sure it was read and appreciated. It happens sometimes. I've
given many accounts of walks etc in my area with interesting conditions
and not a murmur in reply.

I'm out of my igloo now LOL :-)

PS I've driven in that area myself on detours back from Pembrokeshire,
never in winter though!

Cheers,

Will

Thanks Will,

I jokingly followed up my own report - just to see if anyone was
watching!!

Oh well - we might manage a trip to Devon before long - certainly the
excellent Michael Portillo's Bradshaws revisited series whetted one's
appetite.

We might even compare a Datrmoor walk to one in the Brecon Beacons,

Cheers,

James
--
James Brown

"Will Hand" wrote in message
...
James I'm sure it was read and appreciated. It happens sometimes. I've
given many accounts of walks etc in my area with interesting conditions
and not a murmur in reply.

I'm out of my igloo now LOL :-)

PS I've driven in that area myself on detours back from Pembrokeshire,
never in winter though!

Cheers,

Will
--

"James Brown" wrote in message
...
Thanks for that report James, it was really interesting and got me
looking at S Wales maps to see the places you mentioned. I was surprised
that given the interest in snow in the group that no-one else seemed
interested.

All the best


In message , James Brown
writes
Well what an interesting day to travel!!

Started from Porthcawl (Half-way between Swansea and Cardiff on the
coast) about 11 am with rain and a temp of about 3.4. By the time we were
on the M4 travelling east the trusty windscreen was soon showing
pronounced sleet (that's s.l.e.a.t. - pronounced - sleet :-))

Shortly after junction 35 Pencoed, the sleet had become definite snow. As
we approached Cardiff the slightly raised areas were showing snow
accumulating. Shortly after Cardiff we were in heavy snow with large
flakes. The third lane on the motorway was treacherous, and showing white
in quite a few areas. Temp now at 2C. By the time we reached Newport
everywhere had a covering - at least an inch deep.

We then turned north up the Ebbw valley - where for a while the
precipitation was lighter and the grass greener. Approaching Cross Keys
the snow became more intense and by the time we were a 1000' up, in
Abertillery thick snow was covering roads as well as pavements etc. Temp
at 1C.

Snow continued moderate into the early evening when we decided to return
via the heads of the valleys road. Travelling north to Brynmawr the main
road was thick with slush, parked cars had 3-4" of snow, and it was a
Winter wonderland. At the highest point 1350' up traffic was crawling, as
the road was only one track wide at best.

We then travelled westwards towards Merthyr. Snow was still falling
heavily and by now the temp was at 0C. But shortly after Merthyr the
scenery went brown and we lost the snow cover apart from the high ground
to the south - the Rhigos road e.g. remained closed. The run down from
Hirwaun to Neath brought only light rain with the temp by the end at
about 4C .

Arriving back in Porthcawl, and the temps have been falling for the last
hour or two - now down to 2C.

It looks like there could be a frost tonight, with the roads and
pavements as they are means a lot of ice.

So as far as I am concerned Will can come out of the bunker now - close
but no cigar!!

Cheers

James

--
James Brown


I rate 'travel-obs' such as yours above (and others elsewhere), up there
among the most interesting reads for me, alongside site OBS and WRs.

Nigel

I rate 'travel-obs' such as yours above (and others elsewhere), up there
among the most interesting reads for me, alongside site OBS and WRs.

Nigel



Thanks Nigel - it's a 'me too' so that's why I submit - for fellow
travellers!

Cheers

James
--
James Brown