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Lockdown Adventures #1 - Preseli Mountains

Words & Pictures by Jacob Martin

By Mountain-Forecast.com

June 8^th, 2020

“Breathlessly I broke through the thick clouds. A pink glow confirmed my 4.30am start was worth it!”

I started riding up the road towards the hills. As I looked up, a thick layer of cloud had the potential to make the 04:30 start not worth it.

My mission: to catch the sunrise above the Preseli Hills in the far west of Wales, UK. At this time of year this happens on the other side of the hills to where I call home.

Committed to the ride now, I left the road, pedalled through the old quarry in Rosebush. As I started following the winding path up through the forest, the sweet smell of the firs in the damp morning invigorated my senses.

Lockdown Adventures #1 - Preseli Mountains

As the ridge-line came into view as I wiggled along the tracks in the upper part of the forest and noticed the first signs that this was indeed going to be a good day. There was a little pink cloud just peeking over, this pushed me to ride faster up this steep part of the track. I’m sure I must have got up here in record time!

After racing up in a bid not to miss the spectacle, I reached the crest and was welcomed with the view of the rising sun over the most amazing patch of cotton grass.

The white tops glowed orange as the light of the new day started to warm my face.

I carried on a few hundred meters more to some rocks I’d been meaning to visit for a while. From here the panorama swept along the length of the Preselis to the east, towards Foel Drygarn and Frenni Fawr.

The cloud that had been my clammy companion as I rode up from home, was pouring, like liquid gold, over the hilltops into the glowing sunlight. An amazing scene to enjoy.

A bike for exploring

I sat, photographed the changing scene then watched reflectively for a little while more before descending back down through the forest and home for the rest of the day.

Though bouldering is what you’d normally find me doing most of my time, the mountain bike has had more than its fair share of use recently. It's been great for exploring these remote part of West Wales.

"Right now, early starts close to home are the fuel for near future..."

Normal adventures are mostly off the cards for a little longer, and there hasn’t been any climbing for a while. I can’t see travel abroad happening any time soon, but that doesn’t mean little adventures like these won't take place. This are what’s going to fuel the coming weeks and months, hopefully with a friend or two soon... Mwynha dy ddiwrnod!