By Kim Irvine in walking — 05 Sep 2026

An Early Autumn Walk Around Cilcain

Woodland paths, country views and a few steep little climbs on a 4.7-mile circuit between Cilcain and Loggerheads—with pear cake halfway round.

Another picturesque outing today, this time starting just outside Cilcain. I had followed this route once before, but tackling it in the opposite direction gave it a different feel. We explored the lower slopes rather than climbing the surrounding mountains, but with over 700 feet of ascent and a couple of particularly steep sections, it still gave our legs a good workout.

The air felt distinctly autumnal, and we were dressed accordingly. It was mild and occasionally windy, although we remained sheltered for much of the way. Recent rain had restored the countryside’s colour: the fields were green again and even the weeds that had all but died off were showing fresh growth.

A pause halfway round brought an unexpected treat—pear cake and a little taste of Switzerland, courtesy of Doris.

Our descent took us through woodland filled with many varieties of trees. The mountain ash trees were particularly striking, their branches laden with bright red berries, before the trees gave way to lovely views across Cilcain and Pantymwyn.