Waterfall Woods

On Friday night Rog and I made a spur of the moment decision to find somewhere to go wild swimming. After looking on the internet we found directions for a place called Waterfall Woods, somewhere close to the Brecon Beacons in Wales. We set off the next morning with tent, swimming stuff, dry clothes and picnic intact. Rog also had his geeky clipboard complete with directions to the waterfalls at the ready!

After almost a few hours driving we reached our destination, rain pouring down but not dampening our adventurous spirits. Donning our coats and rucksacks and feeling like a true pair of ramblers, we set off into the gated entrance of the woods following the printed instructions we had. I got excited as soon as I heard the sound of rushing water just coming from the river. Even the first shallow parts looked clear and swimmable. You know in The Goonies where they find that waterfall and go down those amazing waterslides into the secret caves and see the lost pirate ship for the first time? (Rog wouldn't, as he's never seen The Goonies and he revels in this.) Well that's what it felt for me seeing the first waterfall in those woods. Absolutely magical. Metres of cascading water hidden amongst this luscious woodland and perfectly accesible to swim in. We decided to keep going though as the notes said there was an even better swimming spots.

After a bit of a goof trek we found the 'horseshoe falls' which the notes describe as a 'fantastic set of deep forest plunge pools beneath a horseshoe-shaped waterfall.' But we kept on going and found a calmer place which didn't seem to be described in the book, a wider and more sheltered waterfall flowing into a nice, deep pool. Despite the drizzle and being drenched, the walk had warmed us up enough to swim. We got changed and I tested my feet in the water. It was absolutely bloody freeeeeezing! I like to think I can handle cold water but that was just unbearable. Even knowing we had just drove 2 or more hours, walked another hour on foot and got absolutely soaked to find this, we knew it wasn't worth getting hypothermia so very reluctantly we admitted defeat and missioned all the way back to the car arriving tired, drenched, cold and starving. We didn't bother camping in the end. Did consider sleeping in my car but just drove back home. It was most definitely worth the journey though. I think next time I return it'll be with a drysuit or at least when it's sunny.