Cooper goes to Waterfall Country

On Saturday 17 May, Dad took me up above the village of Pont Neath Vaughan to visit some of the waterfalls. We parked up early morning in a place called Pont Melin Fach where there was once an old mill that was used as a collective facility for the farms in the area. There were already seven cars in the car park but this was solely because some people had camped overnight there. It is an idyllic spot, right on the river in the middle of nowhere - but the gnats are terrible. Barbecue facilities and bench tables have been put there which makes it a lovely attraction besides.

We set off downriver, picking up the Upper and Lower Ddwli Falls (Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf and Sgwd Ddwli Isaf). Then below these the Horseshoe Falls. A bit further on there is a confluence in the river system. This you get to after about half an hour or so of walking. The path was good when we did it but after rain you'd need a good pair of walking boots - at least humans would. At the river junction you either follow on downstream for a further half an hour to get to the village of Pont Neath Vaughan, or you turn right and go upstream following a river called the Pyrddin. We did that. Another 5 minutes gets you to a nice waterfall called Sgwd Gwladys which you can partly walk behind if you like getting wet. Dad said it was only a trickle coming over it compared to when it rains, when it can be absolutely torrential and spectacular (as well as dangerous).

At Sgwd Gwladys I had lots of stick retrieve to exercise and cool down, then we crossed the river to retrace our steps the other side. We wound our way back to the car park. Dad was a bit nervous with some of the steep drops off the path but put me under close control when we came to these. The rest of the time I had free rein to run through the lovely hillside above you of deciduous woodland, where the only dogs that get there before you are visitors like me. Great fun.

At the car park the people in tents were now awake. They were a group of youngsters and they were cooking my favourite breakfast - sausages. Two of them were playing music, one a guitar, the other the bongo drum. So Dad stayed around for a while for us to enjoy the moment - but they never even invited me to have a sausage. But fair's fair, I suppose - I wouldn't give them one of mine either.