The Walk
In late summer, when the weather is getting colder but the sun is still shining and sun cream should still be at hand, a group of eight of us headed to Abergavenny for a camping weekend. The destination was chosen partly for the location and partly because Sugarloaf Mountain is a name you cannot ignore, it sounds like somewhere you have to visit.
The walk begins from a large car park overlooking rolling Welsh fields where all sorts of farm animals graze. There are glimpses of small towns with distinctive pubs on the horizon, but nothing close enough to clearly make out. There's a clear cut path through long grass leads that you straight towards the mountain, and although it does not initially look like the path is heading anywhere obvious, the mountain is so inviting that you just follow it. And it is absolutely the right way.
The first half of the hike switches between steep climbs, flat stretches and downward sections winding through large trees, rivers and fern. Forage, carving on trees, and the sound of nature is everywhere, it is a diverse walk that keeps you interested.
Then comes the mountain itself. A roughly two kilometre climb upwards. When the weather is clear, each step reveals more of the surrounding valley below you. To have some fun and keep spirits high we played the alphabet game — a simple but effective way to pass the time on a long climb. The aim is to greet every person you pass on the hike using a word beginning with the next letter of the alphabet, working from A to Z as a group.
At the summit you are met with a large stone carved into the mountain that's brilliant for photos. The peak itself is small with steep edges dropping away on all sides, which makes for a impressive picnic spot to sit on the edge and take the view in.
The walk back is potentially the most magical part, winding through large trees over a soft mossy ground. It is easy to lose your way, but that is half the charm.
