{"id":3512,"date":"2014-02-19T18:00:27","date_gmt":"2014-02-19T18:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/?p=3512"},"modified":"2022-04-11T21:33:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T20:33:00","slug":"source-y","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.haydnwilliams.com\/blog\/source-y\/","title":{"rendered":"Source-y"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since last year’s escapade with a helicopter<\/a>\u00a0I’ve been considering renewing my mountain first aid certificate, and so last weekend I headed west to Hafren Forest<\/a> for a two-day course with CRT Medical<\/a>. Suffice to say it was really useful, with almost continual learning, but a lot of fun too (and a certain amount of awkward getting up-close-and-personal with people you’ve only just met during practical exercises).<\/p>\n

\"It

It was an action-packed weekend. ©\u00a0CRT Medical 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

We had a great group and instructors, which made the whole thing very enjoyable. Despite a late finish on Saturday night (some of which I spent lying on the forest floor covered in fake blood, pretending to be unconscious), I got out reasonably early on Sunday morning for a run.<\/p>\n

\"The

The sun slowly rising over Hafren Forest. \u00a9\u00a0Haydn Williams 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

I’d worked out that the source of the River Severn was nearby, and so I determined to bloody well get there. The first few minutes of dull forestry path in half-darkness on the Severn Way<\/a> made me question the wisdom of my decision. Soon though, blanket pines gave way to deciduous native woodland and its attendant wildlife. I found myself winding – steeply – up a little gorge before emerging from the trees onto open moorland.<\/p>\n

\"Shadow

Shadow at Rhaeadr Blaenhafren. \u00a9\u00a0Haydn Williams 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

With time marching onwards I pushed as far as I could, knowing that I couldn’t be too far away from the source. Just as my watch flicked over to my self-imposed turnaround time, a marker post came into view and a few seconds later I reached my destination.<\/p>\n

\"The

The source of the River Severn. A bit bleak really. \u00a9\u00a0Haydn Williams 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Proof

Proof that I didn’t just Google a picture of the source! \u00a9 Haydn Williams 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

The source itself isn’t particularly exciting, but it’s in a lovely location, and it’s amazing to think that the peaty, babbling stream is the start of the UK’s longest river, ending up with the largest water flow in England and Wales, and the third-largest tidal range in the world.<\/p>\n

\"Mouth

Mouth of the River Severn. From Wikimedia Commons.<\/p><\/div>\n

A boggy start, technical middle and flat-out final section gave brilliant running on the return leg, in glorious sunshine (it’s been a while since I’ve seen any of that!).<\/p>\n

\"The

The start of a brilliant descent. \u00a9\u00a0Haydn Williams 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

\"I'm

I’m lichen this tree. \u00a9\u00a0Haydn Williams 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

I was soon back at the car park, and heading ‘home’ for some more learning. The road back to the bunkhouse struck me as being brilliant driving terrain, but I must still have been half-asleep because it took me another ten minutes to work out that there has been a WRC<\/abbr> stage running through Hafren<\/a> for many years.<\/p>\n