Mynydd James is another heather covered hill in Blaenau Gwent with nothing marking the highest point. I approached it from Blaina, which was a positive start with a nice pond and a nature area of sorts.

Mynydd James
Mynydd James from the pond in Blaina. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 48mm, f11.

However, the track up disappears and you end up on some very steep tracks which take you back to what is a public footpath, but without a stile over the fence. Luckily the fence has been stripped of its barbed wire and has been trampled down somewhat so you can make it over. Top tip to landowners, if you don’t want your fences damaged by walkers, put a stile or gate in where there is clearly a public footpath as there was here.

Quarry below Mynydd James
The disused quarry that I ended up walking in and then around on my way up. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

After this point I tried to take a direct path to the highest point, which meant no paths, dense heather and the odd sheep trail helping me along. Not a pleasant walk, as was the case for most of this loop.

Eventually I walked to what is the highest point according to my GPS, at this point there were some paths which lead South, but also vanished eventually. Luckily it had stopped raining by this point and the views opened up.

Mynydd James
Views West from Mynydd James. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 48mm, f11.
Mynydd James
View East from Mynydd James. | The disused quarry that I ended up walking in and then around on my way up. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

The walk back to Cwmtillery is OK. After some rambling around I picked up a footpath and an old road that provided a decent route back to Cwmtillery ponds.

Cwmtillery
View South from Mynydd James. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 48mm, f11.
Gwasted
Gwasted hill. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 48mm, f11.
Cwmtillery
The final path back to the ponds. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

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