Author: James Handlon

Overseas Traveller, Would-be Mountaineer, Skier, Hiker & Occasional Idiotic Adventurer.

Neuadd Horseshoe (Brecon Beacons)

On By James HandlonIn Hiking Adventures5 Comments

The Route: Neuadd Horseshoe
Distance: 22.00 km (13.6 miles) | Time: 9 hours | Ascent: 1330m (4363ft)
Start: SO062170 | Map: OL12 | Date: 19th June – 20th June 2010

Neuadd Horseshoe Route Map

Billed as ‘The most essential hike in the Brecon Beacons‘ this route has been calling out to me for ages. Over the past couple of years I had done various elements of the hike, but had never combined all the different elements into one grand all-dayer. The route encompassed all that is so glorious about this part of the Welsh mountains. It would have fantastic scenery, amazing views, plenty of height, some real mountains, beautiful valleys, dense woods and plunging waterfalls, all that was required to make it happen would be a sunny weekend. Continue reading “Neuadd Horseshoe (Brecon Beacons)” →

Sufi’s, Simian’s and Steps! … 01/04/2010

On By James HandlonIn An Indian OdysseyLeave a comment

Fatehpur Sikri

So we left Aggra, headed in a westerly direction, onward towards Rajasthan. A transit day for sure but one filled with much to see. Within only an hour or so of leaving Aggra we rolled up at Fatehpur Sikri the great palace city built by Akbar in 1571. The Royal palace was built here as a result of the famous Sufi saint Salim Chishti who had bestowed good news upon Akbar some years earlier. The palace only lasted as the capital for 14 years and was left deserted and ghost like for centuries thereafter.

Continue reading “Sufi’s, Simian’s and Steps! … 01/04/2010” →

A tale of two Taj’s … 31/03/2010

On By James HandlonIn An Indian OdysseyLeave a comment

The Taj Mahal, Agra, India.

We woke before sunrise and did not partake of breakfast such was our wont to reach our destination. And what a destination it was! For many this was ‘the reason‘ for travelling to India, for others it was ‘the photo opportunity of a lifetime’ not to be missed. I felt myself already beginning to regret those extra ‘Kingfisher’ beers consumed on the hotel rooftop terrace the night before. Sensible people had hit the sack well before 10.00 pm, but not myself and my (not-so-sensible-either), brother-in-law, no we knew better, we needed beer and plenty of it. Now deeply regretting the previous nights stupidity I stood swaying gently from side to side in a queue beneath the early light of morning, waiting for the great gates to open to let us in to the gardens of the Taj Mahal. Continue reading “A tale of two Taj’s … 31/03/2010” →

Lets start with the A’s … 30/03/2010

On By James HandlonIn An Indian OdysseyLeave a comment

Qutab Minar Tower

It helps in India to know your Aibaks from your Akbars. Without this fundamental knowledge you enter into a world of confusing names and dynasties that all sound similar to western ears. The reason I mention this is because I spent the best part of an hour looking in wonderment and exploring intently around a World Unesco Monument which I thought was built by the Mughal ruler ‘Akbar the Great’ only to then find out that I was several centuries and many dynasties out in my historical assessment. Continue reading “Lets start with the A’s … 30/03/2010” →