The Black Mountains in Wales

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Roofer
long shot, but worth an ask.
When l was 13 or 14 the Probation Service took a load of us camping in the Black Mountains. l've always wanted to find the site and have drove around looking a couple of times but never found it. Does anyone know of a field half way up a mountain that Leicestershire rented or owned that they used for this ?

The SAS used it as they had a hut on the site that stored their sleeping bags, of which we nicked because they were better than ours.

What got me on it again was an interview with Ramzy Khachit did and talked about it. He must have been there with me but l don't remember him. We were probably the naughtiest kids in Leicester who weren't in remand homes at the time. It really was the funniest week in my life actually. l could probably write a book about it. We shared it with a load of London naughty kids as well, so a few areas, l guess used it.

Not been there for 50 years but l would know it as soon as I see it again. I'm gonna get hold of Ramzy see. if he knows, but none of my mates who went have no idea where it is.

Long shot ! perhaps someone on here went, or someone is involved in the probation service or Leicestershire Council, or even the army.
 
I remember staying at a council owned building in Aberystwyth or near there when I was a young un.
 
I remember staying at a council owned building in Aberystwyth or near there when I was a young un.
they didn't let us anywhere near civilisation 😁

They took us for the last day to Hay on Why to get our mams a present, were they mad ffs, there was little old ladies getting on the mini busses pointing us out to the probation offices. I think we didn't understand at the time that you suppose to pay for your mans presents !
 
Aberglaslyan? owned by LCCC. Snowdonia near Beddgelert. To the east, Brokeback Mountain, to the west, Benny Hill
 
I’ll send you the grid ref, you might like to go
SO224350
Actually that was an area that seems to tally with what l remember. l drove around there a couple of years ago but couldn't see anything that seemed familiar. Whatsmore someone in Abergavenny said this is where to look. What drew you to this ? do you know about the site ?
 
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long shot, but worth an ask.
When l was 13 or 14 the Probation Service took a load of us camping in the Black Mountains. l've always wanted to find the site and have drove around looking a couple of times but never found it. Does anyone know of a field half way up a mountain that Leicestershire rented or owned that they used for this ?

The SAS used it as they had a hut on the site that stored their sleeping bags, of which we nicked because they were better than ours.

What got me on it again was an interview with Ramzy Khachit did and talked about it. He must have been there with me but l don't remember him. We were probably the naughtiest kids in Leicester who weren't in remand homes at the time. It really was the funniest week in my life actually. l could probably write a book about it. We shared it with a load of London naughty kids as well, so a few areas, l guess used it.

Not been there for 50 years but l would know it as soon as I see it again. I'm gonna get hold of Ramzy see. if he knows, but none of my mates who went have no idea where it is.

Long shot ! perhaps someone on here went, or someone is involved in the probation service or Leicestershire Council, or even the army.
I know the SAS use Pen Y Fan as a training area, I would imagine your place would be around there somewhere.
 
was you one ? all the lads were characters and most a bit nuts😀
Yes i got put on probation for nicking a bottle of milk off a door step at 4 in the morning. We were going fishing at the old gravel pit at Wellingborough where Tesco is now. Same morning we also went round the back of the Crown & Anchor to see if we could find a few bottles of beer too! One of the lads grandad drunk there so he knew where the cellar was but the door was locked though, so we left empty handed, but someone heard us. We never had time to nick a warm freshly baked loaf from the back of the bakery next to the Dog & Duck, near the pit, because we were in the cells by 5 o'clock! Just mischief and fun looking back on it - the probation holiday was a great laugh. We went fishing, pony trekking, down a slate mine and up Mount Snowdon.
 
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Yes i got put on probation for nicking a bottle of milk off a door step at 4 in the morning. We were going fishing at the old gravel pit at Wellingborough where Tesco is now. Same morning we also went round the back of the Crown & Anchor to see if we could find a few bottles of beer too! One of the lads grandad drunk there so he knew where the cellar was but the door was locked though, so we left empty handed, but someone heard us. We never had time to nick a warm freshly baked loaf from the back of the bakery next to the Dog & Duck, near the pit, because we were in the cells! Just mischief and fun looking back on it - the probation holiday was a great laugh. We went fishing, pony trekking, down a slate mine and up Mount Snowdon.
we were a crime wave !
The Sargent at Wigston police station told us that South Wigston had the worst juvenile crime record in the country at that time. Wednesday at the Castle Court was just that areas kids. I went up a couple of times and my auntie was on the bench, l guess she relieved herself as l never came up against her and it was never spoke of ! At least half my mates when we were 12 to 15 were either locked up or on some sort of order, its just how it was, what did we know, we all of a sudden all had loads of money. Factories and shops, never ever houses.

They took us hiking, pony tracking, canoeing and shop lifting :))) we managed to get Leicestershire schools banned from Llangorse lake during this week as well. We didn't fancy the Eskimo rolls, so we nicked a load of conicals and had a fight in the middle of the lake, basically pushing each other in and nicking the boat.
 
The Grid ref is for Lord Hereford’s Knob or Twmpa as the locals call it.
I’ve visited but but for the same reasons you were there matey!!
 
Do you happen to know where the entrance to the site is?

By the way, I'm impressed with your knowledge of Wales.

I'm sorry about the sleeping bags :ROFLMAO: but l guess l was there before you though !
 
To be honest, this board is a font of information, where else, and I've tried, could l get an answer thats puzzled me for decades !

I actually have a lot of family around there, mostly Abergavenny and Crickhowell.
 
Sorry, don’t know about the site, but it must be somewhere around there if you went to Haye on Wye for your ‘spends’
 
Sorry, don’t know about the site, but it must be somewhere around there if you went to Haye on Wye for your ‘spends’
l pretty confident you've nailed it with Twmpa, I'll get down there and have a drive around.

One thing l remember that locals should know about is that the stream that ran through the field we camped in had an optical illusion were it seemed to be running up hill.

Thanks for the info.
 
I know the SAS use Pen Y Fan as a training area, I would imagine your place would be around there somewhere.
I’ve trained at Sennybridge (Brecon). I’m sure you found someone’s sleeping bags, but I would be extraordinarily surprised if the SAS left theirs sat in an unguarded hut.
 
I’ve trained at Sennybridge (Brecon). I’m sure you found someone’s sleeping bags, but I would be extraordinarily surprised if the SAS left theirs sat in an unguarded hut.
it was the middle of nowhere, they were khaki and they trained there so l think it was natural to presume so. The shed was full of them and the had a head bit like a hood on a coat, which I'd never seen before or after. Definitely military. I'm certain Uttofox is correct and its Twmpa. l think this field was used regularly by them, well l presume it was if they left the bags there.
 
it was the middle of nowhere, they were khaki and they trained there so l think it was natural to presume so. The shed was full of them and the had a head bit like a hood on a coat, which I'd never seen before or after. Definitely military. I'm certain Uttofox is correct and its Twmpa. l think this field was used regularly by them, well l presume it was if they left the bags there.
That’s a 58 pattern bag - regular army issue, toasty warm
 
That’s a 58 pattern bag - regular army issue, toasty warm
 
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