Great Walks in The Brecon Beacons
The Walks
Our Brecon Beacons collection is under development - for completion later in 2010

For a taste of what's to come - try the advance walks detailed below.
 
 







Pen Y Fan




The Usk Canal

 








 


Many of our routes in this Brecon Beacons collection will satisfy the most hardy mountain walkers. And yet there is great variety - with something for those wanting to take in spectacular views without the steepest of ascents.

The toughest walks are for experienced walkers with navigational expertise. Always read our walk information notes and realistically asses the capabilities of yourself and your group before setting out. Pay particular attention to weather forecasts and possible ‘worst case’ situations. In these mountains many a day can start in warm sunshine, only to quickly deteriorate to cold, wet conditions with limited visibility.

We include some truly spectacular mountain walks. The ridge leading to the steep final ascent of Pen y Fan compares with any in Britain.  Certainly, at 886 metres Pen y Fan summit affords spectacular views through 360 degrees - on a fine day!

Even in the Beacons there are a few ‘easier’ walks. Our stroll by the Usk Canal from Brecon to Talybont on Usk is a real delight.

The mountains which comprise the Brecon Beacons National Park are actually made up of three quite distinct ranges. The very highest peaks are pretty much in the centre of the area and include Cribyn, Corn Du and, highest of all, Pen y Fan. The profiles of all three peaks can clearly be seen southward from Brecon town – at least on a clear day !

The Tommy Jones Obelisk walk ascends to the memorial where a little lad was found frozen to death in a snow storm. The poor boy was trying to find shelter, but mistakenly went right up the side of Pen y Fan. It makes a lovely walk on a nice summer day !

In the west of the National Park you can take our demanding Black Mountain ascent. Starting and finishing by the comforting Gwyn Arms pub, you will encounter an open moorland yomp and then ascend the long, sometimes wind-swept ridge up to Fan Brycheiniog – the highest elevation within this range.

Out to the east lie The Black Mountains, not to be confused with the range described above. This series of high, grassy ridges offer lengthy high=level walks. Try our 

For magnificent sights, but a less demanding route, take the ‘Waterfall Spectacular’. A series of enormous gorges have been formed over the millennia by the meltwaters cascading down from the higher summits. Have you ever walked behind a waterfall – you can now !

Should you have a macabre turn of mind, uou may enjoy the aircraft crash site walk. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the size of the mountains, aircraft had a nasty habit of running into them in days gone by. Visit several crash sites, all of which are treated with respect. Several are war graves dating back to training missions in the Second World War.

There are a good number of Visitor Centres within the National Park. But the biggest is at Libanus, just south of Brecon. It is from here that our easier ramble up to Cefn Llechid sets out. The centre itself has a really fascinating display associated with the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Crickhowell is a charming archetypal Welsh market town, stretching down to the banks of the River Usk. From here you can set out on the ascent of Table Mountain and Sugar Loaf.  


     CONTRIBUTORS    

Brecon Beacons walks, pictures and
background info have been compiled by:
Richard Westlake, Eric Joyce, Pat Anslow
and David Hinchliffe





       BRECON BEACONS - THE WALKS      


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  Walks Without An Icon Will Be Ready Later in 2009   

THE ASCENT OF PEN Y FAN 
A very demanding walk to high peaks and a spectacular ridge
12.5 miles (20.0 km)
Toughness Rating : 4

CEFN LLECHID FROM THE NATIONAL PARK CENTRE 
A moderate ramble from the National Park Visitor Centre near
Brecon - a great introduction to the Brecon Beacons
7.5 miles (12.0 km)
Toughness Rating : 2

Allt Lwd, Waun Rydd & Bryn
Lesser peaks in the Brecons region, providing a superb walk
9.4 miles (15.0 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

The Black Mountain
A moorland yomp followed by a stiff ascent to the western Beacons highest peak, from the Gwynn Arms.
8.7 miles or 6.0 miles (13.9 km or 8.6 km)
Toughness Rating :    4

Brecon to Pen Y Crug
An easier route from Brecon town centre
7.2 miles (11.5 km)
Toughness Rating :    2

Carn Pica & Tor y Foel
Not the highest of walks but the greatest of views
8.0 miles (12.8 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

Castle Coch & Garth Hill
A couple of climbs through woodland and pasture, with wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. A tour of the fairytale castle at the start is an option.
12.8 miles or 8.8 miles (20.5 km or 14.1 km)
Toughness Rating :    4

Craig Cerrig Gleisiad and Fan Frynych
A moderately demanding walk taking in part of the Taff Trail, one peak and a Roman road.
9.4 miles (15.0 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

Cefn Llechid from the National Park Visitor Centre
An easier ramble with gentle inclines and over moorland. An excellent introduction to the Recon Beacons.
7.5 miles (12.0 km)
Toughness Rating :    2

Cribarth Ridge
You will see the remains of much mine working on this walk and meet very few people. Great views on a clear day.
7.4 miles (11.8 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

Cribyn, Fan y Big & Gwaun Cerrig Llwydion
Amazing scenery and plenty of variety on this walk; take a photo opportunity on the ‘diving board’ of Fan y Big
9.8 miles or 7.3 miles (15.6 km or 11.7 km
Toughness Rating :    4

Fan Nedd, Fan Gyhirych & Fan Bwlch Chwyth
Good paths, good hills and good views
10.5 miles (16.8 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

Fan Llia, Fan Dringarth & Fan Nedd
A great ridge  walk, three summits and the likelihood of few other humans on this rewarding walk across grassy hills
9.5 miles or 6.9 miles (15.2 km or 11.0 km)
Toughness Rating :    4

Gadair Ridge
A superb ridge walk in the Black Mountains – a long day taking in four summits
12.8 miles (20.5 km)
Toughness Rating :    4

Hay on Wye & Offa's Dyke
Walk part of the ancient fortification  
7.0 miles (11.2 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

Llantrisant Stroll
An easy ramble with a couple of short but stiff uphill pulls. Cafes, pubs and an interesting craft centre in Llantrisant
5.5 miles (8.8 km)
Toughness Rating :    1

Llanthony Priory
The ruins of Llanthony Priory and a good pub add to the superb scenery offered on this great walk
9.5 miles (15.2 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

Circuit of Llyn y Fan Fach
Explore the westernmost tops within the National Park plus two enchanting lakes
9.1 miles (14.5 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

Lower Chapel & Battle Hill
An easier walk to an historic battle site
6.0 miles (9.6 km)
Toughness Rating: 2

Mynydd Llysiau, Pen Twyn Glas & Pen Allt Mawr
Panoramic views and another great ridge walk with 3 summits in the Black Mountains
9.7 miles (15.5 km)
Toughness Rating :    4

The Tommy Jones Obelisk and Pen Y Fan
An opportunity to ascend the Beacons' highest peak from an alternative direction, and view a tear-jerking monument.
5,3 miles (8.4 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

Table Mountain & Sugarloaf
A sometimes demanding Figure of Eight walk on mainly good paths in the eastern Beacons, bagging three tops
10.9 miles (17.5 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

Talybont and Carn Pica
Lots of uphill on this walk but the views are magnificent. takesCarn Pica, Waun Rydd & Allt Llwyd
12.5 miles (20.0 km)
Toughness Rating :    4

The Usk Canal
An easier walk from Brecon to Talybont on Usk.
8.5 miles (13.6  km)
Toughness Rating :    1

Waterfalls Spectacular
Waterfalls at almost every turn; raging rivers and glorious old woodland with an excursion to the amazing Porth Yr Ogof cave. 
9.7 miles (15.5 km)
Toughness Rating :    3

 

 
TOUGHNESS RATINGS

Most of our Brecon Beacons routes can be undertaken by reasonably fit walkers able to utilise the map segments and our recommended Ordnance Survey maps, together with the route guidance notes.

The toughest walks should be undertaken or led only by experienced mountain walkers with navigational expertise. Always consider recent and forecast weather.

Each walk has been allocated a Toughness Rating:

1.     Easier walks with modest ascent and generally on well defined paths. There may be stiles or narrow gateways to negotiate.

2.     Routes which are more demanding. They may include more ascent and possibly paths which are looser or more difficult underfoot.

3.     More strenuous walks. There may be prolonged steep ascents, and perhaps several ascents over the whole walk. Conditions may be challenging underfoot.

4.     The toughest walks, requiring considerable fitness and navigational experience. There may be prolonged steep ascents. The ability to navigate by compass may be essential.

Toughness Ratings are allocated in the context of the terrain in the edition area.
For example a walk rated as demanding in Cambridgeshire may be equivalent to an easier or moderate route in the Brecon Beacons.

 








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Great Walks text and pictures are the copyright of Synchra Communication Ltd 2009

Mapping is the copyright of Synchra Communication Ltd 2009
Developed under License from The Ordnance Survey