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PEN-Y-FAN (Grid Ref. SO 013217) |
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Pen y Fan from Taff Fechan Valley |
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Starting
Point is at:
CWM GWDI
(Grid
Ref. SO 025252)
A moderate walk of about 7 miles to the summit of the highest
mountain in South Wales.
Allow yourself about 5 hours plus time on summits of Corn Du &
Pen-y-Fan
From Brecon town centre, drive west over the
Usk Bridge into Llanfaes.
Go about half mile, then turn left into the minor road opposite the Drovers
Arms pub.
Follow this road under the By-pass and on for
about another half mile, to where the road crosses a bridge and then branches 3
ways.
Take the LEFT HAND ROAD of the three and
follow this single-track road for about 1½ mile.
At this point the road goes around hard right
bend. Directly in front of you on the approach to this bend, you will see the
M.O.D. Training Camp at CWM GWDI.
Drive straight on, over the cattle grid and on up past the camp to the car
parking area on the far side of the camp.
(Grid Ref. SO 025252)
From the car park, climb over the stile; walk
uphill and diagonally across the field to the far left corner to the gate and
stile in the fence.
Cross the stile and keep walking uphill from
here, following the obvious path leading up and slightly left, eventually
joining the
Cefn Cwm Llwch ridge path
As you climb over the top of the rise you will
see in front of you an exhilarating view of the 4 main peaks in this area of the
Beacons.
They are from left to right:
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FAN-Y-BIG |
CRIBYN |
PEN-Y-FAN |
CORN DU |
Keep to this ridge path all the way until you
reach the summit of
PEN-Y-FAN. (Grid
Ref. SO 013217)
The final 150 to 200 feet to the summit are
VERY STEEP, but are quite easy if you take your time.
The National Park have built steps on the right hand side, but you will still
have to scramble the last few feet up over the rocks onto the summit.
BEWARE OF THE LEFT HAND (NORTH) SIDE AND
THE 1,000 FOOT CLIFF FACE!
ESPECIALLY IN WET AND WINDY CONDITIONS
To return back to the car at Cwm Gwdi, you can
either retrace your steps the way you came, or
for a slightly longer walk, return via the summit of CORN DU (2863 ft) and then
down past the waterfalls. This will add a further 2 miles to the walk.
First cross to the South West side of the
summit of Pen-y-Fan, (Grid Ref. SO 013216)
Keeping to the right, follow across the Saddle
and up onto the summit of
Corn Du. (Grid Ref. SO 006213)
Go to the far (west) side of Corn Du, then go a
little way over to your left and you will find the SAFE ROUTE DOWN to
join the ridge path below you, leading down to the
Tommy Jones
Obelisk (Grid Ref. SO 013217)
This is quite a steep scramble down over rocks
at the start, but this is easy if you take your time.
The ridge path is also quite steep in places,
but steps have been made in it to make it a little easier.
BEWARE OF THE VERY STEEP 1.000 FOOT CLIFF FACES ON YOUR RIGHT
From the Tommy Jones Obelisk keep to the Right and follow the edge of the
ridge.
Where the path branches, keep to the right and
make down to the lake below you,
Llyn-Cwm-Llwch (Grid Ref. SO 002220)
On reaching the Lake turn left and up a slight
rise. Follow this until you meet the other path down from the ridge at a
Cairn (pile of stones).
Follow this a little further, then when this
path starts to go down and left,
(Grid Ref. SO 003226), you now need to go up and over
the small hill to your RIGHT.
You will now be following Sheep Tracks for the
rest of the route.
Once on the other side of this hill, you should
be able to see a series of small waterfalls.
You now make straight down a VERY STEEP GRASS BANK on
your left to the stream below you, the waterfalls are now to your right.
Cross the stream, then following the sheep
track; climb up and over the next hill, and down to another stream.
Cross this second stream and follow the track
up and slightly left, the stream dropping away and down to your left.
From here on the going gets easier.
On reaching high open ground, look ahead of you
about quarter mile and you will see the corner post at the line of a fence,
make as straight as possible for this corner
(Grid Ref. SO 006237)
On reaching the fence, continue following the
track straight on, keeping the fence to your Left.
The track now weaves around, following the
contours of the lower slopes of the mountains, traversing across some quite
steep inclines in places.
Keep to the track and follow as straight as
possible for just under 1 mile, at which point the incline angle levels out.
Go diagonally right, and cross the gully that
is a little way above the trees. (Grid Ref. SO
012244)
Continue to follow the sheep track ahead of
you, traversing across more steep inclines, looking down over Farms and fields.
Twyn Cil-Rhew is high up to your right. (Grid Ref. SO 015243)
Keep going for just over half mile to join
another path leading down diagonally to your left. (Grid Ref. SO 018248)
From this point you should now be able to see your
starting point and car.
Make as straight as possible for the car park,
crossing over the stile at the fence and the second stile back into the car
park.
Cwm
Gwdi (Grid Ref. SO 025252)
Please click on the links
below