Llyn Y Fan Fach Roman Camp Circular

QMD Walks

Llyn y Fan Fach Roman Camp Circular

Relevant Maps include: OS OL12 (1:25); OS LR 160 (1:50); Harvey Brecon Beacons (1:40); Harvey Brecon Beacons East Superwalker XT25 (1:25) & Harvey Brecon Beacons West Superwalker XT25 (1:25)

Distance: c. 20 miles

Going: Demanding. Some rough ground. PRoW and FPs not always clear. Route finding necessary. Some steep and slippery ground. River crossings may be tricky in spate

1. Start at CP Usk Reservoir Dam Wall SN834286. Follow road alongside reservoir CB 235 to T JNCT and TR along road CB 257. Where road enters OA at end of forestry SN819271 TL CB 185 before crossing the Usk. Handrail edge of forestry until it BL then continue on CB 145 to Foel Darw SN826258.

2. Continue on CB 140 from Foel Darw to join PRoW at SN829256. BR CB 180 and follow PRoW to cairns SN829251 on Garn Las. BR with FP CB 205 and continue to stone circle SN822230. From stone circle ascend Gwely Ifan y Rhiw CB 198 to the cairn on Fan Foel SN821223.

3. At Fan Foel TL CB 140 and follow PRoW along ridge toTwr Fan Foel and on to Fan Brycheiniog. From Fan Brycheiniog EITHER retrace steps to Fan Foel and follow PRoW along ridge to BR to Picws Du and continue along Bannau Sir Gaer BR to Waun Lefrith SN797214 OR descend on CB 270 to Bwlch Blaen Twrch SN817218 to pick up PRoW and follow to Picws Du and continue along Bannau Sir Gaer BR to Waun Lefrith.

4. After passing Waun Lefrith TR SN796219, CB 090, on FP and descend along spur to dam wall at Llyn y Fan Fach. Cross dam wall and follow FP to handrail water course CB 050 to dam wall on Afon Sychlwch SN808223.

5. From dam wall on Afon Sychlwch continue to follow water course around contour CB 008 then BR CB 045 to dam on Nant Goch SN810229. From dam on Nant Goch continue to handrail water course around contour then as contour BR descend into cwm to cross Nant Melyn. Ascend from Nant Melyn aiming for FP at SN8142346. FP follows CB 335. Continue with FP towards Bryn Mawr SN803247. Where FP crosses Nant y Creigiau and BL keep on straight up onto Bryn Mawr.

6. From Bryn Mawr descend to 410m ring contour SN809251, CB 060, and rejoin FP just past ring contour. TL along FP/track CB 320 and just after ford SN808253 TR CB 028 to ascend Bryn Elen SN809257.

7. At Bryn Elen TL CB 311 and rejoin FP at ford SN807259. Continue along FP through Roman Camp to road. At road TR for 200m and then TL onto FP/track SN803266, CB 330. Follow FP for c. 800m then TR CB 062 to ascend Fedw Fawr SN803274.

8. At Fedw Fawr TL CB 330 and descend to rejoin FP at JNCT SN801278. Continue on FP CB 330 to JNCT with PRoW SN797284. TR along PRoW CB 060 to cairn SN800285. At cairn TL CB 315 and ascend to 429m ring contour and cairns SN795289.

9. At 429 and cairns TR along FP CB 059 and follow to Mynydd Myddfai SN804294 and on to Pen y Bylchau SN816303 and on to Roman Camps at Y Pigwn SN827312.

10. At Y Pigwn TR CB 138 to join Roman Road SN831308. From Roman Road there are a number of options that involve using FPs that go past farms. Most of the FPs are also farm tracks. NOTE these are FPs and not PRoW so access is potentially conflicted.

11. OPTION 1. From Roman Road cross rough ground CB 180 to 391m ring contour. From 391 cross rough ground to field corner SN832300, CB 178. From here there is a track CB 150 leading to FP/track SN834297. Track continues CB 170 to Aberhenwenfawr SN835291 and on to road. At road TR and follow road to CP.

12. OPTION 2. From Roman Road cross rough ground CB 180 to 391m ring contour. From 391 follow CB 210 to boundary with forestry SN824300. TR CB 255 and handrail boundary to PRoW SN819298. TL CB 120 and follow PRoW through forestry and back to dam wall SN831290. Cross dam wall to CP. NOTE: this PRoW is poorly marked and not much used.

13. OPTION 3. TL along Roman Road CB 122 and follow to end of OA SN845300. Continue on road from OA and TR down first track SN847298, CB 195. Follow track which will TR then TL. Where it does TL SN846294 continue on CB 260 across fields to Gelligam SN839294. Continue on track around Gelligam on far side. Track then does a TL CB 140 back down to road. At road TR and follow back to CP. SUB OPTION. Where track does a TL SN846294 you can continue CB 180 to Pentwyn SN847288; at Pentwyn TR down to road; at road TR back to CP.

Glossary

BL - Bear Left BR - Bear Right CB - Compass Bearing FB – Footbridge FP - Footpath. Usually marked on 1:25 but not on 1:50 JNCT - Junction (paths/tracks cross/join) OA – Open Access PRoW - Public Right of Way. Usually marked on 1:25 and 1:50 Quad bike track - Two parallel lines going across the fell made by continued use by quad bike RHS – Right hand side LHS – Left hand side TL - Turn Left TR - Turn Right Track - A wide track that looks suitably for 4x4 vehicles