Horseshoe Walk the

Route Summary

Circular walk taking in , , and

Route Overview

Category: Hiking Length: 14.640 km / 9.15 mi Last Modified: 14th August 2017 Difficulty: Hard Rating: Unrated Surface: Undefined Date Published: 14th August 2017

Description

Start from the Neuadd Car Park, take the path north towards the Lower Neuadd Reservoir. Cross the dam and climb a steep ascent to Twyn Mwyalchod trig point (642m). Follow the ridge along Craig Fan Ddu and Craig Gwaun Taf towards Bwlch Duwynt below Corn Du. Ascend Corn Du (873m) then onto Pen y Fan (886m). Descend from Pen y Fan via Jacobs Ladder along Craig Cwm Sere before climbing up to the top of Cribyn (795m). Follow the gentle decline off Cribyn, along Craig Cwm Cynwyn to meet a track at Bwlch ar y Fan (The Gap). Ascend Fan y Big (719m) to the Diving Board. Return back to Bwlch ar y Fan and turn left following the Roman Road towards the Neuadd reservoirs and the start of the walk. On Google Maps, search for Neuadd car park. Map: OS OL12 Brecon Beacons National Park Western Region

Waypoints

Neuadd Car Park (SO 036 170) Start from the Neuadd Car Park, take the path north towards a junction and bear left along the road towards the Lower Neuadd Reservoir.

Lower Neuadd Reservoir (SO 031 179)

1 / 4 Cross the Lower Neuadd dam and climb a steep ascent to Twyn Mwyalchod trig point (642m)

Twyn Mwyalchod trig point (SO 022 175) Follow the ridge along Craig Fan Ddu and Craig Gwaun Taf towards Bwlch Duwynt below Corn Du.

Bwlch Duwynt (SO 005 209) At the junction of paths, take the left hand path to ascend Corn Du (873m). To avoid the climb up to Corn Du, take the right hand around the side of Corn Du and rejoin the main route at the saddle between Corn Du and Pen y Fan.

Corn Du (SO 007 213) Descend north east, dropping down into a saddle and back up to Pen y Fan (886m).

Pen y Fan (SO 012 215) Highest point in southern Britain (886m). Head south east down from Pen y Fan via Jacobs Ladder along Craig Cwm Sere. At a junction of paths bear left to climb up to the top of Cribyn (795m). To avoid the ascent to Cribyn, take the right hand path and follow the path along around the side of Cribyn and rejoin the main route at Bwlch ar y Fan (The Gap)

Cribyn (SO 023 213) Follow the gentle decline off Cribyn, along Craig Cwm Cynwyn to meet a track at Bwlch ar y Fan (The Gap).

Bwlch ar y Fan (SO 031 205) Ascend Fan y Big (719m) to the Diving Board. To avoid the climb up to Fan y Big bear right to follow the Roman Road south back towards the Neuadd Reservoirs.

Fan y Big (SO 036 206) Return back down to Bwlch ar y Fan.

2 / 4 Bwlch ar y Fan (SO 031 205) Turn left following the Roman Road towards the Neuadd reservoirs.

The Gully (SO 033 181) If the stream below is fordable, bear left and head steeply down a rocky track to ford it, head up the other side and continue along the right hand edge of a wood to descend along a rocky track to a road. Otherwise, bear right and follow the path down towards a metal gate, turn left after crossing through the gate and continue along the road ahead. The track and the road meet at a junction where you turn right down to road back to the car park.

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