magazine summer 2012 magazine summer 2012 Wales Berwyn mountains, Brecon Beacons, South Wales 11/05/2012 16:00 Route 05 Route 06 master ● Distance 23km/14½ miles ● Time 7hrs ● Type Mountain master ● Distance 19km/12 miles ● Time 7hrs ● Type Mountain NAVIGATION LEVEL FITNESS LEVEL NAVIGATION LEVEL FITNESS LEVEL

Plan your walk Plan your walk

Holyhead ● Bangor ● SOUTH WALES DENBIGHSHIRE BRECON BERWYN BEACONS MOUNTAINS Carmarthen ● ● National Park Swansea ● ● Aberystwyth Cardiff ●

WHERE: Circular walk WHERE: Circular walk from from Llandrillo over Nant Cwm Llwch via Lower the Berwyns, returning Neuadd Reservoir, Cribyn, PHOTOGRAPHY: FIONA BARLTROP PHOTOGRAPHY: along Cwm Pennant. FIONA BARLTROP PHOTOGRAPHY: Pen y Fan and Corn Du. START/END: Llandrillo Unknown by many, the Berwyn valley walk at the end of the day START/END: Cwm Llwch The Brecon Beacons National again for the latter part of the village car park (SJ035372). mountain range in northeast returns you to the start. parking area – at end of Park comprises four separate walk, but by bagging Cribyn, Pen TERRAIN: Clear tracks Wales provides some excellent road (SO006244). ranges. From west to east: the y Fan and Corn Du late in the day, and paths over both walking away from the crowds. 1. START The village of Llandrillo TERRAIN: Clear, well-worn Black Mountain (singular), Fforest you should fi nd them a lot quieter grassland and heather This large area of high moorland lies on the banks of the River mountain paths and tracks Fawr, Central Beacons and Black – if not have them entirely to moorland, with sections of is situated east of the Snowdonia Ceidiog, which fl ows into the (some repaired by pitching), Mountains (plural). The name yourself! In fi ne weather the boardwalk across boggy National Park, bounded to the River Dee about a mile to the both grassy and stony over ‘Brecon Beacons’ is used to refer views throughout are splendid. stretches along the ridge-top. north and west by the Dee Valley west. It makes a good base from bare hills. Not recommended to the whole of the Central Good visibility advised. and by the Welsh/English border which to explore the Berwyns, in poor visibility. Beacons area, although, strictly 1. START From the parking area MAPS: OS Explorer 255; to the east. The most popular which rise to the east and south. MAPS: OS Explorer OL12; speaking, it applies only to the (SO006244), follow the delightful OS Landranger 125. starting point for walks in the From the car park (SJ035372), Landranger 160. ‘big three’: Corn Du, Pen y Fan track beside the Nant Cwm Llwch GETTING THERE: Nearest Berwyns is the famous 73m/240ft turn L along the main road GETTING THERE: There’s and Cribyn. Corn Du and Pen y brook. At Cwm Llwch farmhouse, mainline trains stop at waterfall (often (B4401), very soon forking R no public transport to the Fan’s decapitated tops are the take the waymarked path to the /Ruabon, from mistakenly claimed to be the along a minor road. Follow this start, which is three miles most popular peaks in the whole R that bypasses the track. Further where Arriva Cymru bus tallest in Wales) and one of the to the end, where you join a from Brecon. Good bus national park, and on sunny on, cross a stile and continue up X94 to Barmouth (not Seven Wonders of Wales. Other track. Fine views over the Dee services operate between weekends there can be quite a the steep grassy slopes (another Sundays) takes you to approaches are quieter, including Valley appear as you climb Brecon and elsewhere, crowd up there. The most popular path stays lower and goes to Llandrillo (✆ 0871 200 2233, this walk from the west, whose steadily up the hillside. In the including Cardiff, Swansea, routes to their summits are those Llyn Cwm Llwch). The path www.traveline.info). highlight is the splendid stretch distance, the Arans and Arenigs Abergavenny and Hereford from the A470 in the west. This curves round the hillside above EATING & DRINKING: along the central Berwyn ridge can be seen. At a crossing of (✆ 0871 200 2233, walk approaches from the north, Llyn Cwm Llwch, Corn Du and In Llandrillo: Dudley Arms that includes the three highest tracks, keep ahead and continue www.traveline.info). using one of the most attractive Pen y Fan above – a fi ne sight. Hotel (✆ 01490 440223, summits: the steady ascent with views EATING & DRINKING: of the various ascents to the main (A path up from the lake joins www.dudleyarms.co.uk); (784m/2,572ft), ahead towards the Berwyn ridge. Lots of restaurants, pubs, northern escarpment. But instead from the L. Remember to keep Tyddyn Llan (✆ 01490 440264, (830m/2,723ft) and cafés and takeaways in of heading directly over the big to the higher, L-hand path on www.tyddynllan.co.uk); (827m/2,713ft). The eastern side 2. On reaching the pass at Pen Brecon. Tea room at the three, it continues south along an your descent later.) You reach

Berwyn Restaurant of the ridge is characterised by Bwlch Llandrillo, you’ll see a National Park Visitor impressive ridge and down to the the skyline near the memorial to ▲

(✆ 01490 440550). L steep drops and crags, providing memorial dedicated to a cyclist: Centre (see over). Lower Neuadd Reservoir. This Tommy Jones, a child who lost some impressive views. A gentle the ‘Wayfarer’. As the route is leaves a good deal of uphill work his way and died of exposure ▼ ▼ 55-56 walk35 routemaster WALES.indd 1 mapping © Crown copyright. AM34/08

2 Map not to scale. www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk Representation of OS Landranger MAP 125 1:50,000 to the summit of Moel Sych (Dry Hill), the last of Berwyns’ major summits and the meeting point of three ridges (south to Pistyll Rhaeadr, southwest to Milltir Cerrig and northeast to Cadair Berwyn et al). 4. Follow the southwest ridge heading for Milltir Cerrig. A boardwalk most of the way down the ridge eases progress over the rough and soggy heather terrain. 5. Shortly before reaching the road, you’ll meet a crossing track and a notice about the Berwyn National Nature Reserve here. R along the stony track, Turn which descends quite steeply through the trees to valley road at Blaen-y-Cwm. It’s quickest and easiest to keep to the (very quiet) road back to Llandrillo (around 3 miles), but there are paths on the east if you prefer. side of the valley, Route devised by Fiona Barltrop 3 4 The summit of Cadair Berwyn a byway, this is also a stopping a byway, point for four-wheel-drive vehicles, which can be a rather unwelcome intrusion on a peaceful country walk. However, any present are soon left behind as you turn R and ascend the rather boggy path (following the fence line) to Cadair Bronwen, capped by a large cairn called the On a clear day, Bwrdd Arthur. views are excellent. Continuing along the ridge, descend south to a col (the going is facilitated by sections of boardwalk) and uphill again, keeping close to the eastern escarpment for the best and most dramatic views. 3. – the shapely peak that gives its name to the range – is topped by a trig point, but the highest peak is its southern top, 200m south of the trig point, known as Cadair Berwyn New Top. From the summit rocks, there are impressive views over Llyn Lluncaws, the Berwyns’ only a short walk southwest lake. It’s

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5 ler S : Hillwalking S K B&B at Dudley nformation: i am B oo r B e al D itor i C U o l g Sleeping: Vi S by Peter Hermonin Wales (£12.95, Cicerone, ISBN 978 in 1852844677); Walks and Around the Berwyn Mountains by John Tranter (£5.75, Llygad Gwalch Cyf, ISBN 978 1845240899); Walks Around the Berwyn Mountains by David Berry (£4.95, Kittiwake, ISBN 978 1902302621). Bala TIC, Pensarn Road ( ✆ 01678 521021, www.visitbala.org). Arms and Tyddyn Llan; Y Llan; Arms and Tyddyn Llwyn Guest House ( www.yllwyn.co.uk); 440455, for self-catering, Pen Cefn or, Holiday Cottages ( ✆ 01678 530413, www.pencefn.com). Berwyn Ramblers ( ✆ 01978 852741, www.berwynra.org.uk). Continued...

Ordnance Survey mapping © Crown copyright. AM34/08 5 4 3 There’s a corresponding descent There’s you the other side. Alternatively, can follow the Beacons Way route, which skirts it to the south. Whichever you choose, continue along the path at edge of the escarpment up to the 886m/2,907ft flat rocky summit of Pen y Fan, the highest point in Britain south of Snowdonia. A gentler descent and ascent leads onto the flat top of Corn Du (873m/2,863ft). From here, retrace your initial steps back to the start. Route devised by Fiona Barltrop

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Map not to scale. Representation of OS Landranger MAP 160 1:50,000 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

FINISH START START footbridge and go up to the L and reservoir access road. Turn follow it for a short distance, soon turning R along a track and then L, through a gate up another track. Bear L along the broad, stony track – an old Roman road – that climbs steadily to what is known as The Gap, the pass between Fan y Big and Cribyn. turn L 5. If you have the energy, and climb the steep path to top of impressive, pyramid-like Cribyn (795m/2,608ft), less tramped than its neighbours.

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ler S : Hillwalking S K Good selection nformation: i am B oo r B e al D itor i C 01597 860519, www.four 01597 860519, www.four U o g Sleeping: l Vi S Brecon TIC, Cattle Market car park ( ✆ 01874 622485, www.exploremidwales.com); The Mountain Centre – Centre, National Park Visitor Libanus ( ✆ 01874 623366, www.breconbeacons.org). in Wales, Vol 1 by Peter Vol in Wales, Hermon (£12.95, Cicerone, ISBN 978 1852844677); Pathfinder Guide – Brecon Hutton Beacons by Tom (£11.99, Pathfinder Guides, ISBN 978 1854585578). of accommodation in and around Brecon, including Cefncoedbach farm cottages ( ✆ 01874 623548, www.breconholidaycottages. co.uk). Ramblers Four Wells ( ✆ wells.powysramblers.org.uk). Continued... here. Continue climbing up can towards Corn Du. You either go to its very top, where you turn R (south), or bypass it and bear R. 2. Heading south you are soon at Bwlch Duwynt. Keep ahead on the eroded path along edge of the escarpment over Craig and Graig Fan Ddu. Gwaun Taf 3. At a large cairn, turn L down a narrow gully that descends the escarpment quite steeply. very This loose, stony path isn’t last long, but pleasant; it doesn’t requires some care. Continue down the grassy hillside (which may be a bit boggy in places) towards the R and dam-end of Lower Neuadd Reservoir (which may not be marked on the Landranger map). Go through a gate and cross 4. the top of dam. Then cross a

55-56 walk35 routemaster WALES.indd 2 11/05/2012 16:00