Moel Hebog (Left)

at 734m provides great views. then ascend Fan Fawr, which over desolate moorland to above the crag we continue arctic-alpine plants. Emerging and is now the home of rare out by ice 20,000 years ago amphitheatre, was carved This solitary, steep sided National Nature Reserve. of the Craig Cerrig-gleisiad climb through the wonderland cross the A470 to enter and attractive Tarell Valley we After a gentle start along the cut-glass outline of the stars. vantage points to view the walk will, later, provide superb to the Brecon Beacons this ON PAGE FEATURE 55 metres Craig Cerrig-gleisiad. The Brecon Beacons from km 20 0 40 0 60 0 SEE 0 0 the popular track up Although eschewing LEN BANISTER CHOSEN BY… 21 u Distance: 6¼ miles/9.9km u miles/9.9km 6¼ Distance: 2 FAN FAWR POWYS 4

6 diagonally R. Take the far neat cairn. Reach the gate. a series of waymarkers to a Reserve; guided higher up by path up through the Nature Keep to the main meandering path, alongside the stream, L. 2 1 a stile and layby. Climb past twin trees to the track, over the bridge. down to the stile. Go L down another, go L at fingerpost After one bridge, before the gate to Blaenglyn Farm. to the road. Continue through Way) which is initially parallel track (Signed: Taff Trail/Beacon Telephone kiosk, go L on the GR ADIENT PROFILE Cross the road to the Start Cross the road to a layby 1½ miles/2.6km

8 Time: 4 hours u 4 hours Time: 10

Grade: Challenging 12

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LEN BANISTER LEN PHOTO: 14 Landranger 160 Maps OS Explorer OL12; Cardiff (0300 200 22 33) between Newtown & bus service, T4, Mon – Sat transportPublic 2–hourly toiletsPublic None centre, sadly not a pub) Arms is an Outdoor the car park (The Storey usually a tea-stall open in Refreshments There is Merthyr Tydfil, Brecon Nearest PLANNING Stiles 6 be useful Gaiters and poles would boggy and peaty walking. surfaces with much descents over difficult are steep ascents and straightforward but there Is it for me? Navigation is grid ref SN983203 SW of Brecon, LD3 8NL, Storey Arms on the A470 Free car park opposite the Start/parking ROUTE PLAN YOUR WALK YOUR PLAN 16 towns

WALES ✁ ruler fleeing from the English. Glyndwr, a 15th century Welsh as a hiding place by Owain is a cave supposedly used eastern side of Moel yr Ogof southern summits. On the the north coast to the park’s get broad views ranging from summits within the park to enough from the higher Snowdonia and separate are on the western side of 1 bends L, continue on unsealed following path. When path towards Rhyd Ddu, turning R from main entrance, take path ON PAGE 50 FEATURE yr Ogof and Moel Lefn. yr Ogof and Moel Lefn. Moel Hebog (left),

metres 1200 From far L corner of car park Start km 40 0 80 0 SEE 0 0

climbed on this walk The three hills MATTHEW PIKE CHOSEN BY… 22 u Distance: 7½ miles/12.1km u miles/12.1km 7½ Distance: 2 4 MOEL HEBOG GWYNEDD

6 in the second wall. uphill, going through the gate cross the wall and continue grass track up the hillside, over the stile and follow the following narrow path. Head then turn L at a footpath sign Rhyd Ddu. Follow good track, turn R following a sign towards leaving wood, just past barn, crosses railway twice. Upon 3 2 through old gate and L on lane. L with stream on R. Continue turn R and follow path round to quickly L through small gate, under bridge. Turn R then path, through gate then L GR ADIENT PROFILE Lane becomes track, ¼ mile/0.4km Follow path onto ridge. 1¼ miles/1.8km 8 Time: 5 hours u 5 hours Time: 10

Grade: Challenging

MATTHEW PIKE MATTHEW PHOTO: ascent to top of Moel Hebog. ridge, turn L for easy final Keep R on ascent then, at spells of loose shingly rock. path is unclear in places with steep scrambly section where Aim just to L of summit until 14 ROUTE Landranger 115 Maps OS Explorer OL17; Porthmadog 01286 881108 Caernarfon & S97 from transportPublic S4 from Smith, Beddgelert toiletsPublic In Stryd Choice in Beddgelert Refreshments Nearest town Beddgelert PLANNING Stiles 5 route finding required Boggy in places and some climb inc.light scramble. Is it for me? Steep initial grid ref SH588481 Beddgelert, LL55 4YJ, (fee) off A498 in Start/parking Car park PLAN YOUR WALK YOUR PLAN

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WALES DATE WALKED TIME TAKEN YOUR RATING

START 1 AUGUST 2017 AUGUST IN ASSOCIATION WITH OS MAPS OS lfto.com/cwroutes GET THIS WALK ON YOUR PHONE: 2 4

POWYS FAWR FAN 5 miles/8.1km From here you can see you here From 2¾ miles/4.4km Turn L along the fence. L along the fence. Turn OS Explorer map OL12 u

the car park. Follow the clear the car park. Follow descent L. The forking path, is initially steep, but it soon is initially steep, lose the path, out. If you levels which rises the path aim for in theL of the plantation behind the Storey distance, car to Return Arms Centre. the Storey park opposite Arms Centre on approach. on approach. Arms Centre 3 4 up the main path to the hill to up the main path the L downhill ahead avoiding Fan approach turns. As you up becomes route your Fawr, swings path This obvious. Continue over the stile; over Continue on when straight continue pick L. Now veers the fence uphill. L then goes straight the climb, higher you The is. the path indistinct more a sheep track It becomes then disappears. Make your your Make then disappears. way diagonally R, to reduce reduce diagonally R, to way the incline – a bench-like the incline – a bench-like the horizon below stone a suitable target. forms ridge is the elusive Once the cairn go L for reached, marking the summit. u

JEFF TUCKER/ALAMY* JEFF 21 PHOTO:

WALES ✁ DATE WALKED TIME TAKEN YOUR RATING

AUGUST 2017 AUGUST START 1

2 IN ASSOCIATION WITH OS MAPS OS 5⅓ miles/8.6km blue following track R at lfto.com/cwroutes GET THIS WALK ON YOUR PHONE: arrows. Take third track on R track third Take arrows. B’gelert Ddu to Rhyd following soon joins larger This trail. cycle campsite, R before Turn track. R. then branch station pass bridge then cross L fork, Take left you where back to trail take steps. and retrace it earlier, 8 diagonally L through field diagonally L through corner. far to

8 4 4¼ miles/6.9km turn L then track At 7 R, then L where steep scree scree steep R, then L where narrow to leads down path and continue bog. Jump over which ahead, after straight down leads steeply clear path left hand hillside to rocky wall, L at Turn of forest. corner forest and follow stile cross gap in wall obvious edge until forest. and into stile leading to immediately R along footpath, R along footpath, immediately leading out R fork then take is unclear in Path of forest. but aim for and boggy, places stile cross L corner, far eventual in same direction and continue track At woodland. through three turn R then L, and cross heading before tracks more Buy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop 5

GWYNEDD MOEL HEBOG 7 6 2 miles/3.3km main cairn, following R at 3½ miles/5.8km it veers drops path When 3 miles/4.7km slightly summit, veer From OS Explorer map u OL17

wall downhill to saddle, then saddle, to downhill wall two up gap between continue bends L, path wall When rocks. rocks R, between slightly veers of Moel yr Ogof. top towards u 4 5 6 L to pick up clear path to stile to pick up clear path L to heads into Path fence. over ascent saddle then up gentle summit. L of Moel Lefn’s to just outcrops Clamber R up the two then, path to Return view. for take outcrop, third before L leading towards subtle L fork edge. of plateau corner 22 001/17 MEDIA SURVEY. ORDNANCE 2017 COPYRIGHT ©CROWN

WALES