North Pen Y Fan Circular

QMD Walks

North Pen y Fan 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. 12 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 Three Rivers National Trust CP SO024248. From CP follow track to OA and take FP CB 235 up to Twyn Cil-rhew. Continue with FP CB 172 to join main PRoW SO018231 up Cefn Cwm Llwch. Follow to Pen y Fan summit SO012215.

2. From Pen y Fan TL and follow PRoW to Cribyn SO023212 then down to Bwlch ar y Fan and up to Fan y Big SO036206. At Fan y Big TR and follow Beacons Way round Craig Cwmoergwm and then BL CB 080 SO041196 to continue round Craig Carweli CB 030.

3. EITHER Descend into Cwm Oergwm from Craig Carweli via gully at SO047200 CB 315. Some scree traces in upper gully give purchase. NOTE: Landslips do occur here. When you read the cwm BL slightly to where sheep path crosses stream c. SO042203. From here ascend up to Fan y Big ridge/spur CB 345 aiming for c. SO040214. There are number of good sheep paths that contour up but you need to keep TL on sheep paths and working up.

4. OR Continue along Craig Carweli to Bwlch y Ddwyallt SO049204 and descend spur/ridge CB 360 starting to BL CB 305 on descent into Cwm Oergwm. Cross river and ascend Fan y Big ridge/spur CB aiming for c. SO040214.

5. From ridge descend CB 295 into Cwm Cynwyn aiming to left of farmstead at SO033219. Heading CB 305 for broken cairn c. SO027220 on Bryn Teg ridge to right of second ‘pond’ from Cribyn.

6. Ascend Bryn Teg ridge on line CB 305 for c. SO0278220 to reach PRoW. EITHER TR CB 025 and continue down PRoW to road. Follow road and after crossing river TL CB 280 then CB 315 on PRoW (signposted) to Plas y Gaer and follow back to road and back to CP.

7. OR(1) from Bryn Teg PRoW descend into Cwm Sere CB 335. Cross river and pick up FP heading CB 018 that joins FP at SO025233. Follow FP to contour around Allt Ddu. Make sure you start to take a line for FP coming off Allt Ddu at c. SO030243, CB 344, or higher (at least when FP hits fence/wall SO030240). From FP at c.

SO030243 make way to PRoW JNCT SO027244, CB 300, and follow PRoW CB 342 back to CP. ALTERNATIVE is to follow FP around contours to JNCT with PRoW SO030247. TL CB 235 and climb up to JNCT SO027244 and TR CB 342 back to CP.

8. OR(2) from Bryn Teg PRoW descend into Cwm Sere CB 335. Cross river and pick up FP heading CB 018 that joins FP at corner of fence/wall around woodlands SO025233. BL CB 345 and ascend to quarries c. SO024237. From quarries head to 550m ring contour on Allt Ddu SO026240, CB 035. From 550 make way to PRoW JNCT SO027244, CB 005, and follow PRoW CB 342 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