QMD Walks

Tyle Garw Circular

Copyright Bill Fear 2019

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

Distance: c. 17 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 Pont Haffes layby SN846164. At the bridge take the FP alongside the river on the north side (gate) through the field to the road. Cross road and follow PRoW CB 305 SN845165 past Carreg Haffes to river crossing. Cross river and follow PRoW along OA boundary CB 235. NOTE: River not safe to cross in spate. OPTION is to TL along road towards and follow road to Dan yr Ogof campsite; TR CB 300 up entrance road SN842162 and at JNCT TR into caravan/camping site then TL SN842163 onto PRoW and follow up to OA.

2. Continue with PRoW then FP along fence line CB 215 until the large re-entrant SN835162 then BR CB 230 up to waterfall SN830157. At waterfall TR CB 285 along the fence line and follow FP to corner with large erratic SN826159. From corner make way to the 531m ring contour on Castell y Geifr SN823168, CB 345. NOTE: It can get very boggy around the pond; this stretch covers limestone pavement and crags which are slippery when wet.

3. From 531 cross to 558m ring contour on Carreg Goch SN818170, CB 285. From 558 make way to 484m ring contour SN816173, CB 332. From 484 make way to 544m ring contour on Disgwylfa SN815178, CB 332. Descend from 544 EITHER via gully at SN814178, CB 268, and cross to Sinc Geidd SN810178 OR CB 305 to even ground then TR CB 238 and make way to Sinc Geidd.

4. From Sinc Geidd make way across to 474m ring contour SN801177, CB 267. From 474 make way across to trig point on Bwlch y DDeuwynt, SN790174, CB 251. NOTE: This is the most remote trig point in . NOTE: this is boggy ground in places and can be slow going.

5. From trig point follow ridge line CB 195 to join PRoW SN789166. Continue with PRoW until off the rocky ground and on even ground c. SN786159 and TR across to 360m ring contour SN778157, CB 248. From 360 ring contour BR and cross to rocky ridge SN774160, CB 287.

6. At ridge TR CB 030 and follow ridge line of Tyle Garw. Find the edge from where you can see the . Continue along the ridge line to join the PRoW at

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SN779170. NOTE: Tyle Garw is the most remote hill in Wales and the most remote part of Wales.

7. Continue with PRoW CB 020 to river crossing at SN785184. Cross river and continue with PRoW to JNCT. At JNCT TR onto FP CB 022 to ascend Esgair Ddu. Continue on CB 022-023 where FP does a TL and ascend ridge to cairn on Waun Lefrith SN798214. NOTE: at the river there are a number of further crossing points if you continue upstream; the crossing in the vicinity of the next PRoW crossing SN788187 is an option. Then follow PRoW to JNCT and TR as above.

8. At cairn on Waun Lefrith/Bannau sir Gaer TR CB 085 and follow PRoW along edge. From Picws Ddu SN812218 there is a FP that cuts across to SN825218, rough CB 090. BUT the more interesting route is to follow the PRoW to BL CB 038 around the edge to Fan Foel SN821223. From Fan Foel BR CB 145 and continue to Fan Brycheiniog.

9. Continue with FP ON TOP OF RIDGE to SN830207, CB 158, and on past Allt Fach SN841179 to leave OA at Ty Henry SN847173. From here PRoW goes to river, TR along river, the EITHER TR through gate just before FB and follow across field towards farmhouse. Exit through gate and TR along track back to road and layby, OR continue to FB, cross FB to road, TR along road back to layby.

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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

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