Fan y Big, Brecon Beacons

Okay yes its a funny name, and therefore of course it had to be walked up :) So up early on a Sunday morning, Helen and I left. Unfortunately there were supposed to be eight of us, quite low compared to recent outings. But I think a lot of people had one look at the weather and thought - cats in hell chance I'm driving to the Brecons and getting rained on!! So one by one definites to appear were texting through to say, i've erm changed my mind - shame on the fair weather walkers. However my friend and Matt and his girlfriend Becky did not back out, they must be as mad as we are!! Made the journey up from Bristol!

We agreed to meet at the Taf Fechan Forest car park, although driving up was a bit iffy with part of the road washed away - hmmn managed to squeeze past here - and the car park was a bit hidden away! Not the most obvious and yes very little mobile signal. The mighty four departed up the road towards the Neuadd Reservoir, to which point the path went off to the east side of the reservoir near Tor Glas. The weather had broken into sunshine could you believe. Although as we climbed out of the valley the higher peaks Cribyn and Pen-y-Fan were hidden behind fast moving cloud.



We made it to the coll between Cribyn and Fan-y-big where we met a few other walkers before over the stile and up towards Fan Y Big (719m) which the top was clear. Sun was shining, although it was quite windy. Not quite as bad as the last time the group had visited the brecons!! We sat at the top admiring the view across to Cribyn and its steep ridge and had some lunch.



We continued along the ridge in a south eastwardly direction (Craig Cwnoregwn) to which it double back on itself, we cut across the heather over some pretty impressive ponds!! We then walked back down the Graig Fan Las path and down by the Nant Bwrefwr waterfalls to the top car park near the woods. Back on the road we then headed back down to Taf Fechan forest and back to the car.

The whole route took about 5 hours including lunch. The views were fantastic and we were extremely lucky with the weather. Well worth the effort but yes it so could have been a wash out!!