Bannau Sir Gaer, Brecon Beacons

I visited this part of the Brecon Beacons a year or two ago with two friends of mine, and always wanted to go back! So a little selfishly I organised a lets go for a stroll walk there! Last time I went the weather was pretty miserable so was hoping for maybe an improvement! To be honest most of the times I have been in the Brecons it has rained, which is a shame as it is lovely place to go walking and appreciate the hills!

However mother nature decided differently and the reports from the Met Office said that there was a lot of snow that had fallen the night before, although there was a ray of hope that the sun will appear later in the day. So on that glimmer we got in the car and began the drive. Then unfortunately put off by the weather, several members of the group pulled out. It was a shame really as I knew what the place was like where we were going, and if the sun was going to come out they would miss a real treat, and indeed that they did.

Helen P and I decided that we would keep going as some new members had shown interest in the walk so we had to turn up!! As we drew nearer to the Brecon Beacons the weather improved considerably with a clear blue sky and the sun glistening off the snow! The roads were a little bit comical as we arrived at the start point, Blaenau Car Park (SN79917 238719). To which point the two yet unknown members of the group seemed to carry on the track past  the car park!! :) Anyway after verifying who I was, Dave (new member) and Gary (new member) introduced themselves! After putting on the boots and wrapping up warm we began walking up towards a reservoir which legend has it is the location of the “Lady of the Lake”.

The snow was dazzling everywhere even at the lower levels where we were at the start it was a several inches deep and perfect for snowballs and snowman :) Which Helen P did decide to make when we stopped for a breather. Although it looked more like a snow monkey! We made it up to the lake which had a small refuge. Someone had even left a shirt there too. Crazies! After looking across the lake we noticed and admired some fell runners who ran passed and up onto the top of Bannau Sir Gaer in what seemed minutes. Fair play! We decided to follow the same route so just in case the weather did turn, we would get the best views before it was too late.

We head due westwards up the gradient which is part of the lower Beacon Way, which joined the main Beacon path at  SN797 220. We then followed the ridge up to the beautiful ridge walk of Bannau Sir Gaer. There were large snow overhangs here so we walked as close as we could without it being dangerous!! The light on the lake was refracting showing different colours of grey, white and blue. We followed the edge for a bit and stopped at the first top at Picws Du where we stopped and took the whole surroundings in! It was starting to get very cold at this point so we decided to push on. We walked across what looked like an arctic wilderness. We plummeted straight down into a col trying to not to slide down in the snow!! After losing my leg a few times in the drifts we began walking up the other side towards the second top. As it flattened out near the top, there were beautiful if crafted by artist patterns in the snow formed by the wind. We carried on through to the highest point of the ridge and the trig point at Twr y Fan Foel (802m). Got to love the welsh language, had a go at pronouncing it but was very poor!!

The visibility was excellent and you could see probably Cadir Idris in the north and certainly the border hills with England. A fantastic view of the main Brecon ramparts rolling off into the distance. We began the descent down and decided we would have lunch down on the opposite side of Llyn y Fan Fawr which was still bathed in sunlight.

Plodding down we managed to find the path down at Bwlch Giedd towards the lake, where we met a few others out for the day. Trying not to resist, but failing, I went for a wander on the frozen lake, hearing the cracks of the ice beneath. Not pushing it we decided to walk around to the little hill by the lake and had some lunch. Gary pretty much had a gourmet dinner with him. Top marks for preparation I tell you! Realising we only had about an hour or so light left and hoping for an amazing sunset we kept on back to the other lake.

The path skirted around the base of the ridge, at best I had to check the map several times and take bearings as the path could not be seen under a foot or so of snow and there were few if any other footprints for a guide. Then we picked up a little bit of altitude as we circled around Cefn Bryn y Fuwch, as we passed the beginning of the base of Bannau Sir Gaer we were presented with an awesome sunset over the ridge. Amazing.

We crossed over a few water channels and caught back up with the trail back down to the cars, passed the filter beds. It was getting dark now so the walk could not be better timed!!

Details:

Start and End: SN79917 238719
Distance: 14km
Total Altitude Climbed: 851m
Number of People: 4
Time: 7 hours

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!!

Pen-y-fan, Brecon Beacons

Off to wales we go!! It wasn't looking good! Both Helens in tow, the rain was pounding the windscreen hard as we left Abergavenny and headed towards Brecon. I had walked todays choice once before, but still managed to get lost trying to find the right road out of Brecons - a few u-turns and we were on our way. Down the narrow lane we ended up at the national trust car park near Cymgwdi. Plenty of old war relics here - old bunkers. Another great choice of a car park with no/little reception :) Anyway Antony arrived, shortly followed by Jon, Martha and their friend who they were staying with.



A brief break in the rain, everyone donned on their waterproofs, and we started walking in a southwards direction, we navigated through the muddy fields up a track towards the disused Cwar Mwar quarry. The path then merged with a more substantial track and we continued up the hill. Lots of heather was about the path showing off their captured raindrops.



As we rose up onto the ridge, it was becoming very apparent it might be a bit of a battle against the wind. As typical with any ridge, the windspeed over these edges can be quite immense. Taking a break part way up the Cfen Cwm Llych ridge, the base of Pen-y-fan above the ridge was barely visible, the top however was completely obscured by clouds. We took turns falling into the wind, which was great fun.



A few of the crowd, were getting a bit nervous with the wind, but the good thing was it wasn't pushing us over the edge, and therefore not dangerous in these circumstances. We carried on into the cloud, and with a rather steep ending we got onto the top, which was a surprise for a few as it was completely flat! Pen-y-fan is at a height of 886m. After having a quick cookie stop (thanks to jon!) we decided it was probably best to get off the top before we had some lunch.



I did plan to go towards Cribyn which is towards the east of Pen-y-fan, but thought in the interests of everyone, it was probably safer to head the other way to Corn Du. We headed down the Craig Cwm Llych towards the obelisk. At this point we coming back out of the cloud layer and the views were amazing, and we looked back over the other ridge, and we could see the speed of the cloud going over. Heading down further we got down to the llyn, and then further down the path to some shelter, we scuffed our lunch :). Avoiding littering I managed to catch up with a bag! We headed down to Cym llych where we crossed over the ford and spotted some horses and ponies across the river that were playing amongst the trees.



We continued up along the road, one of my favourites, as the trees branch over above. Looking back we could now see the Pen-y-fan - it was clear - often the way!! grr but nevermind. At least it wasn't raining and we were out of the wind. We stopped by a bridge where a couple of us played Poohsticks - chucking a twig over one side of a bridge and see which comes out the other side first. I'm sure I won :p. anyway we continued on and headed up Heolfanog, passing the army signs and then back up to the car parks. The rain long gone!! We ended the day with a well deserved pint and some chips at the pub before the long journey home.