A Weekend in the Brecon Beacons & Black Mountains - Day 1

The Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains in Wales are fantastic destinations for hill walking, offering stunning scenery, and diverse landscapes,.
The Brecon Beacons boast dramatic peaks like Pen y Fan, the highest in southern Britain, and open, rolling hills with sweeping views and the Black Mountains offer more secluded trails, with rugged terrain and peaceful valleys.
Both areas are rich in wildlife, history, and natural beauty, making them perfect for hill walking.

This will be a couple of challenging walks but don’t let that put you off. The walks will be done at a very steady pace with plenty of breaks to take in the glorious scenery.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience some of the best hill walking and some of the most stunning countryside you will find anywhere in the UK.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

Due to the challenging nature of this walk it is only suitable for experienced hikers. If you are a first timer with the club, please read the What we’re about section on the event homepage before signing up for this walk, ensuring appropriate fitness and suitability. If you need more information, please contact the walk leader.

DAY 1 – Pen Y fan from Cwm gwdi

At 886 meters, Pen Y Fan stands as the highest peak in South Wales and Southern Britain, commanding stunning vistas that preside over the National Park. The scenery is a rich mosaic of rolling hills and towering mountains stretching into the horizon.

The Hike
Beginning at Cwm gwdi, close to the town of Brecon, our hike will ascend to the summit of Pen Y Fan, crossing the main summits and ridges of the central Brecon Beacons, encompassing Fan Y Big, Cribyn, and the distinctive flat-topped peak of Pen Y Fan.

What to Expect
This is a fantastic walk with some of the most spectacular scenery you can find anywhere in the UK, but be aware that it will be challenging. The total distance of the walk is 11 Miles with a total ascent of over 3500ft.
Much of the walk is on good paths but some of the terrain will be hard going, with some very steep climbs, loose shingle and ridge top walking.

The Finer Details:
Start and finish point: National Trust Cwm Gwdi car park, 2 miles south of Brecon Post Code LD3 8LE (The post code is not accurate so I recommend following the directions from Google Maps on the Meetup App.)
Grid ref - SO - 024 249

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Timings: Walk Starts at 9.00

Total Walk Time: Approx 6 - 7 hrs

Parking: This is a National Trust pay and display car park. At time of writing the charge was £4.00 for the day.

The car Park is quite small so please car share where possible.

Total Walk Distance: 11 Miles

Total Ascent: 3500 ft

Refreshments: No opportunity to stop off at a pub or café on the hills so bring your own lunch and drinks. It’s a long tough walk so also bring drinks and plenty of energy snacks for the duration of the walk.

Public Toilets: No toilets available on the walk but plenty of wilderness.

Weather: The Welsh mountains are notorious for their unpredictable weather. It can be dangerous to get caught out on the hills without suitable clothing, even in the height of summer it can get very wet and cold and hyperthermia is a real possibility, so please come equipped for all possible conditions.

Hiking and hillwalking are activities with a danger of personal injury. Participants in these activities should be aware of, accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.

For further information Contact Nick 07739801881