A Weekend in the Brecon Beacons & Black Mountains - Day 2

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 2 – The Three Pens of Crickhowell

A walk from Crickhowell around the Three Pens—Pen Gloch-y-pibwr (675m), Pen Allt-mawr (720m), and Pen Cerrig-calch (711m)—offers not only stunning natural beauty but also a journey through a landscape rich in history.
Starting from the charming town of Crickhowell, known for its medieval roots and the remnants of Crickhowell Castle, the route takes us through rolling valleys and rugged ridgelines, with sweeping views of the Usk Valley and the Brecon Beacons. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with ancient burial cairns and Iron Age hillforts scattered along the ridges. Pen Cerrig-calch, in particular, may have served as a strategic vantage point for early inhabitants. As you ascend these peaks, each offering its own dramatic vistas, the hike connects you to both the untamed beauty of the Black Mountains and centuries of Welsh history and legend.

The Hike
Starting from Crickhowell, our hike will trace the Beacons Way around the boundary of the National Park, ascending to the summit of Pen Allt-mawr (720m) via Pen Gloch-y-pibwr (675m). We will then cross the ridge to the third high point, Pen Cerrig-calch (711m), before making our way back to Crickhowell via the ancient hill fort on Table Mountain.

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 11.5 Miles with a total ascent of over 3000ft.
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: Beaufort Street Car Park, Beaufort St, Crickhowell NP8 1AD

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Timings: Walk Starts at 9.00

Total Walk Time: Approx 6 - 7 hrs

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

Total Walk Distance: 11.5 Miles

Total Ascent: 3000 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: There are public toilets available at the start and finish of the walk.

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