Black Mountains – Upper Llanbedr Horseshoe

Sue and I have been trying to find a new route for a fell race, and had thought of a shortened Black Mountains route as a possibility. The full route starts and finishes in Llanbedr, a small village up a valley from Crickhowell. It takes in Pen Cerrig Calch, Pen y Gadair Fawr, Chwarel y Fan and a few others just for good measure.

Our route started a few miles north of Llanbedr at Cwm Farm (SO325237). Dropping down to cross the river then up through the forestry it headed NE to the ridge, then along to Pen Twyn Mawr. There was a long but not too steep climb, except near the end, to Pen y Gadair Fawr. From here we headed NW to Waun Fach. This is the only hill I know where the summit is in a depression below the surrounding ground! a little bowl of mud with a weathered concrete block at its centre. A strange summit for the highest peak in the Black Mountains. From here it was a good run down the ridge to the col then a small climb onto a southerly ridge taking in Mynydd Llysiau & Pen Twyn Glas. This was a superb ridge for running, hardly a break in our pace until we got down to the farming level and had to negotiate with a herd of bullocks to get onto a muddy lane down to the road.

Apart from Waun Fach we saw hardly anyone, a group of 3 walkers when we were on our way up, and the same group just before we finished.

It was a good route, but the lack of parking and the awkward length probably preclude it as a fell race.

20km 800m 2h 52m

Brecon Beacons

A run/walk starting at Llanfrynach reversing the Fan y Big fell race route then branching off to Pen y Fan, Corn Du, Cribyn and back. The start was messed up when we missed the road up from the village and did an extra couple of miles. A bit silly really – don’t know how we managed to miss it.

The mistake took us to a farm where a little, annoying dog took a liking to us. It followed us back down the farm track to the road; along the road and back and up the hill. It was with us all the way to the ridge by Waun Rydd (Pwlfa) when it headed along a path looking for all the world like it knew were it was headed. Perhaps little doggy was cleverer than we thought? It was a relief to get away from him and the feeling of the need to shout “home!” and threaten him.

We skirted round Fan y Big and Cribyn then climbed Pen y Fan. I was amused by a small poster on the summit – a memorial to Michael Jackson! I never realised he had visited the Brecons? We stopped to admire the views, a really clear day with good views across to the Black Mountains and Hay Bluff. Then was Corn Du and the traverse back to Cribyn. This was a stiff climb, but lead to a more gentle descent, good for a gentle jog. But who do you think found us there – the annoying doggie! We stopped at the top to admire the view again and another walker, with his own dog offered the stray a biscuit which he refused. He then trotted down with us until we crossed paths with a family who were obviously more interesting than us. He stopped with them – never more to be seen by us.

Should we feel bad? comments and your own stories welcome.

Following Cribyn was Fan y Big then the longer than expected descent back to Llanfrynach.

27km 1350m climb in 4h 30m. A great day.

Black Mountains Round

This route started and finished at Llanthony Priory in the glorious Black Mountains. It is based on the walk / race organised by the Longtown Mountain Rescue as a fund raiser. The basic route is Bal Mawr, Chwarel y Fan, Twyn Talcefn, Rhos Dirion, Lord Hereford’s Knob Twmpa, Hay Bluff then back along Offa’s Dyke.

According to the trusty Garmin the stats are 28.5km and about 910m climb which Sue & I did in a reasonable 4 hours.

We made a mistake on the initial climb up Bal Mawr, heading for Bal Bach with stinging nettles and gorse. I recall the “proper” way is cleaner but stonier. The route is obvious and looks like it should give some lovely ridge running but in reality the first half suffers from a few too many boggy bits.

I liked the restoration work on the Offa’s Dyke section with good stone slabs seemingly floating in the peat. It seems to work well. One of my more morbid thoughts was that I ought to leave some money in my will to do more of this stuff.

I had sight of a book of the 100 highest Welsh summits and carefully copied them down. I was interested to see that Hay Bluff wasn’t included but according to the map it is in Wales and at 677 metres should be in there at about number 90.

A long run/walk but good to be out with the weather kind to us and the views excellent.

Loughrigg Fell

The morning in the canoe did Sue’s ankle some good, the rest and the cold. Following a quick shower back at the guest house to warm up, we set off over Loughrigg Fell, leaving Ambleside via the park. The fell was at its best, with nice grass, little mud, good views and nice weather. The area is such a neat package, skirted by roads and not too high, yet intricate and and seemingly away from it all. It also serves to link two of the lake district’s honey pots, Ambleside and Grasmere.

We crossed the fell, diverting up a couple of false summits and being misled by the many paths that criss cross the area. No real navigation crisis though as it didn’t matter if we took a bit longer – more time to enjoy the area.

We dropped down the other side then headed round the hill to the North until eventually reaching a lane that led back to the park in Ambleside. A delightful 6 or 7 miles – just the job ofr a knackered ankle – must be getting better!