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Guidebook to 45 lesser known circular walks in Brecon Beacons National Park, perfect for those wishing to discover the diversity of the region, away from the crowds. The routes, which range from 3.3 km (2 miles) to 21.6 km (13.4 miles), cover four geographic areas: Mynydd Du (The Black Mountain), Fforest Fawr, Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains (Y Mynyddoedd Duon), offering a variety of stunning mountain and valley walking.
Designed to be akin to 'a park ranger in your pocket', route descriptions (together with 1:50,000 OS mapping) are accompanied by commentary on topics such as geomorphology, archaeology, local history, land-use and environmental issues. A useful Welsh-English glossary is also included, as are summary tables organizing routes by both difficulty and interest.
A remarkably diverse landscape, the Brecon Beacons National Park showcases some of the best scenery in Wales. The area also offers a plethora of sites and activities for visitors of all ages and interests. Favourite attractions for children include Dan-yr-Ogof Show Caves in the Swansea Valley, Brecon Mountain Railway at Penderyn and Big Pit National Coal Museum near Blaenavon. Picturesque market towns on the edges of the park, such as Llandovery, Brecon, Crickhowell and Abergavenny, are also great places to explore.
INTRODUCTION
Geology of the Brecon Beacons
Changing woodland
Human impact
Birdlife
Getting to and staying in the National Park
A solitary guided walk?
Using this guide
1 NORTH-EASTERN VALLEYS AND RIDGES
1 Cwm Llwch and Cefn Cwm Llwch
2 Cwm Llwch Ridge
3 Cwm Llwch Valley
4 Cwm Sere and Cefn Cwm Llwch
5 Cwm Sere and Bryn Teg
6 Cwm Sere Ridge
7 Cwm Sere Valley
8 Cwm Cynwyn and Bryn Teg
9 Cwm Cynwyn and Cefn Cyff
10 Cwm Cynwyn Ridge
11 Cwm Cynwyn Valley
12 Cwm Oergwm and Cefn Cyff
13 Cwm Oergwm and Gist Wen
14 Cwm Oergwm Ridge
15 Cwm Oergwm Valley
2 EASTERN VALLEYS AND RIDGES
16 Bryn
17 Cwm Tarthwynni Circuit
18 Blaen-y-glyn and Allt Forgan
19 Blaen-y-glyn and Craig y Fan Ddu
20 Torpantau Circuit
3 SOUTH-WESTERN VALLEYS AND RIDGES
21 Neuadd Horseshoe
22 Cwm Llysiog and Waun Wen
23 Cwm Crew and Cefn Crew
4 FFOREST FAWR
24 Craig Cerrig-gleisiad
25 Fan Fawr
26 Craig Cwm-du and Fan Frynych
27 Craig Cwm-du, Fan Dringarth and Fan Llia
28 Fan Gyhirych and Fan Nedd
5 WATERFALL COUNTRY
29 Pontneddfechan Waterfalls
30 Waterfall Walk
31 Sgwd yr Eira
32 Ystradfellte Falls
33 Afon Nedd and Afon Mellte
6 THE BLACK MOUNTAIN (MYNYDD DU)
34 Carmarthen Fans and Glacial Cwms
35 Nant Pedol and Drysgol
36 Sinc Giedd and Bannau Sir Gaer
37 Afon Twrch
38 Henrhyd Falls and River Tawe
39 Cwm Sawdde and Garreg Las
7 THE BLACK MOUNTAINS (Y MYNYDDOEDD DUON)
40 Pen Cerrig-calch and Table Mountain
41 Craig y Cilau and Cwm Onneu Fach
42 Crug Mawr and Sugar Loaf
43 Llanthony Priory, Offa’s Dyke and Bal Mawr
44 Lord Hereford’s Knob and Nant Bwch
45 Castell Dinas and Waun Fach
Appendix 1 Routes by Difficulty
Appendix 2 Routes by Interest
Appendix 3 Index of Information Boxes
Appendix 4 Brief Welsh–English Glossary
Appendix 5 Useful Contacts
Andy Davies lives near Marloes in Pembrokeshire where he works in marine nature conservation and as a professional writer and photographer. He also creates limited edition prints of abstract and impressionistic wildlife images.
David Whittaker has enjoyed the mountains of Britain all his life, walking and climbing in Wales, Scotland and the Lake District. He has also trekked and climbed all over the world. He is an Emeritus Professor of Forensic Dentistry and in 2003 received the OBE for his work.
