Walk 2641 - Fan Fawr & Fan Frynych, Fforest Fawr

     
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The Brecon Beacons National Park offers a range of fine walking. Some areas are busy as people are attracted the the high summits of the Beacons. In contrast the area visited in this route is generally quiet with few walkers despite the excellent views across the valley to the busy Beacons.

The walk starts at the layby on the west side A470(T) Merthyr Tydfil to Brecon road at Grid ref. SN971222 located about 2 miles north of Storey Arms. Leave the car park and follow the path south west towards the craggy cliffs of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad for a short distance to a stone wall with a gate and a v-notch type of stile.

Shortly after this gate turn south, cross the stream and make your way, in a curve gradually turning to the west, up beside the crags of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad. A barbed wire fence was encountered, which we could not find a way through and eventually had to climb (note - it isn't a high fence but could prove difficult or impossible for some people).

The rest of the climb up is very steep and very hard going. I had to use the fence to pull myself up in places as my stick kept slipping on the hard slippery surface. Paths on the Ordnance Survey map are a little vague so you need to ensure that you do not get too near the cliffs. (This part of the walk is very hard and you should be reasonably fit to do it, I was a fittish 55, if that helps).

On reaching the top the hard part is now over and you can turn south and head towards the summit of Fan Fawr. To the east across the A470 are views of the Brecon Beacons. The onward route to the top of Fan Fawr steepens as you get nearer the summit. From the top are some excellent views in all directions and it is a good place to stop for a break, weather permitting (We arrived in the middle of a hailstorm).

The return journey takes you due north until you reach the top of the cliffs. Then follow them around to the north west and keep going until you reach Fan Frynych. Here the views are predominantly in the northern sector across the Usk Valley to the Mynydd Epynt.

To return to the start, retrace your steps to the gate at the top of the cliffs (Grid ref. SN. 959 224). This marks the start of a very awkward and possibly dangerous path down the cliffs. Provided it is not slippery it should not be a problem for most people. Following this path eventually leads you back to the layby and the start of the walk.

Suggested Maps

It is recommended you take a map with you when following a walk route. The preferred scale is 1:25000 used by the Explorer series.

	OS Explorer	1:25,000	Sheet OL12
	OS Landranger	1:50,000	Sheet 160

Note : If two maps are listed at the same scale then either (a) both are required for full coverage of the route or (b) the route is covered on both maps.

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NOTE - all distances are "as the crow flies"