Walk 3134 - printer friendly version

The Llangatwg Escarpment from near Crickhowell Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 6.5 miles / 10.6 km

Ascent - 1250 feet / 379 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference SO207172
Lat 51.8477420 + Long -3.1526133
Postcode NP8 1LD (approx. location only)

This Brecon Beacons walk in Powys explores the limestone country lying south of Crickhowell in the Usk Valley. The route includes the former quarries along the Llangatwg Escarpment, a section of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, pleasant rural countryside and some excellent views. The start is the village of Langattock (Llangatwg) which lies across the River Usk from Crickhowell. On-street parking is available just north of the canal on Hillside Road (grid ref. SO207172). Do park carefully to avoid inconveniencing residents.

After parking walk south along Hillside Road to reach the canal. Take the stile on the left and drop down to the towpath. Continue along the canal (on your right) as it meanders through pleasant rural surroundings to reach bridge 112 (grid ref. SO215169). Go through the gate on the left, cross the canal, go over the stile on the right and follow the path south-west through a large field keeping the field boundary on your left. Cross the stile in the corner of the field and continue across the next field to reach a lane (grid ref. SO213165).

Turn left uphill along the lane. Where the lane bears left walk up the drive to Ty Mawr. Go left through the gate to follow an enclosed path between hedges. The path bears right and soon passes a footpath coming in on the left. Continue straight ahead on the track. Walk past a barn to reach another path on the left. Again keep straight ahead, following the track as it swings right and passes a house to reach a road (grid ref. SO207154).

Turn left along the road and then right up towards a car park. Fork left past a gate following grassy track across the hillside. Continue to reach an area strewn with large boulders (grid ref. SO2014153). Like many similar areas there are many paths below the escarpment and careful navigation aided by the relevant OS 1:25000 map is needed. As a general guide you are walking parallel to the top of the escarpment. From the area with large boulders, turn right on a narrow path to meet a wider path. Go left along this path and continue around the hill into the Craig y Cilau Nature Reserve. On your left are limestone crags with forest below on your right.

Reaching a marker post (approx. grid ref. SO189158) fork right as signed and descend to another fork. Go left and continue through woodland strewn with rocks to a waymark. Stay ahead on the path with a wall on your right to the reach Waun Ddu a raised area of bog. Cross Waun Ddu to reach a track which is followed down to a road (grid ref. SO185168).

Cross the road to a finger post and follow the path downhill. Continue through woodland and follow the waymarks to reach a stream (grid ref. SO187174). Just before the stream, turn right along a track. The onward route crosses a number of fields with the boundary on your left. Reaching a track between hedges continue ahead as it curves towards Cilau Farm.

Fork left at a footpath sign just before the farm. Go left again over a stile into a field. Bear left to cross a stile into woodland. Follow descending path to cross a small stream and shortly after a wider stream. Go over the stile. Walk up past a waymark to a waymarked footpath junction (grid ref. SO200174). Turn right and follow path eventually through woodland. Follow the signed path ahead to reach the canal. Turn right along the canal to a road (grid ref. SO206172). Cross the canal and turn right down to the towpath. Walk along the canal (on your right) to the next bridge. Go under this bridge, turn left and cross the stile up to the road. A short walk north along this road will take you back to the start.

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