Brecon Beacons

David Gibbins said:

I've got a long weekend in The Brecon Beacons in September.

Haven't been there for 30 years, so dont really know it at all.

We're staying in Libanus - can anyone suggest some good (high/rough terrain
if pos!) walks? Probably
got time to do 2 full day walks.

This is right up TDO's [1] street. I suggest googling for Paul
Saunders and Brecon Beacons. Expect a zillion results!

[1] The Departed One. A (*the*?) major participant on this group until
recently when he gave up USENET as it was constraining his
participation in Real Life .
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

"David Gibbins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've got a long weekend in The Brecon Beacons in September.

We're staying in Libanus - can anyone suggest some good (high/rough

terrain

Quoted message said:

if pos!) walks? Probably
got time to do 2 full day walks.

Thanks for any suggestions.

David, here's an idea for on of those days.

Whilst not aware of your fitness levels, this walk, which you can start at
Libanus, can be shortened if needs be. I leave it to you to work out the
distance and height gained and to decide whether it is within your
capabilities or not.

Start at 995259 and head W, uphill, along a tarmac lane past Argoed Lwyd
(where the tarmac ends) and onto Mynydd Illtud Common alongside the Mountain
Centre (worth a visit). From the Centre head SW to 970253 where you cross a
stile and follow footpath via fields and stiles to the A4215, cross the road
and follow footpath, again crossing stiles, onto open hill at 973242. Head
SW uphill across Trwyn Dyllaun-ddu and continue uphill to the trig point on
the summit of Fan Frynach 958228. (Alternatively, carry straight on at
970253 to leave the common and follow the minor road to Forest Lodge
Cottages, where you go straight on to 958238 to turn L and ascend the good
track to join the route above at Trwyn Dyllaun-ddu).

From Fan Frynach head S and follow the fence to reach the summit of Craig
Cerrig-gleisiad 961218. From there head across moorland for the top of the
crags of Craig y Fro 969208 and follow a path contouring the hillside to
reach Storey Arms 982203. (An easy way back to Libanus presents itself here
by following the old turnpike road (Taff Trail) down the valley of the
Tarrell, though there is fair bit of walking on very minor roads).NB Storey
Arms is NOT a pub!.

From Storey Arms head for the summit of Y Gyrn 989216 and then over the
shoulder of Pen Milan 996232 to descend to the cottage of Clwydwaunhir
002245 by following the footpath as shown on the map. From Clwydwaunhir take
very minor roads back to Libanus.

A couple of options depending on fitness, include ascending Fan Fawr 970193
by heading across moorland from the summit of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad
(clear(ish) footpath) and then straight up the N side of the hill,
descending to Storey Arms via Fan Fawr's NE ridge. If in fine form, an
ascent of Corn Du/Pen y Fan can be included by missing out Y Gyrn and
following the well worn path to Corn Du/Pen y Fan to descend to Pen Milan
along Craig Cwm Llwch.

--
Gwyn
Reply to:- urw(dot)mail(dot)gwyn(at)xoxy(dot)net

"Phil Cook" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

David Gibbins said:

I've got a long weekend in The Brecon Beacons in September.

Haven't been there for 30 years, so dont really know it at all.

We're staying in Libanus - can anyone suggest some good (high/rough terrain
if pos!) walks? Probably
got time to do 2 full day walks.

This is right up TDO's [1] street. I suggest googling for Paul
Saunders and Brecon Beacons. Expect a zillion results!

[1] The Departed One. A (*the*?) major participant on this group until
recently when he gave up USENET as it was constraining his
participation in Real Life .

Which is a good summary, except that it's exactly backwards :-)
--
Mark South, Super Genius: World Citizen, Net Denizen

"Ferlas Mor" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"David Gibbins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've got a long weekend in The Brecon Beacons in September.

We're staying in Libanus - can anyone suggest some good (high/rough

terrain

Quoted message said:

if pos!) walks? Probably
got time to do 2 full day walks.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Most of the route snipped

Quoted message said:

From Storey Arms head for the summit of Y Gyrn 989216 and then over the
shoulder of Pen Milan 996232 to descend to the cottage of Clwydwaunhir
002245 by following the footpath as shown on the map. From Clwydwaunhir

take

Quoted message said:

very minor roads back to Libanus.

A couple of options depending on fitness, include ascending Fan Fawr

970193

Quoted message said:

by heading across moorland from the summit of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad
(clear(ish) footpath) and then straight up the N side of the hill,
descending to Storey Arms via Fan Fawr's NE ridge. If in fine form, an
ascent of Corn Du/Pen y Fan can be included by missing out Y Gyrn and
following the well worn path to Corn Du/Pen y Fan to descend to Pen Milan
along Craig Cwm Llwch.

A nice route, I would make one minor change: If ascending Corn Du and the
Pen, I would still go for Y Gyrn and then up via the Tommy Jones memorial,
which I think is much nicer (and easier) then going Route 1 down to and up
just like everyone else has done, straight at Corn Du.

How about this for another route:
From Libanus, head west a little to get off the road (A4215) and onto
footpaths.
Wiggle down to the spur NE of Fan Frynych, take this to Fan Frynych.
Round to Craig Cerrig-Gleisiad, crossing the fence at the fence T junction
to stay on the outside of the fence running round the Craig Cerrig Gleisiad
ridge.
Down the Craig y Fro ridge, up Fan Fawr.
Down to the south side of Ystradfellte Reservoir
Up to Fan Llia
Over to Fan Dringarth
North to the fence / ridge Craig Cwm-du
Follow the fence to Craig Cerrig-Gleisiad
Home via Fan Frynych

The advantage of this is:
a) It is certainly wilder and more deserted than anything involving the
Storey Arms or the Pen.
b) there are some wonderful views over the reservoir area
c) the loop part (as opposed to the route in/out) is very wild with hardly a
path to be found (Fan Llia to Fan Dringarth
d) on a good day, you can do the whole loop part and see nobody at all
(apart from the odd squaddie if Selection is going on at the time).

The down side is that there are less options to bail out if the going is
tough. Bailing out at the top of Fan Fawr is the last real option, once you
make the Reservoir, you might as well finish the route.

If you are fit, the walk is a full morning walk. If in reasonable
condition, a relaxed day walk (with the slopes looking down at the reservoir
a great place to stop for lunch). If totally unfit, I would not recommend
it.

How about this for a second route:

Libanus to Pen Milan, Tommy Jones, Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn, (bail off
down to the south end of the Lower Neuadd Reservoir if you are tired here)
Fan y Big, Bwlch y Ddwyallt, Graig Fan Las.

Cross-country to the south side of the Lower Neuadd Reservoir, crack on up
the slope west onto Craig/Graig Fan Ddu, narrow ridge walk to Bwlch Duwynt,
Tommy Jones again, down to Llyn Cwm Llwch, Cwm Llwch and back to Libanus.

A lot less wild and a lot more people, but one of my favourite walks
(basically a version of my Pen y Fan Horseshoe, that I like to do from Taf
Fechan). Some great ridge views. Same fitness requirements as the first
walk, but may be easier on the knees and ankles as the paths are more
obvious (seriously eroded / repaired in places) and often easier to get the
foot planted solidly.

Just thinking about it makes me wish I was coming too. Mind you, I'm off to
Snowdonia in ten days, so I can't complain.

Have fun,
Paul

Thanks to both of you for that - I've seen Paul's site already - very
inspirational.

David Gibbins

"David Gibbins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've got a long weekend in The Brecon Beacons in September.

Haven't been there for 30 years, so dont really know it at all.

We're staying in Libanus - can anyone suggest some good (high/rough

terrain

Quoted message said:

if pos!) walks? Probably
got time to do 2 full day walks.

Thanks for any suggestions.

David Gibbins

In article <[email hidden]>, David
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Thanks to both of you for that - I've seen Paul's site already - very
inspirational.

Yeah - he writes a damn good walk :-)
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk