Sar Lou Adventures

UK Iconic Walks Challenge – Pen Y Fan, Bannau Brycheiniog – 886m/2,907ft

I’d wanted to get up to Bannau Brycheiniog for St David’s Day, but the weather has other plans. Not wishing to be deterred altogether I’d decided that as soon as I was able and the weather at least reasonably forgiving, that I’d set my sights on tackling the tallest peak in South Wales, Pen y Fan.

Wanting to avoid the notorious ‘motorway route’ which is heavily used by tourists and visitors as the main route from Storey Arms up to the summit, I decided to park on the Cwm Gwdi National Trust car park at the start of the Cefn Cwm Llwch ridge. The trail heads south, summiting Cwm Llwch at 701m and following the cwm sere valley before making its way up along the ridgeline to Pen y Fan.

My original plan was to loop around and come back via Bryn Teg, but with zero visibility for the entire stretch, I decided to back track the way I came after a quick stop at South Wales’ second highest peak at 873m, Corn du. It sits right next to Pen y Fan, just a short walk away meaning many people visit both.

In all, the out and back from Cwm Gwdi car park to Pen y Fan/Corn du came in at 9km and 690m elevation gain. The final stretch up to Pen y Fan was TOUGH but a lot of fun as you got closer to the summit where it becomes rock face and involved some careful footing and light scrambling in the wet conditions.

It’s a shame about the lack of views, but it’s made me keen to come back later in the year when the weather improves! I can’t wait to actually SEE something other than rock and fog – haha!

• Route: 9km, boggy in places especially at lower levels and near the summit of Cwm Llwch, mostly easy to follow trails once you get onto the ridgeline. In poor visibility be mindful of steep drops close to the trail and around the summits of Pen y Fan/Corn Du.
• Elevation gain: 690m
• Parking: Cwm Gwdi National Trust car park, free for members or £4 per car/£8 motorhomes
• Dog friendly? The final stretch to the summit from the north face is a series of stone steps and rock face, which might be difficult for small, less agile or elderly dogs. The approach from the south side (Stoney arms) is more dog friendly. There are steep drops, wild ponies and livestock graze the area so dogs should be kept under control and on a lead at all times.