Walkwise Walking Weekend Brecon Beacons Bank Holiday

On Saturday for the harder walkers there’s a twist to our tale. We still take on all the local mighty summits of the Brecon Beacon’s but add one and enjoy the quieter northern face of the Beacon’s. Parking on the south side we shimmy up and over our first summit of Fan y Big. From here we undulate our way over Cribyn and Pen y Fan, all the while taking in the perfect views of the long ridges running north to Brecon, contrasted with the wild heath and reservoirs to the south. This year we’ll then add Corn Du and waltz off holding the unfrequented ridge to the Uperer Nueadd reservoir. For the moderate walkers we start with an easy amble by the Traeth Mawr Nature Reserve. Once we’re nicely relaxed, our eyes are drawn upwards, and we take the long steady ridge up to our summit of Fan Frynych. After taking our time to enjoy the wonderful panorama we descend by a dancing stream under the spectacular escarpment of Craig Cwm-du back to valley level. Our final stretch takes us along the old Roman road of Sarn Helen which draws us on easily back homewards.

Your Sunday walks are completely new and aim to discover the area far western side of the Brecon Beacons. This special area gives rise to some stunning ridges and is even wilder than a wild thing. Fine escarpments catch the eye along the ‘Beacons Way’ interspersed with upland lakes known as Llyn’s round here. Final routes will be perfected closer to the time but it sure to be…only perfect and ends and starts at the local pub….how bad. 

Your Monday is no less inspiring with two tremendous options. For the hard walkers we will make our way sharply up to Castell Dinas, site of both an Iron Age hill fort and, later, a Norman Castle where the commanding views make it clear why the site was chosen! After a very short descent, we then start our long steady pull up onto Waun Fach, the highest point in the Black Mountains and hence, as you’d expect, the panorama is excellent. The finale of the walk is an exhilarating ramble along a narrow, undulating switchback ridge back by Castell Dinas to the start of the walk. If time permits, we will finish by visiting the ancient fort of Castell Dinas before dropping in for a refreshing brew at the Castle Inn at Talgarth! For the mdoerate walkers we also start from the village of Cwmdu, we will leave the longer walkers behind, and head into the deep-set cwm of Clarach Brook. Climbing steadily, our track will finally pop us out onto a broad ridge with lovely views over Llangorse Lake. Turning north, we will finish our climb to the summit of Mynydd Llangorse, with its panoramic views over towards the Central Beacons in one direction, and the Black Mountains in the other! Our descent takes us back to the rewards of the pub! PS There may be a new walk involving waterfalls this year and depending on weather and travel times we may well do this on the Monday before heading home. Watch that space! 

Due to lower than expected numbers we are operating with 1 guide for this break.

Some of the walks have chance to be shortened or lengthened but as most of the current walkers are at a similar stage we have produced a mainly moderate grade.

Andrew from WalkWise has set the grade to around 8 miles with 1000-1500ft of ascent for this weekend which he deems appropriate for the group.

This will allow the weekend to remain as sociable as possible.