Length: 20.4 km (12.7 mi), with options to shorten
or lengthen
Ascent/Descent: 973 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours
Toughness: 8 out of 10
Meet at 09.35 at Crickhowell Square Bus Stop.
[From
the direction of Brecon: take the 08.45 (Line 43), arrives 09.35. From the
direction of Abergavenny: take the 08.43 (Line 43), arrives 09.04.
Return
buses are on 17.37 and 18.04 direction Brecon, and on 16.50 and 17.24
direction Abergavenny.]
From the centre of the rightly popular town of
Crickhowell, within minutes you rise up steeply (with an 12% average gradient)
for 3 km – mainly through pastures – to the excellent viewpoint that is the
eponymous Iron Age hillfort site of Crug Hywel (or Table Mountain), which gives
its name to the town and towers above the Usk Valley. You ascend further up the
flank of the main mountain range above the town to Pen Cerrig-calch, the first
of three high tops along the ridge. Continue to the slightly higher second top,
Pen Allt-mawr and down to the third top, Pen Twyn Glas. The further descent now
follows the easterly spur of the range with a gentle gradient and some
fantastic views to the valleys either side and out to Sugarloaf/Y Fâl. A short
stretch of road walking is followed by a re-ascent up to the col between Table
Mountain and Pen Cerrig-calch and then follows the Beacons Way contouring the
hill for a while before dropping down to town through the ancient woodland of
the Cwm Cumbeth, with the bubbling Cumbeth Brook never far away. The route
finishes through the heart of Crickhowell past most of its tea options.
A
Very Short Walk leads back down to town from the Table Mountain, on
a westerly loop along the Beacons Way and down the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (7.5
km/4.6 mi, 389m ascent, 4/10).
A Short Walk leads in a westerly loop from either Pen Cerrig-calch or
Pen Allt-mawr (the latter route partly map-led) and down the lower part of the
wooded Cwm Cumbeth (11.5 km/7.2 mi, 658m ascent, 5/10; or 16.5 km/10.3 mi, 741m
ascent, 6/10).
A Variation of the Ending continues along Llanbedr Lane, entirely on
tarmac, cutting out the re-ascent to the Crug Hywel and the descent down the
wooded Cwm Cumbeth (cuts 1.5 km and 217m ascent, 7/10).
An out-and-back Extension from the last of the Pens to Waun Fach, the
highest top in the Black Mountains, results in a 31.0 km/19.2 mi walk with
1402m ascent/descent, a strong 10/10.
A Longer Walk out to Waun Fach, followed by a descent along its easterly
ridge to Llanbedr village and along roads to Crickhowell, has 31.6 km/19.6
mi and 1218m ascent/descent (10/10).
Lunch: Picnic.
Tea: Plenty of options in Crickhowell, see the pdf for details.
For summary, walk directions, map,
height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.
T=swc.333
1 comment:
Could there possibly be better walking weather than we had? I doubt it.
Could there possibly a better combo of multi-week weather and time of year to bring out the natural features of the area while providing for easy walking on good paths? I doubt it.
Talybont man had taken a day off for visiting Brecon and Abergavenny, so with 3 new arrivals we were n=11.
We started in sunshine with fluffy clouds and in 14 degrees, at 90m above sea. 2 hours later at the trig on Pen Cerrig calch we were in sunshine with fluffy clouds and in 14 degrees, only now at 701m above sea. The views were tremendous, the air abuzz with the sound of bees and bumblebees feasting on the vast swathes of heather in full purple bloom. There was also the green and red brown of the leaves of whinberry bushes, which still had enough berries for a spot or two of foraging. Then there was the grey of the limestone outcrops (the 'calch' in the hill's name).
After a rest, we continued along the edge with a new engineered and well-drained path (not that the drainage had much to do over the last weeks) to Pen Allt-mawr and on to Pen Twyn Glas. Time for lunch, before 6 turned right for the Main Walk, and 5 bore left for the Long Walk. This was glorious and gloriouser, as we went up to Waun Fach and on (engineered paths again) via Pen y Gadair Fawr to do the whole horseshoe ridge. Walking through a sea of purple, sometimes almost at head height, with views of Skirrid and Sugarloaf. Paradise. That stretch to Crug Mawr before the final descent is probably a touch longer than one wishes at that stage, but it is what it is. Late afternoon sun threw shadows on hill sides and valleys, making even bracken slopes look interesting.
We got to The Red Lion in Llanbedr for 18.30 for a very well deserved drink, and were then spared the final 3.5 km of tarmac by one of the Main Walkers picking up up in his car. Perfect.
w=sunny
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