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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Monday, 7 May 2018

[Brecon Trip] [Easy Walk] Bank Holiday Walk - Pen Y Fan and Corn Du from Storey Arms Centre

Length: 7.6 km (4.7 mi) [longer option available]
Ascent/Descent: 530m; Net Walking Time: 3 hours
Toughness:  5 out of 10           

Take the 10.51 bus (line T4) from Bus Stand 1 at Brecon Bus Interchange. Arrives Storey Arms Centre 11.07. The only return bus runs at 18.03 (arrives 18.20). So, unless you have or can share a car or are willing to hitch-hike, you have a long day on that ridge so you might as well walk one of the longer options…

This classic short walk is to the summit of Pen Y Fan (886m, 2,864ft), the highest peak in South Wales and the Breacon Beacons National Park. It is very popular, especially on sunny weekends.
It involves a steep climb at the start to reach the ridge, but then continues fairly gentle on good paths for a short but very scenic section along a U-shaped ridge around a steep sided glacial valley, with stunning views over South Wales, and the Bristol Channel. From Pen y Fan you walk back to the second prominent top, Corn Du, with fantastic views down into the Cwm Llwch (valley) with its scenic lake. Form there descend on a different route along a less populated route involving a minor re-ascent to the car park by the Storey Arms Outdoor Centre on the A470 and make your way back along the road. The entire route is over well-maintained paths, the drops are steep only on one side, so none of it is scary, or needs a head for heights. Route finding (in clear weather) is easy. The summits are very exposed however, so this is a walk for a clear sunny day, with little wind or rain.

Longer Walk Options: Either continue along the ridge out-and-back along the route of SWC 278, or even walk the full horseshoe, just make sure you get back to base in time for the bus! Or walk from the Storey Arms Centre to the Llwyn-y-celyn Youth Hostel (food and drinks) and board the bus there (200m up to the road). You need page 15 of the pdf for SWC 278 for that option.

Lunch: Picnic lunch.
Tea: ----

For walk directions and options, route map, height profile or gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.85

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