Black Mountains Circular Day 2 - Wednesday 24 February 2016
Route
Llanthony - Bal Bach - Bal Mawr - Chwarel y Fan - Blacksmith's Anvil - Twyn Talycefn - Rhos Dirion - Twmpa - Hay Bluff - Hay Bluff Stone Circle
Parking
NA
Mileage
12 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths. Sleep climb out of the re-entrant to Bal Bach but from there it is ridge walking at its best - undulating and on good paths. The descent from Hay Bluff to the Stone Circle is steep for the last 400m.
Weather
Gloriously sunny with a stiff breeze at times on the ridge.
Time Taken
5hrs 20mins
Total Ascent
2952ft (900m)
Map
OL13 - Brecon Beacons National Park (Eastern Area)
Llanthony - Bal Bach - Bal Mawr - Chwarel y Fan - Blacksmith's Anvil - Twyn Talycefn - Rhos Dirion - Twmpa - Hay Bluff - Hay Bluff Stone Circle
Parking
NA
Mileage
12 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths. Sleep climb out of the re-entrant to Bal Bach but from there it is ridge walking at its best - undulating and on good paths. The descent from Hay Bluff to the Stone Circle is steep for the last 400m.
Weather
Gloriously sunny with a stiff breeze at times on the ridge.
Time Taken
5hrs 20mins
Total Ascent
2952ft (900m)
Map
OL13 - Brecon Beacons National Park (Eastern Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
We awoke to a fantastic weather day and breakfasted safe in the knowledge that today would be one of excellent visibility. Our stay at The Half Moon was super - unpretentious, clean, good food & beer and great value for money. The owners, Lynda & Steve have not been at the pub long but have already done much to make visitors even more comfortable and welcome in their idyllic pub.
The route back to Hay on Wye was basically a reverse of the outward route but on the opposite western ridge. I had been up on this ridge a couple of weeks back but in totally different conditions - that time we had snow and ice to contend with. Now barely two weeks since that day it was now totally different - sunny and not a patch of snow in sight.
From Llanthony the route climbed steeply up the side of a re-entrant to reach a crossroad of paths at Bal Bach. From here the steepness relented to a gentle gradient to arrive at the summit of Bal Mawr where there was a superb view back to Ysgyryd Fawr, Sugar Loaf and over to Pen y Gadair Fawr. From the Trig Point the path heads gently along the ridge before a gradual incline up to the summit of Chwarel y Fan. The route then dropped down to the Blacksmith's Anvil before heading ever northwards on the long stretch towards Rhos Dirion - we had arranged to meet another friend, Chips, between the Anvil & Rhos Dirion and we soon spotted him making his way over the somewhat boggy terrain to meet up with us.
We soon arrived at Rhos Dirion, just in time to chat to a couple of lads on mountain bikes who were off back to Gwryne Fawr Reservoir. From the summit of Rhos Dirion there was a delightful undulating transit to firstly Twmpa (Lord Hereford's Knob) and then a steep drop to the Gospel Pass before a short, sharp pull back up on to the Ffynnon y Parc ridge. From the ridge it was a half mile walk to reach Hay Bluff's summit for the second time in two days. After a steep descent from Hay Bluff we arrived at the Stone Circle where Chips had left his car to end what was a fabulous two days in a wonderful part of the Brecon Beacons.
The route back to Hay on Wye was basically a reverse of the outward route but on the opposite western ridge. I had been up on this ridge a couple of weeks back but in totally different conditions - that time we had snow and ice to contend with. Now barely two weeks since that day it was now totally different - sunny and not a patch of snow in sight.
From Llanthony the route climbed steeply up the side of a re-entrant to reach a crossroad of paths at Bal Bach. From here the steepness relented to a gentle gradient to arrive at the summit of Bal Mawr where there was a superb view back to Ysgyryd Fawr, Sugar Loaf and over to Pen y Gadair Fawr. From the Trig Point the path heads gently along the ridge before a gradual incline up to the summit of Chwarel y Fan. The route then dropped down to the Blacksmith's Anvil before heading ever northwards on the long stretch towards Rhos Dirion - we had arranged to meet another friend, Chips, between the Anvil & Rhos Dirion and we soon spotted him making his way over the somewhat boggy terrain to meet up with us.
We soon arrived at Rhos Dirion, just in time to chat to a couple of lads on mountain bikes who were off back to Gwryne Fawr Reservoir. From the summit of Rhos Dirion there was a delightful undulating transit to firstly Twmpa (Lord Hereford's Knob) and then a steep drop to the Gospel Pass before a short, sharp pull back up on to the Ffynnon y Parc ridge. From the ridge it was a half mile walk to reach Hay Bluff's summit for the second time in two days. After a steep descent from Hay Bluff we arrived at the Stone Circle where Chips had left his car to end what was a fabulous two days in a wonderful part of the Brecon Beacons.
Leaving The Half Moon - weather looks promising
Leaving Llanthony via the footbridge to Bal Bach - the route out was via a steep re-entrant.
Waggers has heard there were Welsh Bandits up in the hills therefore he is hiding his one and only Five Pound Note down his sock.
Waggers has heard there were Welsh Bandits up in the hills therefore he is hiding his one and only Five Pound Note down his sock.
Looking back to Llanthony Priory
The steep ascent to Bal Bach
The steepness relented at the top of the rise near Bal Bach
Bal Mawr from Bal Bach
Zooming in on Sugar Loaf
Our route of ascent up to Bal Mawr
Even Trig Points get made redundant
Ysgyryd Fawr & Sugar Loaf from Bal Mawr
The summit of Bal Mawr
Heading for the summit of Chwarel y Fan
Pen y Gadair Fawr
Grwyne Fawr Reservoir
The Blacksmith's Anvil
Heading for Twyn Talycefn
Rhos Dirion
Cribyn & Pen y Fan from Rhos Dirion
The summit of Rhos Dirion - and a bloke with a big map
Heading down Rhos Dirion for Twmpa
The steepish incline to the summit of Twmpa
The summit of Twmpa (Lord Hereford's Knob)
Rhos Dirion from Twmpa
Looking to Hay Bluff across the Gospel Pass
The summit of Hay Bluff
The 3 Amigos on the summit of Hay Bluff
Descending Hay Bluff - the Stone Circle Car Park is to the left
The steep descent from Hay Bluff to the Stone Circle