Brecon Beacons Horseshoe - Wednesday 12 March 2014
Route
Torpantau - Craig Y Fan Ddu - Graig Fan Las - Bwlch y Ddwyallt - Craig Cwareli - Fan y Big - Cribyn - Pen y Fan - Corn Du - Gwaun Perfedd - Tor Glas - Taf Fechan Forest - Torpantau
Parking
Blaen y Glyn Uchaf Car Park (Free) - Grid Ref SO056175
Mileage
12.6 miles
Terrain
High Level escarpment ridge walking on good paths. There are some tough ascents & descents, particularly up Cribyn and Pen y Fan. The walk back in from Corn Du is about 5 miles.
Weather
Gloriously sunny with very little wind.
Time Taken
6hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
3139ft (957m)
Map
OL12 - Brecon Beacons National Park (Western Area)
Torpantau - Craig Y Fan Ddu - Graig Fan Las - Bwlch y Ddwyallt - Craig Cwareli - Fan y Big - Cribyn - Pen y Fan - Corn Du - Gwaun Perfedd - Tor Glas - Taf Fechan Forest - Torpantau
Parking
Blaen y Glyn Uchaf Car Park (Free) - Grid Ref SO056175
Mileage
12.6 miles
Terrain
High Level escarpment ridge walking on good paths. There are some tough ascents & descents, particularly up Cribyn and Pen y Fan. The walk back in from Corn Du is about 5 miles.
Weather
Gloriously sunny with very little wind.
Time Taken
6hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
3139ft (957m)
Map
OL12 - Brecon Beacons National Park (Western Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
The day dawned sunny and crisp therefore we made the 25 mile journey from home over to Brecon to walk a version of the Brecon Beacons Horseshoe taking in the 4 Summits of Fan y Big, Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du. There are several versions of the Horseshoe but this is our favourite and starts from the Waterfall Car Park at Torpantau.
There is a steep ascent at the start to get you on to the escarpment of Craig y Fan Ddu but once you are up on the top there then begins a superb ridge walk along to Graig Fan Las, Craig Cwareli and Craig Cwmoergwm until you begin the gradual ascent up to the Summit of Fan y Big. From Fan y Big there is a sharp descent to the col and this is followed by a tough ascent up to the top of Cribyn. The summit gained, we then enjoyed another tough descent down to the col and an even harder ascent up to the top of Pen y Fan. These up and downs are hard work but the views over the landscape more than make up for it.
We were up on Pen y Fan just before 4 o'clock therefore the crowds had all but disappeared although there were still a few people about who had come up from The Storey Arms area. There is a short walk over to Corn Du before we made our way off around the side of Pen y Fan and Cribyn to the col just below Fan y Big. From here it is a long but pleasant walk back to Taf Fechan and Torpantau of about 5 miles but it is flat and on a good path and we eventually reached the car just as the sun was setting. This was a beautiful walk with great weather and superb views over the Brecon Beacons.
There is a steep ascent at the start to get you on to the escarpment of Craig y Fan Ddu but once you are up on the top there then begins a superb ridge walk along to Graig Fan Las, Craig Cwareli and Craig Cwmoergwm until you begin the gradual ascent up to the Summit of Fan y Big. From Fan y Big there is a sharp descent to the col and this is followed by a tough ascent up to the top of Cribyn. The summit gained, we then enjoyed another tough descent down to the col and an even harder ascent up to the top of Pen y Fan. These up and downs are hard work but the views over the landscape more than make up for it.
We were up on Pen y Fan just before 4 o'clock therefore the crowds had all but disappeared although there were still a few people about who had come up from The Storey Arms area. There is a short walk over to Corn Du before we made our way off around the side of Pen y Fan and Cribyn to the col just below Fan y Big. From here it is a long but pleasant walk back to Taf Fechan and Torpantau of about 5 miles but it is flat and on a good path and we eventually reached the car just as the sun was setting. This was a beautiful walk with great weather and superb views over the Brecon Beacons.
The stairway to heaven - Torpantau Car Park is in the trees below
Angie & Fudge heading up to Craig y Fan Ddu
Dave on Craig y Fan Ddu
Glorious on Craig y Fan Ddu looking to Graig Fan Las
Graig Fan Las
Corn Du and Pen y Fan - Fudge is clearly wanting to crack on
Looking back to Craig y Fan Ddu
Craig Cwareli
It does not get much better than this - 4 great summits on a super sunny day
From front to back - Dave, Fan y Big, Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du
And a bit closer.....
Craig Cwmoergwm
The Cwmoergwm escarpment
The valley of Cwm Oergwm
Dave & Fudge on the Summit of Fan y Big
The ascent to Cribyn
The col before the ascent to Cribyn
Looking back to the col - our path back to the car is the clear one moving across the lower slope of Fan y Big
The Neuadd Reservoirs from the ascent of Cribyn. Taf Fechan forest is on the left.
Top Dog - Fudge on the Summit of Cribyn
The ascent to Pen y Fan from Cribyn
Cribyn from the ascent of Pen y Fan
A great place to be on a day like today
Corn Du
Llyn Cwm Llwch
Corn Du Summit looking over Llyn Cwm Llwch
Angie & Fudge on the Summit of Corn Du
Route of descent from Corn Du. The path swings around to the right to the col below Cribyn
One last look back from the path back to Taf Fechan