Craig Cerrig-gleisiad, Fan Frynych, Fan Llia & Fan Fawr -
Wednesday 12 August 2015
Route
Storey Arms - Craig Cerreg-gleisiad - Fan Frynych - Fan Dringarth - Fan Llia - Ystradfellte Reservoir - Fan Fawr - Storey Arms
Parking
Storey Arms on the A470 (Free) - Grid Ref SN982203
Mileage
10 miles
Terrain
Mainly good mountain paths although the path from Fan Llia to Fan Fawr is intermittent. There is no bridge over the outflow from Ystradfellte Reservoir but there are plenty of places to cross.
Weather
Warm & sunny with excellent visibility.
Time Taken
5hrs
Total Ascent
2690ft (820m)
Map
OL12 - Brecon Beacons National Park (Western Area)
Storey Arms - Craig Cerreg-gleisiad - Fan Frynych - Fan Dringarth - Fan Llia - Ystradfellte Reservoir - Fan Fawr - Storey Arms
Parking
Storey Arms on the A470 (Free) - Grid Ref SN982203
Mileage
10 miles
Terrain
Mainly good mountain paths although the path from Fan Llia to Fan Fawr is intermittent. There is no bridge over the outflow from Ystradfellte Reservoir but there are plenty of places to cross.
Weather
Warm & sunny with excellent visibility.
Time Taken
5hrs
Total Ascent
2690ft (820m)
Map
OL12 - Brecon Beacons National Park (Western Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
Most people parking at The Storey Arms (its not a pub by the way!) head on up to the Brecon Beacons more popular summits of Corn Du, Pen y Fan & Cribyn etc. Whilst not appearing to be as dramatic as their illustrious neighbours, the hills on the other side of the A470 are certainly worth a visit. It was just Fudge and Dave out today and with the promise of fair weather we arrived at The Storey Arms nice and early. We were to visit the summits of Craig Cerreg-gleisiad, Fan Frynych, Fan Llia and Fan Fawr - all four are Welsh Nuttalls.
Leaving the car park, the path headed up gently above the A470 and ran parallel with the road for a mile or so before turning to the west and leveling out as the summit ridge was reached. The next summit of Fan Frynych could clearly be seen and it was just a question of dropping down into a col before heading up on an easy incline to reach the white Trig Point summit emblazoned with the Welsh Dragon on all 4 sides. There are great views to be had from Fan Frynych and the rest of the walk could clearly be seen stretching out ahead of us. It was so peaceful and quiet on the summit that Fudge and I hung around for quite a while before moving off.
We headed back down to the col to join The Beacons Way on a long, looping and clear path ahead of us, firstly passing over Fan Llia's subsidiary summit of Fan Dringarth before reaching the tiny cairn on the summit of Fan Llia itself. It was here that I was attacked mercilessly by a gang of wasps who clearly took a dislike to my appearing on their hill and proceeded to buzz me intermittently until I left the summit. In between the wasp attacks the summit of Fan Llia gave great views over to Carmarthen Fan, Ystradfellte Reservoir and to our next destination of Fan Fawr.
Leaving Fan Llia there was no obvious path therefore it was just a question of making a beeline down to the outflow from Ystradfellte Reservoir to join a fence before striking North to cross the river at an appropriate point - there is no bridge but there are plenty of places to cross easily. There now began a pathless and steep ascent to Fan Fawr's summit ridge from where the view over to Corn Du opens out. Reaching the Trig Point it was Round 2 with the wasps before we headed the 600m over to the summit proper with the wasps in tow who finally buggered off as we started our descent.
The steep descent back down to The Storey Arms is on a good path and has the option of taking in the summit of Bryn Du but we left that for another day. This was a really good day out and we arrived back to watch the hoards heading up to Pen y Fan - hopefully they will give the other side of the A470 a go, as it is a lovely place to spend a few hours.
Leaving the car park, the path headed up gently above the A470 and ran parallel with the road for a mile or so before turning to the west and leveling out as the summit ridge was reached. The next summit of Fan Frynych could clearly be seen and it was just a question of dropping down into a col before heading up on an easy incline to reach the white Trig Point summit emblazoned with the Welsh Dragon on all 4 sides. There are great views to be had from Fan Frynych and the rest of the walk could clearly be seen stretching out ahead of us. It was so peaceful and quiet on the summit that Fudge and I hung around for quite a while before moving off.
We headed back down to the col to join The Beacons Way on a long, looping and clear path ahead of us, firstly passing over Fan Llia's subsidiary summit of Fan Dringarth before reaching the tiny cairn on the summit of Fan Llia itself. It was here that I was attacked mercilessly by a gang of wasps who clearly took a dislike to my appearing on their hill and proceeded to buzz me intermittently until I left the summit. In between the wasp attacks the summit of Fan Llia gave great views over to Carmarthen Fan, Ystradfellte Reservoir and to our next destination of Fan Fawr.
Leaving Fan Llia there was no obvious path therefore it was just a question of making a beeline down to the outflow from Ystradfellte Reservoir to join a fence before striking North to cross the river at an appropriate point - there is no bridge but there are plenty of places to cross easily. There now began a pathless and steep ascent to Fan Fawr's summit ridge from where the view over to Corn Du opens out. Reaching the Trig Point it was Round 2 with the wasps before we headed the 600m over to the summit proper with the wasps in tow who finally buggered off as we started our descent.
The steep descent back down to The Storey Arms is on a good path and has the option of taking in the summit of Bryn Du but we left that for another day. This was a really good day out and we arrived back to watch the hoards heading up to Pen y Fan - hopefully they will give the other side of the A470 a go, as it is a lovely place to spend a few hours.
Early morning at The Storey Arms as Fudge & I head out
The path to Craig Cerreg-gleisiad keeps high above the A470
Lots of the wet stuff for Fudge today
A good path leads up on to Craig Cerreg-gleisiad
The summit of Craig Cerreg-gleisiad looking to Fan Frynych - the white Trig Point can just be seen
(Fudge has got his "not another photo" gob on him)
(Fudge has got his "not another photo" gob on him)
Looking back to Fan Fawr from Craig Cerreg-gleisiad
The summit of Fan Frynych
Fan Frynych panoramic
Heading back to the col to make our way to Fan Llia - great view of Craig Cerreg-gleisiad
Leaving Fan Frynych the route heads back to the col and then makes its way along The Beacons Way to Fan Llia
On The Beacons Way with Fan Llia centre left
Beautiful ponies on the path from Fan Frynych
Looking back along the path to Craig Cerreg-gleisiad & Fan Frynych
The understated summit of Fan Llia
Ystradfellte Reservoir
Fan Fawr ahead - a long and pathless ascent but ok underfoot
Fan Llia from the ascent of Fan Fawr
The pathless ascent of Fan Fawr looking back to Ystradfellte Reservoir and the slopes of Fan Llia
Fan Nedd, Fan Hir and Bannau Sir Gaer on Carmarthen Fan
The Trig Point on Fan Fawr - the actual summit is ahead - just to the left of Corn Du
The summit of Fan Fawr looking to Corn Du - loads of Waspy beasties here unfortunately
Beacons Reservoir
Heading down off Fan Fawr - Fudge can smell his dinner
The final part of the descent to the Storey Arms - the main Corn Du path can be seen. The Car Park is now a bit busier!