An off piste route up Pen y Fan via Cwm Crew, an isolated glacial valley with loads of geological interest and very few people. Don’t let the distance fool you – the round trip is less than seven miles but the going can be arduous making for a challenging but supremely rewarding day out. Here’s …
Brecon Beacons wild camping and walking routes
The Brecon Beacons is one of my favourite places for wild camping and hill walking. It’s my nearest National Park, so I tend to go there frequently. From my base in the Cotswolds I can be in the easterly Black Mountains within two hours. And if I go a little further, I can take in the challenge of Pen y Fan, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons, or the wild drama of the westerly Black Mountain (probably my favourite area in the national park).
Though technically not legal, wild camping is very much tolerated in the Brecon Beacons. The trip reports below are a sampler of my favourite walks and wild camping spots in the Brecon Beacons. I hope you find them useful. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
“The Horrible Bothy”, Grwyne Fawr, Brecon Beacons
A tale of Type 2 fun and many, many learning moments, told from the cozy Grwyne Fawr bothy in the Brecon Beacons. Following a few very successful bothy trips, including Scotland’s four star Magoo’s, the remote Tarf Hotel, and Nant Syddion bothy in mid-Wales, I’d caught the bug. There aren’t many bothy bagging opportunities this …
Llanbedr Horseshoe, Black Mountains
The Llanbedr Horseshoe is a classic ridge walk in the Black Mountains, the easternmost hill range in the Brecon Beacons. With over 16 miles in length and almost 1000 meters of ascent, this walk makes for an exhilarating day out and a highly rewarding challenge, particularly on a beautiful day. After a steep climb at …
Pen Cerrig-calch and Table Mountain
A few highlights from a February walk around Pen Cerrig-calch and Table Mountain inspired by the Cicerone guide’s Walking on the Brecon Beacons book (Walk 40). A little outing for some micro-navigation practice and a bit of rock study turned quickly into a day of mostly Type II fun. Cold weather and heavy wind made …
Black Mountains Wild Camping: Top Tips and Beautiful Spots
The Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons are a terrific place for wild camping. These are not to be confused with the Black Mountain (singular) on the easternmost side of the National Park (you can read my other post on wild camping on the Black Mountain for that). The Black Mountains form the northeastern part …
Black Mountains Wild Camping: Top Tips and Beautiful SpotsRead More
Fan y Big Circular from Blaen-y-Glyn
This post highlights a circular walk via Fan y Big, including a wild camping option. Starting point: Blaen y Glyn Uchaf free car park. Distance: 7 miles (11km). Height gain: 420 meters (1380 feet). OS Maps: Explorer OL12 or Landranger 160. Download Route Summary. Fan y Big may not be the highest peak in the Brecon …
Tips for Cycle Touring in Wales
I’ve just returned from an incredible (and way too short) cycle tour of Wales. In four days I covered just over 100 miles from Chepstow to the Elan Valley following various branches of the wonderful National Cycle Route the whole way. The distance is a testament to the challenge – there are hills a plenty …
Wild Camping on the Black Mountain
This post includes highlights and route details from a sensational walking and wild camping trip around the Black Mountain range in the Brecon Beacons. PLEASE NOTE: this post is about the Black Mountain near Carmarthen on the far western side of the Brecon Beacons National Park, NOT the easterly Black Mountains south of Hay on …
Camping in the Brecon Beacons
I went to Wales last weekend to do some camping and walking in Brecon Beacons National Park. Camping and walking I did, as well as a bit of thinking, but not about life, the future, and other deep things I thought I’d have headspace for. Instead, I kept my head in the trip, looking at …