The Western Black Mountains
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:20 pmWe knew we were in for a great walk when we looked at the long grassy ridges from the valley far below and glimpsed at the cloudy blue sky above. We arrived at our starting point, a few miles north of Llanbedr, at 11am after a 2 hour drive. Me and my dad had previously been here but had never combined all these tops into one traverse of the Western Black Mountains- so we were quite looking forward to this walk especially.
This round leads on from our previous traverse of the Eastern Black Mountains which we did a few weeks ago link here:
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=99445
Heading straight up the steep hillside from our starting point was definitely going to be hard, but when combined with the limestone boulders of Pen Cerrig Calch, and shoulder height bracken it really is a strenuous, pathless ascent onto the first top.
The start
An easy bit of the ascent compared to the rest because of the lack of bracken, never mind the steepness.
Some limestone boulders to clamber up over
Sugar Loaf Mountain from Pen Cerrig Calch
Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons from Pen Cerrig Calch
The trig point on top of Pen Cerrig Calch with Phil and Dad behind
It was a very easy walk to the top of Pen Allt Mawr which gave good views to the rest of the walk
A view towards the two highest tops in the Black Mountains from Pen Allt Mawr
The summit of Pen Allt Mawr
Boundary Stones on the summit of Pen Twyn Glas, which commemorates an MP who owned land around here in the 1800s
Looking back on the route
After only passing a few people on the way to the 4 tops, i was surprised to see quite a busy path up onto Pen Trumau and Waun Fach.
Me and Phil on top of Waun Fach
Looking to the North Easterly Black Mountains from Waun Fach
Looking to the North Easterly and Easterly Black Mountains from Pen Y Gadair Fawr
From Pen Y Gadair Fawr you could see every Nuttall in the Black Mountains; what a great view!
Forestry Plantations on the way to Pen Twyn Mawr
Me on the summit of Pen Tywn Mawr, the last nuttall of the Black Mountains reached!
Table Mountain looking diminutive
After dropping down into the valley after a long walk mostly over 2000ft, the green forests were a great way to end a beautiful hike.
This round leads on from our previous traverse of the Eastern Black Mountains which we did a few weeks ago link here:
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=99445
Heading straight up the steep hillside from our starting point was definitely going to be hard, but when combined with the limestone boulders of Pen Cerrig Calch, and shoulder height bracken it really is a strenuous, pathless ascent onto the first top.
The start
An easy bit of the ascent compared to the rest because of the lack of bracken, never mind the steepness.
Some limestone boulders to clamber up over
Sugar Loaf Mountain from Pen Cerrig Calch
Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons from Pen Cerrig Calch
The trig point on top of Pen Cerrig Calch with Phil and Dad behind
It was a very easy walk to the top of Pen Allt Mawr which gave good views to the rest of the walk
A view towards the two highest tops in the Black Mountains from Pen Allt Mawr
The summit of Pen Allt Mawr
Boundary Stones on the summit of Pen Twyn Glas, which commemorates an MP who owned land around here in the 1800s
Looking back on the route
After only passing a few people on the way to the 4 tops, i was surprised to see quite a busy path up onto Pen Trumau and Waun Fach.
Me and Phil on top of Waun Fach
Looking to the North Easterly Black Mountains from Waun Fach
Looking to the North Easterly and Easterly Black Mountains from Pen Y Gadair Fawr
From Pen Y Gadair Fawr you could see every Nuttall in the Black Mountains; what a great view!
Forestry Plantations on the way to Pen Twyn Mawr
Me on the summit of Pen Tywn Mawr, the last nuttall of the Black Mountains reached!
Table Mountain looking diminutive
After dropping down into the valley after a long walk mostly over 2000ft, the green forests were a great way to end a beautiful hike.