Garreg Lwyd, Fans Gyhirych & Nedd

[poppiesrara]

A day of easy walking in the Beacons when the (unforecast) mist had come down over the hilltops - so not too many pictures and a pretty short report!

Garreg Lwyd is exactly the pleasant short walk that everyone would lead you to expect, even in a fairly grim drizzle. The direct ascent south-east from the car-park is a nice little weave between and over boulders and firm grassy slopes to what must be the rockiest summit in this national park. There may well be terrific views east over the Black Mountain, but this wasn't the day to find out! From there, the best return is probably straight back the same way - the summit plateau is otherwise, flat, marshy and a bit dull.

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Quarry at start of Garreg Lwyd climb

Garreg Lwyd summit

View west from Foel Fawr

Half an hour later, it looked like the sky was clearing, but it didn't last too long... This was a very easily followed route (courtesy of the excellent site walkingbritain.co.uk) tackling these two peaks along a good track from the north:

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The route up to Fan Gyhirych in particular is about the easiest 350m-odd of ascent you could make anywhere; not the most varied in territory or views, but you can at least set a good pace and enjoy the solitude (bar some quite aggressive-seeming and inquisitive cattle!).

Cray Reservoir

Fan Gyhirych

Fan Nedd

Track leading to Fan Gyhirych

Even in a thick clag, the summit area is an interesting place, with a faint little path to follow hugging the edge of the escarpment leading away from the cairn - the views occasionally opened up a little but enough to tempt you back on a better day...

Fan Gyhirych east face

Fan Gyhirych north face and Cray Reservoir

The subsequent ascent of Fan Nedd is a little harder, with a slightly boggy col followed by a much steeper climb than anything before; this had looked an interesting top from Fan Llia a couple of weeks before, but it was hard to see much today; the mist rarely cleared again.

Fan Nedd ascent

Yr Allt

After that, there is a pleasant mile or so's walking along the grassy ridge over Yr Allt and to Fan Bwlch Chwyth before a very rough (thick, deep tussocky grass and very uneven ground beneath - the hardest part of the day's walking by far) descent back to the starting point; heading straight back down the track after the descent from Fan Nedd would gain in comfort what it lost in variety.

An easily energetic enough (and very quick) day's walking in the Beacons, but one that reminded you how much a good weather forecast adds to a trip to the hills...