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A superb walk in the wilderness, beautiful views and few people about. There are a few spaces to park the car at the Devil’s Elbow, from here it’s straight onto the fairly obvious path up Fan Nedd where there is a large cairn however the summit is approx. ½ mile further along and is marked by a trig point. From here there is a very faint path heading west before turning north west just before disappearing altogether, I took this path hoping to find a more direct route across to Fan Fraith, however I have to say it’s a bit of a bind, eventually as the valley floor levels out the ground becomes boggy and marshy, I’d advise from the trig point to re-trace your steps back to the cairn and take the path down the north west shoulder of Nedd and onto the main track, it’s longer but progress is easier.
Cairn at Fan Nedd
Trig point at Fan Nedd
Eventually reaching the track, more of a road actually, turn left heading up the slope to reach a col between Fan Fraith and Fan Gyhirych, head left, off the track and aim for the high point of Fraith, there’s no path so just pick a route to the high ground across the clumpy grass, eventually reaching a selection of stones marking the cairn for Fan Fraith.
Selection of stones at summit of Fan Fraith looking towards Fan Gyhirych
From here head NW again back across the track on up to the broken trig point of Fan Gyhirych, a 100 yards or so to the north is a cairn which gives great views over the Cray Reservoir. Head east towards the edge of the escarpment, overlooking a giant bowl and hopefully you’ll see Red Kite soaring below you.
Broken trig point at Fan Gyhirych
Rubble of a cairn at Fan Gyhirych overlooking the Cray Reservoir
The Gyhirych bowl!
Fan Nedd from the track
Fan Gyhirych from the track
Go anti-clockwise around the bowl back towards the track following it downhill, ignoring the style which takes you back to Nedd, continue for perhaps just over a ÂĽ mile and take the track right towards the wire fence and stone wall, ignoring the style, bear left and head on up keeping the wall on your right. Yr Allt is the higher ground marked by one or two stones buried into the ground 20 yards west of the wall and easy to walk right over it!
Stoney grass marking Yr Allt
Continue along the track, eventually the wall turns NE and the trig point for Fan Bwlch Chwyth is up ahead. After visiting the cairn re-trace your steps all the way back to the style. Go over the style and downhill before joining up with the path coming off of Nedd, bear left again following the path slightly uphill along the northern shoulder of Nedd which heads back to the Devil’s Elbow
Trig point at Fan Bwlch Chwyth