Pen y fan from the north

[willywalker247]

I had been wanting to do this walk for sometime, just waiting for the weather and my days off to come together. So here i am in a national trust carpark near Cwmgwdi grid ref SO024247. Got myself organised and set out at 10:20 am. On leaving the carpark i followed a grassy path up to Twyn Cil-Rhew and passing near Cwar mawr quarry On reaching Cefn Cwm Llwch looking east you could see Lord Hereford`s knob and west to Pen Milan with Craig Cerrig Gleisiad with great veiws of Cribyn and Fan y Big. As i continued along the ridge again to the west Fan Nedd and Fan Gyhirych come into view. Looking ahead Pen Y Fan is shrouded in cloud. As you rise higher the path gets steeper and steeper. Just below the summit to your left there is a steep drop off. Lucky for me at this point i was in the clouds and could not see much, i dont like heights. On reaching the summit it was time for a coffee break. Now on to Corn Du and down to the obelisk (Tommy Jones memorial). As you follow the path you have a great view looking down to Llyn Cwm Llwch. Now you continue on down to Cwm Llwch farm where you join a track. Dont forget to look back now and again and take in the fantastic view of Pen y fan and Corn Du. Continue along the track until you get to Login, at Login you come to a ford, this is no longer a problem as there is a footbridge which does not show on my OS map, shortly after you will reach the road it is now short walk of a mile and three quarters back to the carpark.

[garyhortop]

Hey Chris,

Not done Pen Y fan from the north and this looks like a really nice walk! Despite the clag looks like you got some good photo's as well!

[ChrisW]

That looks a lovely walk Chris but that obelisk really puts a downer on it, I think if I was out there in the middle of nowhere thinking about that poor little lad I would have been fighting back a tear or three

[willywalker247]

Hey Chris,

Not done Pen Y fan from the north and this looks like a really nice walk! Despite the clag looks like you got some good photo's as well!

Hi Gary, Enjoyed the walk will do it again in the summer and maybe get some better pics. Speak soon

[willywalker247]

That looks a lovely walk Chris but that obelisk really puts a downer on it, I think if I was out there in the middle of nowhere thinking about that poor little lad I would have been fighting back a tear or three

Hi Chris, It is a sad story and a lonely death. The question i asked myself on the walk back to the car was how he managed to get up to where he was found, a long walk for a five year old. Keep your reports coming they are well written and your pics are fantastic.

[skuk007]

Nice report Chris, I've done this complete route once before although I took a more direct route from the car park up to the Cefn Cwm Llwch ridge, along the green dotted line just to the west of the river. Nice to see pics of it again.

Last time I did Pan Y Pan from the north though it was raining from start to finish so I just got to the top and retraced my steps in double quick time - not the best walk I've had.

[dodec]

Nice report, it's a cracking route took a similar route end of last year, it's a nice ridge with fantastic views of the black mountains and the other ridges to the east and west, especially cribyn. The view of the lowlands off to the north is stunning, when you get the weather of course. So much better than the trudge up from the Storey Arms and much much quieter.

[willywalker247]

Nice report Chris, I've done this complete route once before although I took a more direct route from the car park up to the Cefn Cwm Llwch ridge, along the green dotted line just to the west of the river. Nice to see pics of it again.

Last time I did Pan Y Pan from the north though it was raining from start to finish so I just got to the top and retraced my steps in double quick time - not the best walk I've had.

I did look at the more direct route, but opted for the easy way up.

[willywalker247]

Nice report, it's a cracking route took a similar route end of last year, it's a nice ridge with fantastic views of the black mountains and the other ridges to the east and west, especially cribyn. The view of the lowlands off to the north is stunning, when you get the weather of course. So much better than the trudge up from the Storey Arms and much much quieter.

Having done Pen y Fan from all other diections coming from the north is by far the best route.