South Wales

[wurzel]

I'll keep the text short with this first attempt at a walk report. I took this route earlier in the week when the conditions were perfect for photographs. It takes the popular route from the Storey Arms across the south side of Yr Gyrn, down into the little valley, then up to Corn Du and Pen Y Fan. The walk carries on to Cribyn then to Fan Y Big, continuing on another 400m or so south along the ridge. The return is NW down the side of Fan Y Big to the col before ascending again, slowly, along the south flanks of Cribyn to near the top of Pen Y Fan, along the south side of Corn Du, before returning to the Storey Arms layby. This gives over 1000m of ascent, which I was quite pleased with, although for the dedicated munro baggers here I realise that is just a light leg stretch. Since starting this hill walking I've been keen to find out exactly what my limits are so that I'm confident to tackle something more demanding in the summer. 15km with 1000m of ascent over reasonable ground seems ok for me, although my legs were aching a bit... well quite a lot, actually... at the end. The next one I've got planned is 22km with the same ascent -- it should be painful.

View back to the west from the base of Corn Du. Fan Fawr is top left.

The last part of the ascent to Corn Du. The top part of the path was frozen, and kahtoola microspikes made things easier.

Looking down to Llyn Cwm Llwch.

Pen Y Fan viewed from Corn Du.

Cribyn viewed from Pen Y Fan.

Fan Y Big (top right).

The Fan Y Big diving board.

Looking back from Fan Y Big to Cribyn, Pen Y Fan and Corn Du. Corn Du is classified as a Nutall.

Upper Neuadd Reservoir to the south viewed on my return along the side of Cribyn. An alternative horseshoe walk can be started from below the reservoir.

[johnnyaztec]

looks like you had a nice day for it,i was in the area last week unfortunately it was quite blowy which took the shine off it a little.I did the walk from the Upper Neuadd last year that you mentioned in your report and its a great route well worth doing if your round that way again.

[mountain coward]

Nice first report and photos - I like those hills but have only been to them twice. Love the way the snow picks out the striations in both directions on the fronts!

[skuk007]

Good report and nice photos. I am hoping to get there myself this Monday.
A bit like yourself, I use these hills as training before setting off on any Munro trips.

[PauloUK77]

The diving board on Fan y Big looks scary,some great photos i now want to go there.

[wurzel]

... did the walk from the Upper Neuadd last year that you mentioned in your report and its a great route well worth doing if your round that way again.

I'll certainly try that some time.

...bit like yourself, I use these hills as training before setting off on any Munro trips

I've walked most of the Nuttalls in South Wales now and I think this particular area (around Pen y Fan) is the one I'll keep coming back to if i want something reasonably close to home to keep in shape. The scenery is great, when you can see it. Have you done the Carmarthen Fan, the route with 5 Nuttalls from Glyntawe out to Garreg Las and back? Those are the only ones I've got left to do in South Wales and was wondering what the ground was like, as from the map it looks like it may be a bit boggy.

...The diving board on Fan y Big looks scary...

I saw a photo somewhere of someone stood on it as if they were about to dive off... I haven't quite got that sort of head for heights. Having said that, I read the other night somewhere that there's only a short drop immediately below it. When I was there that didn't seem the case from where I was stood.

[skuk007]

Have you done the Carmarthen Fan, the route with 5 Nuttalls from Glyntawe out to Garreg Las and back?

I haven't done these I'm afraid. Done a few long low level walks around the Pembrokeshire coast. Very pretty there.

Pic of the diving board. Not too scary, although wife didn't like me standing there!

[john923]

Enjoyed your photos. We did the circuit from the Lower Neuadd reservoir September before last and the tops were really crowded. Looks like you had a quieter time and the better for it.

[wurzel]

It gets very busy on weekends. Best to go midweek, if you can. Even then I still saw about 20 people, but they were mostly between Storey Arms and Pen Y Fan.