Pen Y Fan, Corn Du and the Brecon Beacons

It's the 1st of September, the sun is due out so time for another adventure and this time with the wonderful company of Lucy who I told that I had a relatively easy walk planned, which I think I under estimated in a big way!! We left bright and early from Ambrosden and embarked on a 2 1/2 hour drive to the Brecon Beacons and to the car park before Storey Arms. A little bit hungry on arrival we decided to treat ourselves to a bacon and egg roll from a van called the Pitt Stop, I recommend it, very nice fresh food and a really nice bloke serving, we struggled with the raw Welsh accent a bit but commented politely, not sure what we were agreeing to though!

The map of our journey is thus:-

Did not realise it was a nearly 16km walk.



We started our ascent with the tops of the hills shrouded in clouds, the path was a good walking gradient but incessant with no break in sharpness. as we got half way up the panoramas behind us started to open out in the sunshine.  Fan Fawr looked an inviting walk (one for another time) as the clouds dissipated from it's peak.

The path behind with Fan Fawr

 The  clouds dispersing we trudged onwards up the what seemed at the time a never ending ascent, our legs were feeling it already by this time, (note to self, start jogging at home). the view ahead gave a tantalising glimpse of Corn Du still at this point in the clouds.


Corn Du peaking out of the clouds.
 

We veared round the last corner of the ascent and could see the top, fueled on by the eagerness to see what view awaited us we gathered pace and then saw to our delight the awsome view of the valley of Gwaun Taf with the Neuadd reservoirs glistening in the distance.

This was a great place to recharge our batteries, with a swig of water and a cereal bar we just stood for a while to take in the view, and our breaths. Form this point we could see the arduous path rising up to Corn Du (our first peak of the day). The clouds miraculously vanished from the top, feeling blessed we then tackled the trail up to the top.


Going up the steep path



A bit of a scramble near the top

At the summit there were quite a few people which we found out was a charity walk of about 40 people of all ages and sizes and backgrounds, each spurring one another on, seeing them arrive on the summit looking like the proudest people ever was quite humbling and seeing their sense of acheivement was quite inspiring as soe of them had never been up a mountain before and being bless with the stunning sunny veiw at the top must have made it more special for them, it did me as you could see for miles.

Gwann Taf Valley

Lucy with the Gwann Taf Ridge behind.

The Arty Cairn on top of Corn Du

The seat of the Gods on Corn Du, not for the faint hearted.

The view looking East with Pen Y Fan, Criybn and Fan Y Big in view.

After a quick breather we then headed doen the steep slope towards Pen Y Fan, we did not realize at the time but our heads were starting to get cooked in the sun and the wind, it was very blustery at the top. Advise for any walker, make sure to slap on loads of suntan lotion even if it is not too hot.
We then clambered up to Pen Y fan follwing the charity walkers which made the summit a rather busy place to be, but the people were so friendly and were fortunate enough to get someone to take the photo of us on the summit.



We Made It

 I then had to take a photo of the whole group of charity walkers which is a first for me to take a picture of that many people, no pressure to get a good shot then, especially on someones phone, I really can not use them, hopefully they are all happy and bet there were many tales of their adventures in the pubs and dinner tables.
we then headed down from Pen Y fan and ventured onto a quieter path, deciding not to climb Cribyn and Fan Y Big (legs were shaking a bit from the descent) which was flatter and headed towards the Neuadd reservoirs. The Upper Reservoir was built in 1896 and is the highest reservoir in the Brecon Beacons, the lower one was built in 1884 and the house near there which is bordered up in on the market for 1 million pounds according to one of the local people we stopped and talked to, yet another really friendly Welsh couple. We had to walk accross the lower reservoir which then showed us the path we had to take, all I can say is up!!


The Trail Ahead.

Once away from the reservoir the path became very boggy and very steep, we just set stopping goals as we went up, just to break up the pain and give our hearts some time to recover. The path here is pretty pot luck and have to pave away through the marshes and sttempt to come out of it with dry feet which amazingly enough we managed. The last ascent up to the top of the ridge (Graig Fan Ddu) was very steep with some scrambling, we had two choices, take the boggy path up or take the rocky stream up, the stream was more favorable so attacked that whilst dodging the frogs and grasshoppers. a very welcome rest greeted us at the top.



The first Cairn on the ridge

 From here on the route was pleasant and straightforwards and the views were just amazing.

Lucy on Graig Fan Ddu

A Panorama of the route we had taken

Still a long way to go.

The path was long here but we set a good pace and kept it up for quite a while, we made it to Gwann Taf Ridge then fatigue set it, I could not stop tripping up for some reason, two left feet I think. Gwann Taff Ridge is an amazing place and has a big slab of rock which had sit on me written all over it, so we could not refuse. Here though, not only did we have the views of all the peaks, because is it a ridge the panorams on the other side came into full splendor.

The seat with two views



Tyle Brith and Cefn Crew Valley



 Looking west from the most comfortable rock in the world was the valley of Cefn Crew with Tyle Brith ridge on the right and Cwn Crew ridge on the left with the brecon Beacons reservoir in the distance. It really was a spectacular view especially in the sunshine and having the luxury of a slab of comfy rock to sit on.
We then headed to the end of the ridge and connected with the path to Corn Du the made our long descent back to the carpark. By this time our feet were on fire and legs completly jellyfied, we made it to the car and (a tip for all crazy walker) had the pleasure of taking our boots off. aahhh! so nice.
We were so proud that we made it, the walk took roughly 8 hours rather the the 4 hour stroll I had planned. We are going to feel it in the morning and probably be hobbling around work on Monday.

This walk is up there with the best, you can make it as hard or as easy as you like, the views are amazing and the people we met were really genuine nice folk. With the added bonus of walking with Lou I would rate this walk 5/5, I will definetely be back for more and a bit fitter hopefully.