(S) Leaving YHA Llanddeusant behind, head east along the minor road towards Pencarreg and Blaenau Farms. At first, the road rises gently, then once you pass the entrance to Pencarreg the lane begins to drop down the hillside. The high ground on your left is Mynydd y Llan but keep to the road as it drops down to the river. Ignore the track going off to the left, marked Gelli-onen and continue for another 50m or more to a fork in the road. Bear right ignoring the sign to Llyn y Fan (an option for the trail but not the one for this route) in front of a five-barred gate, preferring the sign Gorsddu going down to cross the river and continue straight on through a metal gate. The path now rises alongside a stream called Garwnant, through woods and out onto the hillside. Heading generally south-east then south up Carnau Llwydion and Pant Tyle Gwyn to reach the ridge of Bannau Sir Gaer.
(1) Looking down to the left you will see the Llyn y Fan Fach (lake or reservoir) and the route continues around to the left, heading east along the Cwar-du-bach and Cwar-du-mawr to reach the cairn at Picws Du. From here, head east to drop down to the crags at Bwlch Blaen-Twrch and then climb back up heading almost north to the cairn at Fan Foel. Leave the top, heading south along the ridge to another cairn at Twr y Fan Foel, then south again to reach the trig point at Fan Brycheiniog (802m).
(2) The route continues south-east with views to the left of Llyn y Fan Fawr (lake) keeping on top of the ridge, bearing south along Fan Hir and eventually dropping down to a waterfall at Burnt Mound. As the descent gets steeper, the route passes an old settlement and goes through Ty Henry farm. Here the path goes through ferns to reach a walled enclosure and a wooden style. Bear right to follow the path down to a metal gate on your left. Go through this gate onto a dry stone walled track between fields. Eventually, this comes out at a metal gate just before the River Tawe. Bear right along the river until you reach a wooden gate. Go through the gate and up to the bridge, turning left to cross the wooden footbridge and go through another smaller wooden gate. Follow the path, through a metal gate and out onto the car park at Tafarn y Garreg
(3) Turn right along the A 4067 until you reach a churchyard on the left. This is St. John the Baptist church and the route goes through the grounds to head south to the buildings on the Heol Callwen road. When you reach the road bear left to cross the bridge and find a small metal kissing gate on the right leading into a field. This crosses the field to go alongside a dry stone wall on your left. Then, bear right across another field to border a dense wood in depression to your left. Go through another metal kissing gate into another field and head up to a metal gate that leads back onto the track. Bear right and follow this track, with the river on your right, all the way down to a metal gate. Go through the gate and along the wooded track until you reach a small wooden gate on the right, opposite an information board on the left. Go through the gate, down to the right, When you reach the river bear left along the south-eastern side of the river. Keep right at a fork and continue through the trees until you come out into a wider space where there is a wooden bench. The path continues on alongside the river until it reaches a wooden footbridge. Go over the bridge and through a tall grey gateway into Craig-y-nos Country Park. (E)
