Day 2 of the Brecon Beacons Way - Carreg Cennen Castle to YHA Llanddeusant

This walk takes us north from Carreg Cennen Castle, into the Black Mountains on the second leg of the Brecon Beacons Way. There are a couple of climbs but nothing too difficult and there's plenty to see along the way.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.21 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 7h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 639 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 607 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 632 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 157 m

Description der Wandertour

(S) From The Barn café, head up to Carreg Cennen Castle but bear left to follow a path that borders a wood before coming out at a kissing-gate and through a metal gate to a footbridge over a stream. The path now heads south-east, climbing up gently. At a crossroads of paths turn left then immediately right to head for Pillow Mound and Brondai Farm. When you meet a track, turn left to climb up heading north-east, finally ending up at a cattle grid. Shortly afterwards, take the path leading off to the right, maintaining the high ground. When you reach a T-junction of paths, turn right along a track to a disused quarry, then a path to the left to go back to the track. The route leaves the track again to explore more disused quarries up on the right. Finally, the route moves away from the track to reach Pen Rhiw-ddu and crosses the A 4069 that goes south to Brynamman.

(1) Go through the car park and head north-east to some old lime workings, turning south-east to hug the shoulder of Moel Gornach and Foel Fraith. Cross another path that leads (left) to climb Cwm Sawdde Fechan but our route continues a little way yet, then turns north to climb Garreg Las. Follow the path over the top and drop down to the craggy Carreg Yr Ogof to pass the trig point and meet another path coming in from the right. This heads off the mountain on a nice grassy path ending at a wooden stile next to a metal gate. The route keeps going downhill with a wire fence on the right and small trees on both sides. The path becomes a pebbly track that takes you through farmland towards Gellygron Farm.

(2) At the road bear right, ignoring the road going to Gellygron Farm and head north to the river Afon Sychlwch. Ignore the track leading off to the right and head straight on across the small bridge and up the other side. The wooded track opens out at Cwmsawdde farm and high hedges prevent better visibility. Keep heading up the road to reach a walled area that turns out to be the church grounds as you reach a T-junction. Turn right, then left to reach YHA Llanddeusant.(E)

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 231 m - Carreg Cennen Castle
  2. 1 : km 9.08 - alt. 476 m - Pen Rhiw-ddu
  3. 2 : km 19.4 - alt. 225 m - Gellygron Farm
  4. E : km 20.21 - alt. 265 m - YHA Llanddeusant

Practical information

This is fairly open countryside with little in the way of shelter apart from the woods. Make sure you have waterproofs as the weather can change quickly. If this is as far as you can go on the Brecon Beacons Way, then a short trek to Llangadog via the Red Kite Feeding Centre and Bryn-glas will give you the option to catch a train or recover a car you might have left there the day before.

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