11km 3.5 hr 530m of ascent Streams, woods, pasture, village, hill farms, and open moors. Good views. Easy to follow paths. A 5-star route! Parking
The bubbling Afon Grwyne Fawr rises in a series of shallow steps, north of Llangenny
Look out for Dippers!
Table Mountain (Crug Hywel) and Pen Cerrig-calch
...past a delightful farmhouse complete with ancient well
...suddenly you are out on the open slopes of the mountain
The path from the Sugar Loaf summit descends the SW ridge then turns right to the Forestry Commission plantation then left in the dip to descend Cwm Gwenffrwd
30KB enlargement
Description
Glangrwyney is 6km west of Abergavenny on the A40. It is possible to park in the layby before the bridge if you plan to walk the long circuit but note this comment from a reader "...as soon as you do, the residents come rushing out to urge you to go elsewhere, claiming it is now a resident only parking area; we eventually parked on the private parking area of the village hall on the other side of the road. It was a Thursday, nobody in sight and by the time we came back some 4 1/2 hours later, the same 2 cars were still standing there on an otherwise empty area (maybe it's crowdier when there's a game of circket??". For the shorter circuit there is very limited parking in Llangenny by the church. To reach this, turn right (if coming from Abergavenny) just past the 30mph sign and continue until you reach a narrow bridge. Turn right after crossing the bridge and the church and village hall are 200m further on.1. (The long circuit) Walk up the lane beside the recreation field for 250m then climb the stile into the field on the left and follow the path through the meadow. Cross into the next field and walk right beside the Grwyne Fawr for 100m before heading for the stile in the corner, past a house. Turn left along the lane for 100m, cross the stone bridge and then turn right immediately, going over a stile below a huge tree with strikingly twisted limbs and bark.
2. Follow the stream passing a weir and salmon leap before passing through a farm. Here on your left is a prehistoric standing stone. At the end of the farm drive turn right past the Dragon's Head Inn.
3. (Start of the shorter circuit) Cross the picturesque Llangenny bridge and turn left. A few metres up the road a footpath sign shows where you cross the stone wall to continue following the Grywne Fawr northwards. Here, especially on a sunny day in early spring, the stream is magical as the low sun strikes the water bubbling over the rocks. Walk quietly and look carefully at the rocks and you will more than likely see a dipper. Continue along the stream bank until you reach the second footbridge.
4. From here follow the more clearly marked path ENE climbing beside a fence to a corner. Head across the field towards a post with a path marker and then to a stile before a small copse. (The other path heads SE first to Ty-draw and then to the road. This looks a sensible direction but is a much inferior choice.) Cross the stile and follow the marked path uphill and then slightly downhill to a gate. Go through this gate and a fantastic view across the valley to Table Mountain and Pen Cerrig-calch suddenly opens out with Llanbedr nestling at the junction of the Grywne Fawr and Grwyne Fechan streams. Beyond Llanbedr rises the ridge to Pen y Gadair Fawr (seen as a sharply outlined but flattened peak) and the shapeless summit of Waun Fach, highest point in the Black Mountains.
The next gate leads to a delightful farmhouse. The path goes in front of the house and then turns right to the road.
5. Turn right and follow the road for 400m to a junction where you turn left, up the hill. Walk past one farm (with a tempting stile opposite) to the next (Pengilfach) where a sign points you left to the Sugar Loaf path. Follow the well marked track through a wood of fir trees, go through a couple of gates and suddenly you are out on the open slopes of the mountain.
6. You must now choose whether to climb the long ridge that is before you to the summit or to contour right, along the stone boundary wall, enjoying the view along the Usk Valley with the distant peaks of the Brecon Beacons just visible.
7. If you choose the summit follow the crest of the ridge and after some time the rocky crest will come into view. On reaching the rocks try keeping to the highest point and imagine you are on a more mountainous peak!
8. To descend follow the diagonal path from the summit down the SW ridge until you meet the track that contours the southern slopes. Turning right here brings you to the forestry plantation. Descend into the dip, cross the stream, and turn left into Cwm Gwenffrwd following the path that leads down the right side of the valley.
9. Continue down this path, which eventually becomes a cart track, to the road. Turn left onto the road and follow this to the T-junction. Turn left again to quickly reach the A40 at Glangrwyney.
7a. (The shorter circuit) Follow the boundary wall to the second well marked path on your right. Go through the gate and follow the ancient, once walled path as it winds first SW then NW to reach Pen-twyn farm. Turn right along the drive, through a gate and past a house to where a bridleway sign points through a gate and across a field. Cross the field diagonally right to reach a gate onto the road which leads downhill to Llangenny. (The first well marked path is more direct, I prefer the second.)