Fforest Fawr

The Forest Ffawr group is not as concentratedly exciting as the high Brecon Beacons to the east, but is fine and remote hill and moorland with the Beacons Way running along its entire northern ridges. There are some exciting day walks to be made along it.

The ridge above the imposing Craig Cerrig cirque in the north-east swings around to 629m Fan Frynych, which sits high above steep slopes as a northern outlier of Fforest Fawr. There are various ways to approach it.

From the A470 to the east, you can make a steep climb to the high ridge for a marvellous circuit. You can climb it directly along ridges from north and west.

From the south-east (Storey Arms) you can climb 732m Fan Fawr and plod across high moorland to teeter along above the huge cliffs of the Craig Cerrig cirque; and climb on the Beacons Way up the long ridge to Craig Cerrig and Fan Frynych; and you can combine these to make a really good 12km circuit.

Further West is the long Fan Dringarth ridge, which is crossed by the Beacons Way, and which you can walk as a wonderful circuit, enjoying the cliffs of Craig Cwm-du to the north and also walking the track, a former Roman road, which crosses the ground below to the west, leading south to the site of the Roman camp near the minor road at Plas-y-goers. Walkopedia wants to explore this one.

There is a good walk to be made on the woodland path east of the River Mellte to inspect a group of exciting waterfalls – including powerful Sgwid Yr Eira, which you can walk behind.

This can be demanding walking in high, remote mountains. Expect unpredictable weather: this is one of the wetter bits of the UK!

Good Ideas and Information In Day Walks in the Brecon Beacons by Henri Roberts.

Your thoughts are welcome! Please help us by making suggestions and sending photos! Thank you!

For more information and photos, including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our Brecon Beacons page.