The Black Mountain

The Black Mountain (no relation of the Black Mountains to the east) is a large, roadless group in the far west of the Brecon Beacons NP. It is remote and wild landscape with some fine mountains to climb and long, exciting escarpments and cliffs, cirques and glacial lakes to admire, as well as areas of shake holes and limestone excitement. And the Beacons Way winds around it. Come here to really escape the world. Great walks include (east to west):

Cribarth (the sleeping giant) to the south-east is best approached from the Craig-y-nos Country Park north-east of Abercrave. Excellent views, including north-west to the wild limestone of the Black Mountain.

Fan Foel: this thrilling 781m promontory-peak is at the heart of this wild area, and is a long walk in along the Beacons Way (take the southern of two options), from north-west or south-east. You can walk this as a there-and-back, and you can also make a wonderful circuit from the south-east (the Swansea valley, no less) taking the footpath north-west through the heart of the limestone hole-pocked area, the heading north across moorland to the flattish Waun Lefrith, where you turn right above the amazing cliff-tops to take in Picws Du and Fan Foel, then take south to follow the cliffs back to the beginning. Walko is determined to walk here.

Further west, the Beacons Way follows a long north-south ridge from the northern farmland up to the rough, intriguing limestone of Garreg Yr Ogof and 635m Garreg Las, complete with limestone pavements. You can make a really satisfying circuit from or back to the farmland by pushing through narrow Cwm Sawdde Fechan to the west. 16km.

This can be demanding walking in the 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 walk page.