Crug Hywel & Crug Mawr
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DAY 2
SO180232 The start of Day 2 re-ascends the minor lane heading east, for 400m, before turning right into a track leading to building ‘Pentwyn’. Again, heading east, ascend a public footpath uphill to gain Open Access hillside and the Beacons Way National Trail footpath. This route skirts along the foot of Pen Cerrig-calch above, for 6.4km (4 miles) with numerous small ascents/ descents as the path traces its way towards the remains of an ancient Iron Age hill-fort, Crug Hywel.
SO225207 Crug
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Hywel is commanding position for a hill-fort, with expansive views over the town of Crickhowell and south-east to the iconic Sugar Loaf mountain. Take a walk on to the top of the hill-fort to appreciate its position and steep flanks. Depart to the north-east along a well-used trail, that descends gradually for 1km, reaching the boundary of Open Access land. Keep following the mapped Beacons Way, along a public footpath, descending east through fields to a minor lane. Turn
left for 6
SO240211 Take this 8
public bridleway on your left, ascending up to a farm, ‘Draen’. Behind the farm buildings, the route gains Open Access land again, with a more useful path underfoot following the mapped Beacons Way (less bracken growth!). Out of the ‘valley’ again, ascend to gain lovely views north of yesterday’s hills. The route is steady on good trail as it contours underneath Blaen yr Hebant hillside. As the route switches direction to start heading north, look for a grassy path to your right, which heads north-east uphill for 200m, reaching the trig point at the summit of Crug Mawr, the highest point of today’s walk.
SO262226 There are 9 numerous route away from Crug Mawr’s summit; with very poor visibility do check your direction of travel with mapping/ compass as needed. Take an easy angled slope and well-used peaty path in a east-north-east direction, descending towards a field boundary for 1.5km, to pick up a public bridleway heading south-east towards the village of Partrishow. At the 330m contour, the public bridleway meets a steeply descending minor lane, zigzagging towards the village. But look out for the second (out of three) public footpaths departing to the left. The second option skirts beneath a church and is mapped as the Beacons Way. In reality, the walkers’ line on the ground seems to descend diagonally down to the corner of the field and farm buildings, where this route’s public footpath emerges east from the farm and descends through grazing fields, before swinging north, past a ruinous building and down towards a minor road. Now at the foot of another valley, cross the Grwyne Fawr riverto ascend the opposite slope using a minor lane
9 climbing north past Ty-mawr and Upper House buildings/farms. The Beacons Way keeps climbing towards the prow of this ridgeline (360m) where it meets with the Cambrian Way.
SO281245 Depart
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from the ridgeline and descend on a public footpath, north-north-east, keeping close to woodland on your left. Losing height initially, keep contouring around the base of Garn Wen for 4km, as this route skirts through foresty, Upper Henlain (buildings) and more forestry, to arrive towards the steep valley of Cwm Bwchel. Numerous
public footpaths descend to Llanthony from here, some more robust than others, depending on weather. Use judgement about the most appropriate when you’re out. There is a footbridge at SO287275 enabling access to the minor road 150m away, from which the entrance to Llanthony Priory can be seen. Here, you can access either the campsite or have booked into Llanthony Priory Hotel.