Walking on the Brecon Beacons: 45 circular walks in the National Park

Guidebook to 45 lesser known circular walks in Brecon Beacons National Park, perfect for those wishing to discover the diversity of the region, away from the crowds. The routes, which range from 3.3km (2 miles) to 21.6km (13.4 miles), cover four geographic areas: Mynydd Du (The Black Mountain), Fforest Fawr, Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains (Y Mynyddoedd Duon), offering a variety of stunning mountain and valley walking. Designed to be akin to 'a park ranger in your pocket', route descriptions (together with 1:50,000 OS mapping) are accompanied by commentary on topics such as geomorphology, archaeology, local history, land-use and environmental issues. A useful Welsh-English glossary is also included, as are summary tables organizing routes by both difficulty and interest. A remarkably diverse landscape, the Brecon Beacons National Park showcases some of the best scenery in Wales. The area also offers a plethora of sites and activities for visitors of all ages and interests. Favourite attractions for children include Dan-yr-Ogof Show Caves in the Swansea Valley, Brecon Mountain Railway at Penderyn and Big Pit National Coal Museum near Blaenavon. Picturesque market towns on the edges of the park, such as Llandovery, Brecon, Crickhowell and Abergavenny, are also great places to explore.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Geology of the Brecon Beacons Earth movements Glacial origins of U-shaped valleys Changing woodland Human impact Birdlife Getting to and staying in the National Park A solitary guided walk? Using this guide 1 North-Eastern Valleys and Ridges 1 Cwm Llwch and Cefn Cwm Llwch 2 Cwm Llwch Ridge 3 Cwm Llwch Valley 4 Cwm Sere and Cefn Cwm Llwch 5 Cwm Sere and Bryn Teg 6 Cwm Sere Ridge 7 Cwm Sere Valley 8 Cwm Cynwyn and Bryn Teg 9 Cwm Cynwyn and Cefn Cyff 10 Cwm Cynwyn Ridge 11 Cwm Cynwyn Valley 12 Cwm Oergwm and Cefn Cyff 13 Cwm Oergwm and Gist Wen 14 Cwm Oergwm Ridge 15 Cwm Oergwm Valley 2 Eastern Valleys and Ridges 16 Bryn 17 Cwm Tarthwynni Circuit 18 Blaen-y-glyn and Allt Forgan 19 Blaen-y-glyn and Craig y Fan Ddu 20 Torpantau Circuit 3 South-Western Valleys and Ridges 21 Neuadd Horseshoe 22 Cwm Llysiog and Waun Wen 23 Cwm Crew and Cefn Crew 4 Fforest Fawr 24 Craig Cerrig-gleisiad 25 Fan Fawr 26 Craig Cwm-du and Fan Frynych 27 Craig Cwm-du, Fan Dringarth and Fan Llia 28 Fan Gyhirych and Fan Nedd 5 Waterfall Country 29 Pontneddfechan Waterfalls 30 Waterfall Walk 31 Sgwd yr Eira 32 Ystradfellte Waterfalls 33 Afon Nedd and Afon Mellte 6 The Black Mountain (Mynydd Du) 34 Carmarthen Fans and Glacial Cwms 35 Nant Pedol and Drysgol 36 Sinc Giedd and Bannau Sir Gaer 37 Afon Twrch 38 Henrhyd Falls and River Tawe 39 Afon Sawdde and Garreg Las 7 The Black Mountains (Y Mynyddoedd Duon) 40 Pen Cerrig-calch and Table Mountain 41 Craig y Cilau and Cwm Onneu Fach 42 Crug Mawr and Sugar Loaf 43 Llanthony Priory, Offa's Dyke and Bal Mawr 44 Hereford's Knob and Nant Bwch 45 Castell Dinas and Waun Fach APPENDIX 1 Routes by Difficulty APPENDIX 2 Routes by Interest APPENDIX 3 Index of Information Boxes APPENDIX 4 Brief Welsh-English Glossary

About the Author :
Andy Davies lives near Marloes in Pembrokeshire where he works in marine nature conservation and as a professional writer and photographer. He also creates limited edition prints of abstract and impressionistic wildlife images. David Whittaker has enjoyed the mountains of Britain all his life, walking and climbing in Wales, Scotland and the Lake District. He has also trekked and climbed all over the world. He is an Emeritus Professor of Forensic Dentistry and in 2003 received the OBE for his work.