All walks › Bannau Brycheiniog: Black Mountain
Bannau Brycheiniog: Black MountainFan Brycheiniog and the Black Mountain Ridge
The highest point in the western Bannau, on an escarpment above two glacial lakes, in country that feels a long way from anywhere.
- Distance
- 7.5 mi / 12 km
- Time
- 4 hr 40
- Ascent
- 600 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
From Llyn y Fan Fach, climb the escarpment and follow the edge over Bannau Sir Gaer to Fan Brycheiniog, dropping past Llyn y Fan Fawr and returning below the ridge.
Worth knowing
- The escarpment edge runs for miles with a consistent drop on one side. Superb in clear weather, serious in cloud.
- Llyn y Fan Fawr on the eastern side is the larger and less visited of the two lakes.
- Twelve kilometres of exposed ridge with no shelter. Full kit.
What you’ll see
Both Fan lakes in their cwms, the curving escarpment, and views west into Carmarthenshire.
Background
The Black Mountain is the least visited part of Bannau Brycheiniog and holds arctic-alpine plants on its north-facing ledges.