All walks › Ystradgynlais & the South
Ystradgynlais & the SouthFan Gyhirych
A steep-sided whaleback in the western Bannau, seen by thousands from the A4067 and climbed by very few. Empty, boggy and worth it.
- Distance
- 4.3 mi / 7 km
- Time
- 2 hr 45
- Ascent
- 400 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Shape
- There and back
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
Cross the open moor from the road and climb the northern flank to the summit ridge, following it to the trig point. Return the same way. There is no consistent path.
Worth knowing
- Wet ground almost everywhere. Waterproof boots or accept the consequences.
- No path and few landmarks. Do not attempt without map and compass competence.
- You will very likely have the hill entirely to yourself.
What you’ll see
The Fforest Fawr uplands, Cray reservoir, and the Carmarthen Fans to the west.
Background
Fforest Fawr was a royal hunting forest, and the whole area is now a UNESCO Global Geopark recognised for its glacial and karst features.