We often take a walk up the highest mountain in the southern part of Britain, especially if the forecast is for a clear day. It’s a short 35 minutes’ drive up the Rhymney valley and onto the A470 to the first car park called Pont Ar Daf. The total walk is roughly 4 miles long but relatively challenging, so you’ll need to be reasonably fit to complete it. Also, if you have a walking partner with long legs like Howard, it can prove demanding when trying to keep up!!

The views from Corn Ddu and the peak of Pen Y Fan are spectacular. You can see the southern coast line of Wales and sometimes, if the air is particularly good, even the newly christened “Prince of Wales Bridge” (Second Severn Crossing). We like to walk down a different route to the one we took up. So we head down to the right from Corn Ddu towards the Outdoor Education Centre and Hostel on the A470 known as “The Storey Arms”. There, you will be observe the welcome sight of a van selling hot cups of tea and freshly cooked hot dogs and burgers should you have built up enough of an appetite, which we usually do.

I would recommend taking a snack or two with you and plenty of water. You will get pretty warm on the climb up no matter what the weather. I have linked a helpful route for anyone planning to give it a go.

Your hosts, Catherine & Howard

01/05/2018