Forestry Road

The day didn't look very promising. The cloud level was well below the tops and it seemed to get lower. My target for the day was the 886 metre Pen-y-Fan, but I started my walk in the opposite direction, back along the road. The reason was to join a footpath near Birch Hall. I crossed a bridge and there was a good view of a waterfall upstream. I left the road and joined the forestry footpath...well, forestry road really. It took me through some rather uninspiring forest. The forestry track turned into a boggy path. The cloud level was still low. I wondered whether today was going to be a good day to ascend Pen-y-Fan. The forestry path ended and a well maintained stone path went straight uphill and disappeared into the mist. I pressed on upwards.

Twenty minutes later I was up on what appeared to be a broad ridge. The path headed northwards close to the edge. I started following it. My world, for the next hour or so, was the path in front of me, and a large drop to my right. I say, a large drop, but it was difficult to see since the mist prevented any view beyond 50 metres. It felt a vertical drop. A strong cross wind buffeted me towards the edge. At one point the moor to my left also turned into a steep drop (Rhiw-yr-Ysgyfarnog). It was misty, but navigation wasn't really an issue; I just kept the large drop on my right.

Pen-y-Fan

Eventually the direction of the path changed and the wind was now at my back. A cairn marked the path that went down to the A170. I'd guess most people start off from there since the distance is less and you sset off from a higher point. I was surprised at having to scramble up one particular point. At last I got to the large summit cairn on Pen-y-Fan. A couple were taking selfies at the top. 'Great views', they shouted to me over the wind. Great views for about 50 metres, anyway. While I was on top the sun did attempt to break through the mist, but gave up almost straight away. I was only at the summit for a couple of minutes, but was joined by seven other people during that time. It seemed odd to see so many people when I'd spent all morning walking in misty isolation. It was time to go. I took a bearing to pick up the correct path and set off down.

Missing Reservoirs

I dropped out of the mist and I could see down the valley to where my car was parked. I had intended going up Cribyn but it meant going back up into mist and sensory deprivation again. I decided to leave Cribyn for a better day. It deserved a view from the top. I took the path that skirts around it to the col at Bwlch Tar-y-Fan. There was a stunning view northwards from the col. The weather actually looked sunny further down the valley. It was a shame to turn my back on it, but I had to and started along the track southwards.

The OS map shows a couple of reservoirs in the valley bottom. Both had been drained. Upper Neuadd Reservoir, the larger one, had a large brick dam. Seemed a shame not to make use of it.

As I reached the car park, the hills looked just as gloomy as they did this morning. I think this walk would have been spectacular in good weather; I just chose the wrong day.