WALK OF THE MONTH...
CWM SERE.
A fine valley and ridge walk with optional visits to the top of Pen y Fan and Cribyn.
DISTANCE - 7kms (4 miles)
HEIGHT GAIN - 300 metres (1000 feet).
Climbing Pen y Fan adds 2kms and 230 metres of ascent
Climbing Cribyn adds no distance but 130 metres of ascent
START POINT - Roadside parking near Cwmcynwyn Farm.
GRID REFERENCE - SO/038228.
MAP - OS Explorer OL12. Harvey Superwalker - Brecon Beacons East. BMC Mountain Map - Brecon Beacons.
DESCRIPTION:
A superb walk of contrasts, starting in the confines of a lonely valley, finding an unlikely and occasionally exposed route across the NE face of Pen y Fan and the NW face of Cribyn, returning along a superb ridge with open views.
PARKING:
From Brecon, take the street to the left of Llanfaes Church (SO/038283), go straight over at the mini-roundabout, then follow the increasingly narrow lane for about 3˝kms to a T-junction. Turn right and continue for a further kilometre, until the lane becomes a rough track at the entrance to Cwmcynwyn Farm. Park well out of the way of wide tractors, and without obstructing any gates. There is a small area close to the farm entrance, or a convenient grassy verge a short distance back towards Brecon.
ROUTE:
Walk along the rough track to reach a gate, go through this and bear right onto a good path alongside the wall, then follow this into the lovely, lonely valley of Cwm Sere. The NE Face of Pen y Fan soon appears in front, and the view soon opens to show the NW face of Cribyn and the un-named saddle between the two mountains.
Continue along the valley path towards the headwall, eventually dropping to the flat river terrace at the end of the valley, where you cross the stream. Looking up and just to the right of the saddle, you should just be able to make out a faint path leading diagonally down towards the right side of the NE face of Pen y Fan. This is your onward route! It is best reached by heading towards the base of the most central of Pen y Fan's gullies, then traversing across to the left.
Once at the saddle, you have the option of following the obvious path to the summit of Pen y Fan. If you choose this option, you should then retrace your steps to the saddle.
You also have the option of climbing Cribyn, then descending direct to Bryn Teg, thus missing out the exposed path its NW face. However, be aware that the descent of the "snout" (the initial descent from the summit) is exceptionally steep and just as exposed as the Goat Track!
The main route, however, uses the Goat Track, a narrow and occasionally exposed path which traverses the NW face of Cribyn. The start of this is easy to find. Take the laid path that heads from the saddle towards the summit of Cribyn, but immediately turn left along an obvious, eroded path that very quickly deteriorates into little more than a narrow and rocky sheep-track - probably as a result of people turning back! As unlikely as it may seem at the outset, it is worth taking just a few more steps, for this is a wonderfully scenic route and far less intimidating than many people think. Once committed, carefully follow the path across the face, stopping occasionally to admire the fine views to the north, and back across the face of Pen y Fan. The difficulties eventually ease and the path merges with the normal route at the bottom of the "snout".
Your route is now delightfully straightforward. Turn left and follow the pleasant track along the centre of Bryn Teg, dropping in steps to reach the gate at the end of the rough track that leads from the parking area.