Fan Frynych – An easy walk (depending on the weather) with quiet tracks and fabulous views.
Distance is 8km, with an elevation gain of around 300m. Allow about 2 hours for the walk. The walk starts off on stony tracks, climbs on grass, then there is a stretch along an exposed but flattish ridge which can be very boggy, but great if it is frozen solid like it was on my walk in the photos below.
Directions:
Park up in a layby near to Forest Lodge, about a 15 minute drive from Brecon. The walk starts on a level stony track and continues west for about 2 km. Bear southwest on a grassy track through a gate, and start the climb with views opening out of the valley of Heol Senni. The climb eases a little and you need to watch out for a fainter track zigzagging back to your left heading to the higher ground. Keep heading for the highest point and the track becomes a bit clearer, and if the visibility allows, you will see a large stone cairn where the ground levels off somewhat. From here is is either a joyous crisp walk with fabulous views, or a head-down slog through soft boggy terrain, (depending on the weather) and after about 2 km you will see the trig point shining white, with red dragon, to mark the summit. From here take care to head east towards the summit of Pen y Fan (which is the other side of the A470) pass a small pond, and you will reach another wide stony track, where you turn left (north) and shortly drop steeply back to the track you started on. You can see the car from here, so just head downhill, and turn right at the bottom by the cattle grid.
