O- Brecon Beacons

O1- roman road, the Gap, talybont, 7 mile bank

Grade- hard. a couple of long steady climbs. Some tricky stony tracks over the Gap.

Distance-33.8kms

Highlights- this is one of the most classic circuits in Wales. It follows a Roman Road and crosses a gap in the Brecon Beacons. As you would expect, fantastic views and wonderful scenery.

Start point - car park at the Col on the mountain road halfway between Pontsticill and Talybony reservoirs.

Route-from the car park climb back in the direction of Ponsticill to the top of the Col. After a few hundred yards there is a Forest track on the Right (marked Taff Trail) into Taf Fechan forest. Follow this straight and take the Right (uphill) fork when you get the Upper Neuadd reservoir. Ahead of you is the Roman Road which climbs gently upwards through the Gap between Cribyn and Fan Y Big.

. Take care just after the gap where the road becomes first rocky, then stony. Continue on the track downhill for a couple of miles and pass through a gate at Cwmcynwen onto a lane which takes you down to Pentwyn bridge, then onto Llanfrynach. Just after this lovely village, you cross a bridge over the Brecon canal where you can take the cyclepath along the canal east to Talybont.

In Talybont you there is a lovely biker's cafe, or if you prefer- a pint in the Talybont Inn. By the side of the Inn there is a small bridge back over the canal. Cross this and find the 7 mile bank- which is 7 miles of gradual hill climb through the forestry, back to the start point. There are fabulous views over the Talybont reservoir the whole way.

This circuit is in all the MTB guide books and rightly so. There are choices on 7 mile bank. A lower bail out, the middle railway line or the upper path to the quarry. This profile was the middle route. The upper route is longer and goes across the plateau and down into the Dolygaer out door pursuits centre.

O2-TREFIL TO LLANGYNYDIR

GRADE- EASY, Some good grassy trails over the hills and some quiet country roads.

HIGHLIGHTS. Some great views and lovely tracks around the valley.

DISTANCE.

START POINT. Take the turn off the heads of the valley road signposted to Trefil. About 50 yards after the roundabout is a tarmac cycle track on your Right heading East. Park on the street near this.

Route-take the cycle trail up a slight incline and over a lovely viaduct. Shortly you pass a commonwealth war graves cemetery on the Left. Take the road Left just after this which turns into a rough gravel track up onto the moorland. At the T junction on the moorland turn right- up the hill, then come to another T junction and turn Left along an old tramway. This brings you out on the topmost street in Trefil. As soon as you come to this street take another track up the hill on your right, then keep climbing upwards and to the Left until it turns into a grassy track following the Left edge of the escarpment of Mynydd Llangynydir.

Keep on this grassy track until you come to a track on your Left leading directly to a huge cairn at the very top on the escarpment. There are great views from the top of this mound/ About 100 metres North there is a small hill with a single standing stone on the top. From this stone drop down into the small valley on your right, and find a 4wheel drive grass track which leads you down Blaen Cwmclaisfer towards Carreg Wen Fawr y Rugos. Here you drop down the escarpment to a good track running South West, just above the fileds.

Continue on this to Darren Ddu, then follow the steep forest track on your right down into Cwm Pyrgad. This leads down into Duffryn Crawnon, where you follow a delightful country road down the length of the valley, to Pwll Court farm. Here there is a lane on the Left signposted to Talybont. At the T junction turn Left and drop down into Cwmcrawnon where you will find the canal. Take the canal path in the direction of Talybont. After a few hundred metres you come to a bridge with a road over it. Climb up onto the road and take this road uphill for about a mile to Pen Y Bailey. Here the road starts to drop down hill again back into the Crawnon valley. About 200 metres down this hill you see a gate on your right signposted “beacons way”

Go through this and climb up a long muddy farm track for about a mile, through Bwlch Y Waun and up to the top of the escarpment overlooking Talybont reservoir. Enjoy the views!! Take the road Left along the escarpment until you come to a gate on your left leading down onto a forest road which follows a semicircle right around the top end of Duffryn Crawnon. This comes to an end at a gorge. Just before this is a bridle way on the right leading up a zig zag path. Over a new wooden bridge, up to the tramway. Take the tramway Left, which brings you out onto the quarry road from Trefil. Take this back through Trefil, and back to the start point.

O3- storey arms to brecon & back

Grade-one long steady climb. Some tricky footpaths on the way back.

Distance- 35km

Highlights-some lovely tracks with fine views over Mynydd Illtyd. One of the best off road hill climbs in Wales over Fan Ffrynych

Start point - car park at Storey Arms on the A470

Route. By the Left of the stile heading up hill from Story Arms is the start of the Taff Trail Bike trail heading down hill towards Brecon. About 2 miles down the trail you need to turn Right by a big house along a minor road, then follow minor roads down into the outskirts of Brecon Town. At the main road, turn Left back out of town to the A470 roundabout, then take the minor road opposite up Mynydd Illtyd. There is a long steady climb up the road until you get to the open common.

Here there are some lovely grassy trails to explore- including the old Roman road and a dead end overlooking Cwm Cadlais. Be careful to use only the marked bridleways or you may get told off by the warden!! Follow the bridleways to the visitor centre (with the option of a break for refreshments!). From here there is a track heading South West . Go straight across the A4215 and take the lane towards Forest Lodge. Keep going straight ahead through 2 gates, then just after the second gate take the track on the Left.

This is one of the best off road hill climbs in Wales, and leads up past the summit of Fan Ffrynych, then along the top of Craig Carreg Glesiad. From here you have a choice of dropping down into Nant Cwm Ddu, then following the roads back around Ystradfellte to the A4059/ A470, or there is a walk along a steep and in places treacherous footpath around Craig T Fro back to the Story Arms .

Please take care along this last last single path.

O4-sarn helen north, fan gehiryg

Grade- hard- some tricky stony sections, and a long hard climb up a gravel road.

Distance-37kms

Highlights- This is another classic! It is not as well known as the other Roman Road through the Beacons, but the scenery is even more stunning, and there is a lovely ride back along an old disused railway line.

Start Point- Camnant road (opposite the turning into Banwen on the Glyneath/ Abercraf Road._

Route-opposite the turn into Banwen, take the minor road (Camnant road) for about a mile until you come to a farm lane leading to Cefngwaunhynog farm. Continue to the end of this road and find a gate signposted as the Sarn Helen Roman Road. This winds it's way down a valley, over some very rough stones, then up the other side where you come to a junction. The Roman road continues through a gate, down into another valley, but if you cross the stile on the Left you join a good quality gravel road, which heads into another patch of forestry, then climbs up over Carn Yr Onnen. As you drop down the hill, you see a magnificent road on your right climbing up towards Fan Gyhirych.

This is a long hard climb to near the top, but it is worth it for the incredible views from the col. Drop down the other side and come to the mountain road coming from Heol Senni. Turn Left and drop down onto the A4067 past Cray Reservoir. At Bwlch Bryn Rhyd there is a steep footpath up to the old dismantled railway. Follow this South for 5 miles, to the end of the line, then pick up the lane back to the start point.

Highest road in S. wales. Look out for fossils in the gravel!

About as technical as it gets

more great mountain biking roads

O5-Trecastle, Roman Road, Usk Reservoir, Glasfynydd Forest.

Grade- Moderate- mostly on small roads and forest tracks.

Distance-

Highlights- some interesting Roman earthworks. Lovely views around the Reservoir.

Start Point- layby on the A40 in the middle of Trecastle.

Route- Just opposite the layby take the lane going uphill. After a couple of hundred yards, take the lane turning off on the Right. This crosses over some lovely moorland and is known as the Roman Road. After a while it turns in an old track, and the mound that you see on your Right is a Roman Camp- which is well worth exploring. At the top of the camp there are some great views. Return to the Roman Road and follow it Right. Just as it turns 90degrees to the Left there is a track leading to the Roman Fort (which is far less substantial than the camp!)

From here you will find a good grassy track leading uphill. Follow this all the way to the top of Mynydd Myddfa, where there is a trig point at Comen y Rhos. The climb is worth it just to enjoy the views!

Trace your steps back down the hill you came up and come to a fork in the track (which you may have not noticed on your way up the hill). Take the Right fork, and after about a mile take the Track on the Right heading across a valley and into the Forest which surrounds the Usk Reservoir. Work your way downhill to the shore line, then follow the forest road right, taking you around the western tip of the reservoir. At every turn there are stunning views.

As you follow the Southern edge of the lake the track turns up hill. Keep going straight ahead until you come to the minor paved road where there is a parking plot at the edge of Mynydd Wysg Forestry. Take the track straight ahead, After about a Kilometre, you see a gate on the right , with a bridle way leading out of the forestry. Take this then keep left along the contours around Foel Darw, cross the stream then take a path down the valley on your Left which goes through a gate and turns into a very boggy farm track, heading towards Blaena Isaf.

Here you meet a small tarmac lane on the right going uphill past Meity Fawr , then up another steep hill. When you come to the forestry, you have the option , if you have the time, energy or battery power, of taking the track on your Right which forms a large loop around Glasfynydd Forest. Alternatively you can stay on the road to Ffynon Y Gwyddau where you can pick up a forest trail on your Left to Belfont. From here there are quiet lanes taking you back down hill to Trecastle.

O6 Sennybridge to Fan Gihyrig and Sarn Helen North.

Grade- Moderate- mostly on small roads and forest tracks.

Distance-

Highlights- Some wonderful scenery and great trails over the Beacons.

Start Point-Use parking lay-by in Defynnog village (off A4215)

Route-
From A4215 turn left onto A4067, cross Afon Senni and take first left onto a small lane. In 200m take the bridleway on the right into a field and aim for top right corner. Follow this bridleway along the Heol Cefn-y-gaer ridge. It leads along a sunken track to a tarmac lane past the chapel of Clwyd-waun-dŵr. Soo after passing the chapel this becomes a farm track and eventually meets a tarmac road at a farm gate

Turn right. Follow the road for 1.5k and look out for a gravel track on the left just after passing an area of felled trees. Follow the track uphill to the pass at Bwlch y Duwynt. As it levels out turn left and descend the stony track through a broken down wall to a boggy col. Head across the col aiming for a fence on the left. As you ascend the other side a narrow path develops beside the fence. Follow this all the way around the base of Fan Nedd until you reach a stile and then the tarmac road at the head of Cwm Llia.

Turn right and about 800m after passing the standing stone of Maen Llia turn left onto Sarn Helen. Follow this for 5k and, about 1k after passing the side valley of Cwm Du, turn left onto a track heading north. Go straight across at the crossroads, left at the T-junction by Pantglas farm, then right and immediately left at the next junction.

Drop down to cross a stream then turn immediately right onto a farm track. Go through two gates to the left of the farm and then follow the track between high hedges until you meet a tarmac lane which leads you back to Defynnog. Turn right at the main road and retrace your route back to the village lay-by.

O7 Ystradfellte/ Sarn Helen middle section

Grade- Moderate- mostly on small roads and forest tracks.

Distance-

Highlights- Some wonderful scenery and great trails over the Beacons.

Start Point- Blaen Llia Forest Car Park on the road between Ystradfellte and Heol Senni

Route-

Cimb back up the hill to the road, turn right and then after approx 200metres turn left onto Sarn Helen.

Climb on double track and over a cattle grid.

Pass an inscribed stone (Maen Madoc) and descend down Sarn Helen around some S bends to a gate.

Straight through gate to another gate by a river (Nedd Fechan). Cross on wooden bridge and climb to another gate. Through gate and climb for approx 500m to another gate.

Turn left following Sarn Helen for approx 3miles until the final gate onto a minor road. Follow road for approx 500m and turn left through a gate into a field (signed with a weight restriction of 3tonnes).

Cross field heading into almost hidden gate in the corner of the field (not the obvious gate straight ahead but slightly left of it). Follow restricted byway for approx 0.7miles over 3tonne weight limit bridge to join minor road. Follow minor road for approx 0.25miles and turn left on bridle way. This section is quite overgrown with high grass and no obvious path. Descend down towards river and through a gate. Turn left to a foot bridge with wooden bars across. This is a bridle way!

Once across river, head across field and climb to minor farm/forestry road. Turn left, cross river and climb on forestry track to T junction and turn left.

At next forestry junction turn right (it is the obvious way even though there are a number of tracks here).

Follow track to green forestry barrier. Turn right onto forestry track (Heol Tir-lan on OS map), cross cattle grid and turn left on tarmac minor road. Descent steeply on road, cross bridge and climb on road for approx 0.9miles and turn left up towards farm (Glyn-mercher-uchaf). Keep right of farm house through gate onto Restricted By-way. Follow restricted byway to farm (Heol Fawr). Note the byway marked on the OS map and actual path are different - follow the path it is very obvious.

Continue out of farm and onto minor road, turning left. Climb on minor road for approx 0.4miles, as you crest the hill turn right through gate onto bridle way.

Descend on bridle way through field and fork left off obvious double track to follow bridle way. It is easy to miss! Follow narrow bridle way for approx 0.7mile to minor road at Porth Yr Ogof. Turn left on minor road to a T junction and go straight ahead through gate with a wooden farm sign of Penllwyneinon.

After approx 100m go straight ahead to leave tarmac road onto double track to a gate. Through gate onto good double track onto moor land. At fork in double track keep right (it is the more obvious track). Follow grass covered track down and then up to a gate in a wall.

Through wall climbing to pass an old lime kiln on right and on to a gate (slightly down hill). Through gate and descend through another gate to a minor road. Go straight ahead on road back to Blaen Llia car park.

08 Libanus to Fan Ffrynych and Fan LLia

Grade- moderate-

Highlights- some of the best views in the Brecon Beacons. Some wonderful grassy tracks across the top of a wonderful ridge.

Start point- Lay by in Libanus on the A470.

Route- From the layby take the lane uphill running West out of Libanus. This goes through a gate and turns into a gravel farm track leading up a cross roads. Turn Left past the National Park Visitor Centre. keep going straight ahead at a junction with a minor road, and continue along farm tracks to the A4215. Go straight over this along a lane passing Forest Lodge.

Keep going until you come to a gate and take the gravel track on your Left up a steep hill around a Right hand bend, and onwards and upwards to the top of Frynych. Continue on this track until you come to the gate at Craig Cerrig Gleisiad. Just after going through the gate take the track on the Right, which turns into a single track in places. Continue over Cefn Perfedd then over the wonderful ridge of Fan Llia. Head for the Cairn at the Southern most point,

Then follow a wonderful downhill grassy path to the small forest at Cefn Pefedd, and cross the bridge into the car park. climb up to the minor road and turn right For about a mile on this road. On your Right you will see a gravel track which was part of the old Roman road. Carry on over Bryn Melyn, pass the wonderful little valley at Nant Cwm Du, and carry on back towards Forest Lodge. Here you can turn right down the A4215 then Left along the A470 back to Libanus.

09 The 3 Reservoirs- Llwyn Onn, pontsticill, talybont

GRADE-hard- some long climbs over moorland

Highlights- some great views of the reservoirs from the ridges

Start point- Park at the Llywn-onn reservoir lay-by just off the A470 (SO 100118).

Route-

Cross the road and take the farm track opposite to the top R corner of the field. Follow bridleway through woodland and out onto moorland. Bear L and L again on a boggy path and follow concrete posts over Garn Ddu. When the posts give out aim for Twyn Croes (452m) then bear L of a small hillock and drop down into a small boggy valley. Climb a stile across the fence into the forestry and, after 50m, reach gravel track (Taff Trail). Turn L and follow this down to the road.

Turn L, cross the causeway between Pentwyn and Pontsticill reservoirs, and go under the railway bridge. Turn L immediately onto a footpath which leads in 200m to a forestry track. Turn L and follow track to Torpantau with glorious views all the way along. At the road junction turn L then first R onto track past phone mast. In 2k this becomes muddy, overgrown single-track. After about 3k take track R uphill to Pen Rhiw Calch. At top turn R and just after the top of the pass turn R again onto bumpy singletrack.

This leads down through forestry to Dolygaer Outdoor Centre and the railway bridge passed earlier.

Turn L after the bridge and drop down to Pontsticill reservoir. Follow east bank all the way to the dam, go SA on road and L at the bottom. In about 1k go R onto Taff Trail above the gorge of the Taf Fechan. About 200m after the viaduct the trail crosses a bridge above the road. Drop down to the road and go R back toward Pontsticill.

In 1k turn L, just before sharp L bend, and follow track past Berthlwyd Farm onto the moor. Turn sharp L down a bridleway and across a stream. After the ford, keep to fence on L and follow rough path through boggy grass for 3k back to the forest below Garn Ddu. Turn L and retrace bridleway to Llwyn-on lay-by.