Garreg Lwyd 2008
The outlying metric mountain in the Black Mountain.
Situated in the middle of the Black Mountain, this is only one of two metric mountains (>=610 metres, >=15 metres prominence) in the Black Mountain that is not part of the main ridge. It is the shortest metric mountain in the entire Brecon Beacons National Park, at just 616 metres. It's also conveniently located right by the only main road crossing the mountain range, and by normal humans, this whole walk can be done in an hour.
Map of the Brecon Beacons National Park, showing the locations of the various mountains and ranges.
Welsh mountain ponies at the viewpoint on Foel Fawr. They were completely happy with us being in their territory, and allowed me to get just 10 cm from them before realising that I had no food for them. Then they walked away in disgust.
The freezing point was well below the mountain top, and more covering than this was needed before we could start. Mountain ninjas.
More PNG graphics. They get everywhere. Becci's picture.
Hawthorn, another of Becci's pictures.
There's no real path up Garreg Lwyd. Supposedly, the Beacons Way crosses Foel Fawr to get up there, but that's merely a suggested route. Make it up as you go.
Looking back to Tair Carn (Isaf 460 metres - the bump on the left, Uchaf 482 metres - the two bumps on the right, with the leftmost being the summit), the last old mountains (metric hills) of the national park. The rising ridge on the nearer left is just a bump on the slope, called Garreg Fraith.
To the right of Tair Carn are the next hills, Carn Pen-y-clogau (521 metres) and Carn Pen-rhiw-ddu (532 metres).
Walking the cold slopes.
Panorama of all other metric mountains in the Black Mountain. The craggy outcrop on the far left is Carreg Yr Ogof (585 metres), with the dark ridge running to its right being Garreg Las (635 metres), the other outlying metric mountain. Behind it, the black-cliffed outcrop is the Picws Du (749 metres) peak of Bannau Sir Gaer, with Waun Lefrith (677 metres) being the lighter coloured ridge to its left. Behind Bannau Sir Gaer, the white dusted peak is Fan Brycheiniog (802 metres), the tallest in the Black Mountain, with the long Fan Hir (761 metres) ridge to its right. In the distance behind the right edge of Fan Hir is Fan Gyhirych (725 metres), the second tallest peak in the Fforest Fawr range. On the far right side of the picture is the edge of Foel Fraith (602 metres), the metric hill next to Garreg Lwyd. In front of Carreg Yr Ogof is Cefn y Cylchau (556 metres).- View labelled image.
Picws Du and Fan Brycheiniog.
The upper slopes of Garreg Llwyd.
Natural ice art.
The view to Carreg Yr Ogof.
The massive cairn on Garreg Lwyd, that on some maps causes the summit height to be shown as 618 metres instead of 616 metres.
Summit panorama. As well as showing the full view of Foel Fraith, this also shows a hill to the right of the Fan Hir ridge, Carreg Goch (558 metres). On the far right are the hills at the head of the (marginally) famous Rhondda Valley.
Frosted stones.
The distant view of Swansea Bay, with England on the far side of the Severn Estuary.
The frozen pond near the summit.
Pond ice.
Ice skating. Too thin to hold me, unfortunately. Becci's picture.
Clydach. Another one.
Herbert's Quarry, home to the Ogof Pasg-Ogof Foel Fawr system.
Warning; falling rocks. Don't go too near the face.
And especially, don't look inside the shelter.
Frosted Rocks.
Quarry buildings with a paraglider.
Even more PNG graphics.
Frozen stream.
The ponies had followed our car and were waiting for us on our return, glowing in the afternoon sunlight.
Grazing.
And smiling for the camera.
Traffic jam of non-Welsh ponies on the way back.
Map of the Brecon Beacons National Park, showing the locations of the various mountains and ranges.
Welsh mountain ponies at the viewpoint on Foel Fawr. They were completely happy with us being in their territory, and allowed me to get just 10 cm from them before realising that I had no food for them. Then they walked away in disgust.
The freezing point was well below the mountain top, and more covering than this was needed before we could start. Mountain ninjas.
More PNG graphics. They get everywhere. Becci's picture.
Hawthorn, another of Becci's pictures.
There's no real path up Garreg Lwyd. Supposedly, the Beacons Way crosses Foel Fawr to get up there, but that's merely a suggested route. Make it up as you go.
Looking back to Tair Carn (Isaf 460 metres - the bump on the left, Uchaf 482 metres - the two bumps on the right, with the leftmost being the summit), the last old mountains (metric hills) of the national park. The rising ridge on the nearer left is just a bump on the slope, called Garreg Fraith.
To the right of Tair Carn are the next hills, Carn Pen-y-clogau (521 metres) and Carn Pen-rhiw-ddu (532 metres).
Walking the cold slopes.
Panorama of all other metric mountains in the Black Mountain. The craggy outcrop on the far left is Carreg Yr Ogof (585 metres), with the dark ridge running to its right being Garreg Las (635 metres), the other outlying metric mountain. Behind it, the black-cliffed outcrop is the Picws Du (749 metres) peak of Bannau Sir Gaer, with Waun Lefrith (677 metres) being the lighter coloured ridge to its left. Behind Bannau Sir Gaer, the white dusted peak is Fan Brycheiniog (802 metres), the tallest in the Black Mountain, with the long Fan Hir (761 metres) ridge to its right. In the distance behind the right edge of Fan Hir is Fan Gyhirych (725 metres), the second tallest peak in the Fforest Fawr range. On the far right side of the picture is the edge of Foel Fraith (602 metres), the metric hill next to Garreg Lwyd. In front of Carreg Yr Ogof is Cefn y Cylchau (556 metres).
Picws Du and Fan Brycheiniog.
The upper slopes of Garreg Llwyd.
Natural ice art.
The view to Carreg Yr Ogof.
The massive cairn on Garreg Lwyd, that on some maps causes the summit height to be shown as 618 metres instead of 616 metres.
Summit panorama. As well as showing the full view of Foel Fraith, this also shows a hill to the right of the Fan Hir ridge, Carreg Goch (558 metres). On the far right are the hills at the head of the (marginally) famous Rhondda Valley.
Frosted stones.
The distant view of Swansea Bay, with England on the far side of the Severn Estuary.
The frozen pond near the summit.
Pond ice.
Ice skating. Too thin to hold me, unfortunately. Becci's picture.
Clydach. Another one.
Herbert's Quarry, home to the Ogof Pasg-Ogof Foel Fawr system.
Warning; falling rocks. Don't go too near the face.
And especially, don't look inside the shelter.
Frosted Rocks.
Quarry buildings with a paraglider.
Even more PNG graphics.
Frozen stream.
The ponies had followed our car and were waiting for us on our return, glowing in the afternoon sunlight.
Grazing.
And smiling for the camera.
Traffic jam of non-Welsh ponies on the way back.