Exposed walking or scrambling routes in Brecon Beacons ?

[RustyCrampon]

I've recently started walking in the Brecon Beacons, because they are a
lot closer to my house than Snowdonia or the Scottish Highlands, where I
usually go.

I'm finding the Beacons are a little lacking in the excitement
department. I haven't yet found any exposed walking or
borderline-scrambling routes, apart from maybe the north ridge of
Cribyn, which I'm planning to visit next time it snows enough for me to
get my crampons out.

The Beacons seem to be a bit like Dartmoor, which I only really find
interesting when there's some adverse weather to add to the challenge.

Can anyone recommend some more exciting routes in the Beacons?

[Tim Jackson]

On Tue, 08 May 2012 17:44:41 +0100, RustyCrampon wrote...

Here's an extensive (but rather negative) survey by Paul Saunders, a
formerly prolific contributor to this group who hasn't been around for
some time. (What's he doing these days?)
http://groups.google.com/group/uk.rec.walking/msg/d470ac8e7749ee8c

It comes from the following thread a long time ago - not sure if there
are any more ideas buried there.
http://tinyurl.com/cgcpg7e

--
Tim Jackson
ne...@timjackson.invalid
(Change '.invalid' to '.plus.com' to reply direct)

[David B]

"RustyCrampon" <ru...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:<4fa94d81$0$2870$a826...@newsreader.readnews.com>...

You could try Waterfall Country, Ysradfellte.
I'm not sure how much scrambling there is there but there are some seriously
dangerous[#1] walking routes especially up the Afon MeIlte. I've never had
time to get up to Sgwd Einion Gam but I think that's meant to be a bit of a
scramble up the river. There is also climbing down at Dinas Rock so there
could be some scrambling around there too.
Hopefully Paul Saunders from Wilderness Wales will see this thread as I
think he has quite an extensive knowledge of this area.

David
[#1] - There have been quite a few deaths there.

[Tim Jackson]

On Tue, 08 May 2012 17:44:41 +0100, RustyCrampon wrote...

> I'm finding the Beacons are a little lacking in the excitement
> department. I haven't yet found any exposed walking or
> borderline-scrambling routes, apart from maybe the north ridge of
> Cribyn, which I'm planning to visit next time it snows enough for me to
> get my crampons out.

The north ridges of both Cribyn and Pen-y-Fan are steep rather than
scrambly (though there are a few rocks underfoot near the top of Pen-y-
Fan).

A good way to get to them (in most conditions) is using the "goat
tracks" marked on the map which traverse the north-west faces of both
Pen-y-Fan and Cribyn. These make it possible to include the north
ridges in a full west-east traverse of all the main beacons. Again,
neither is a scramble, but the north-west faces are very steep so there
is some slight exposure.

However, I once did the Cribyn goat track in quite deep snow, and
realised half-way along that in those conditions it was probably not
safe, even with an ice-axe (and crampons would have been little use).
But by then it was just as silly to go back as forwards.

Not marked on the map, and little used because few people know it's
there, is a little path which traverses the north face of Corn Du, about
20 feet below the summit. Access from near the top of the paved
staircase up the west ridge. A little more exposure than the other goat
tracks, needs careful placing of the feet in a couple of eroded places,
but still not a scramble and quite short.

[Mike Clark]

In message <4fa94d81$0$2870$a826...@newsreader.readnews.com>

I've an alternative suggestion for you. I can think of plenty of exposed
scrambling in the Brecon Beacons area, but to experience it you'll have
to go underground!

For example there are some cave systems near to the SWCC hut at Penwyllt
such as Ogof Ffynnon Ddu where you can experience scrambling around the
edges of deep pits, or balancing along ledges above deep rifts. You'll
need to have very sure footwork and a head for heights.

So if it's challenges and excitement in the Brecon Beacons that you're
after, go along and try caving.

The SWCC website can be found at http://www.swcc.org.uk/

Mike
--
o/ \\ // |\ ,_ o Mike Clark
<\__,\\ // __o | \ / /\, "A mountain climbing, cycling, skiing,
"> || _`\<,_ |__\ \> | caving, antibody engineer and
` || (_)/ (_) | \corn computer user" http://www.antibody.me.uk/

[Phil Cook]

On Wed, 09 May 2012 15:14:17 +0100, Mike Clark <mrc7...@cam.ac.uk>
wrote:

> In message <4fa94d81$0$2870$a826...@newsreader.readnews.com>
> RustyCrampon <ru...@invalid.invalid> wrote:


> > I've recently started walking in the Brecon Beacons, because they
are
> > a lot closer to my house than Snowdonia or the Scottish
Highlands,
> > where I usually go.
> > I'm finding the Beacons are a little lacking in the excitement
> > department. I haven't yet found any exposed walking or
> > borderline-scrambling routes, apart from maybe the north ridge of
> > Cribyn, which I'm planning to visit next time it snows enough for
me
> > to get my crampons out.
> >
> > The Beacons seem to be a bit like Dartmoor, which I only really
find
> > interesting when there's some adverse weather to add to the
challenge.




> > Can anyone recommend some more exciting routes in the Beacons?




> I've an alternative suggestion for you. I can think of plenty of
exposed
> scrambling in the Brecon Beacons area, but to experience it you'll
have
> to go underground!

In a similar vein go to the coast. I seem to remember PS mentioning
some scrambles on the Gower.

--
Phil is away from home...