Storey Arms to Libanus or Circular via Ystradfellte Walk

30.0 km (18.7 mi), with 900/1137m ascent/descent. For a longer or shorter walk, see below Walk Options.

10 out of 10, with 8 hours walking time.

This strenuous route explores the easterly part of the Fforest Fawr area of the Brecon Beacons, starting from a high pass between the Central Beacons ridge and the imposing Fan Fawr.

Often ignored by walkers due to its vicinity to Corn Du and Pen y Fan, Fan Fawr is an impressive hulk of a mountain, after a steep ascent providing for fantastic views across the Fforest Fawr out to Black Mountain and across to the Central Beacons. You then descend along the broad and gentle flank of it, eventually along the watershed between the Hepste and Mellte catchment areas, two of the three main rivers of the Waterfall Country just to the south. Stretches of this descent are fundamentally pathless and with some watery although not boggy areas, but in good weather the onwards route is not difficult to discern. In bad weather though, good navigation skills are essential!
You cross over from sandstone terrain into the limestone upland of the Mynydd y Garn with its shake holes and limestone outcrops, and follow the limestone rockface of the Gwaun Cefnygarreg atop the Mellte valley to lunch in Ystradfellte. Rising out of the valley, you cross another limestone upland and ascend the gentle ridge of Fan Llia and Fan Dringarth, after which several shorter options to finish are described.
But the main route ascends Fan Frynych, a glorious viewpoint overlooking the Usk Valley, followed by a long, scenic descent into the valley. Lastly, you cross the grassy common-with-views of the Mynydd Illtud as well as pass the National Park Visitor Centre en route to Libanus with its pub and bus stop.

A shortcut greatly reduces the effort. An extension via Twyn y Gaer (hill) is described.

A Shortcut, from Fan Fawr to Fan Dringarth, reduces the walk to a steep ascent, a crossing of a shallow valley and a long scenic descent: 15.1 km/9.3 mi with 528/765m ascent/descent, 5/10.

After passing over Fan Dringarth, there are then five different finishes possible:

· A Circular Walk back to the Storey Arms bus stop is the least steep descent (cuts 4.2 km and 237m descent, 9/10);
· An Alternative Finish at the Llwyn-y-Celyn bus stop, the steepest finish, without going to the top of Fan Frynych first (cut 5.1 km and 56/179m ascent/descent, 9/10);
· An Alternative Finish at the Llwyn-y-Celyn bus stop, the steepest finish, but going to the top of Fan Frynych first (cut 4.4 km and 23/146m ascent/descent, 9/10);
· The Main Walk Finish to the Libanus bus stop by The Tai’r Bull Inn;
· An Extension over Twyn y Gaer (an Iron Age hillfort site), before the Libanus Finish (add 3.5 km and 75m ascent/descent).

OS Landranger Map: 160 (Brecon Beacons)
OS Explorer Map: OL12 (Brecon Beacons National Park)
Harvey Superwalker XT25: Breacon Beacons West/Bannau Brycheiniog Gorllewin
Harvey British Mountain Map: Breacon Beacons/Bannau Brycheiniog

Glyn Tarell, Storey Arms Bus Stop, map reference SN 982 203, is 10 km south west of Brecon/Aberhonddu, 235 km west north west of Charing Cross and 440m above sea level. Libanus Bus Stop, map reference SN 994 259, is 6 km north northeast of Storey Arms and 203m above sea level. Both are in Powys, Wales. They are served by line T4 (Cardiff – Merthyr Tydfil– Brecon – Newtown), with 9 buses a day Monday-Sat and 6 on Sundays.
There are also large car parks by the Storey Arms and a little further to the south along the A470.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: This walk is doable as a daywalk from London if you have motorised transport. Accommodation is available in Libanus and many other places along the bus line, including the Llwyn-y-Celyn Youth Hostel reached via an Alternative Ending and with its own bus stop on the same line.

The New Inn Ystradfellte, Aberdare, Powys CF44 9JE (01639 721 014). The New Inn is located 11.5 km/7.1 mi into the walk.

YHA Brecon Beacons Llwyn y celyn, Libanus, Brecon, Powys, LD3 8NH (01874 622 485). The Youth Hostel is located 200m down a lane opposite the bus stop at the walk’s alternative finish and its reception is open and sells hot and cold drinks. It is licensed. Meals are served in the evening.
The Tai’r Bull Inn A470, Libanus, Brecon, Powys LD3 8EL (01874 622 600).

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

May-23 Thomas G