Pen y Fan alternative: Craig Cerrig Gleisiad.
Pen y Fan too busy or looking for new hiking routes in the Brecon Beacons? Try this 4.3km circular route at Craig Cerrig Gleisiad a Fan Frynych, just 2 miles up the A470 from the Pen y Fan visitor centre.
Here’s a great alternative hike that provides equally spectacular views (including Pen y Fan summit) and a more interesting climb in my opinion.
51°53'20.5"N 3°29'45.6"W Parking, layby on the A470 with picnic area & benches
51°53'37.9"N 3°30'56.7"W Fan Frynych summit
Difficulty: Moderate - Rocks, Water & Mud
Summit Altitude: 629 m
Distance: 4.3km circular
AllTrails route: https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/wales/powys/craig-cerrig-gleisiad?sh=v4pjfr
A short uphill climb through woodland at the start of the trail brings you to a stone wall and this brilliant view.
I discovered this little lesser known gem when I wanted to climb Pen y Fan during the Christmas period but it was rammed, and if like me you prefer a quieter hike, then give this beauty a shot.
It’s a stunning rugged mountain landscape just a short distance from the A470, nestled within the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. You'll find yourself surrounded by an atmospheric amphitheatre, formed by the towering cliffs of Craig Cerrig Gleisiad which were revealed by a glacial melt some 18,000 years ago.
Stepping through the gap in the stone wall. Once you pass here the trail is relatively flat for a while but increases in steepness quite quickly when you get closer to the cliffs. It’s a combination of dirt and medium sized, quite jagged rocks - I’d recommend grippy, waterproof boots, especially in winter.
There’s a couple of different route options which are marked out on the visitor board at the entrance, but I’d suggest the full circular route on AllTrails as this is what takes you on top of the ridge where you can take in the views. There is the option to visit the Fan Frynych summit stone which is a short detour (detailed on the AllTrails route).
The steep climb goes on for a while, passing some friendly chap-ettes in white until you reach the cairn where you have a few different route options.
This is where you can continue up the grass slope to the Fan Frynych summit, and return the same way until you reach the ridge trail to continue the circular route. I was short on time so cut off the corner by taking the SW path from the cairn which brings you up to the top of the ridge. The trail is a lot less steep from here, so the worst is over!
The views from the top of the ridge are spectacular, it’s the perfect place to get some travel / adventure photography or landscape photography shots. Towards the East you can see Pen y Fan summit (and the hoards of hikers you managed to avoid!) and North East is Brecon town. South & West look towards the rest of the Brecon Beacons and I bet would offer amazing views on a clear day.
Brecon on the left and Pen y Fan summit on the right.
Top ridge trail looking South with views of the A470 valley & the Brecon Beacons.
Follow this ridge trail along the top of Craig Cerrig Gleisiad, keep an eye out for Peregrines! This section is pretty flat and easy although boggy and icy when I visited in December.
The descent follows the ridge line along the cliffs of Craig Cerrig Gleisiad.
Once you reach the end of the flat section of the ridge path with Pen Y Fan in the background, the trail descends quite rapidly.
In December it was verrry wet and muddy. There’s a small chance I fell on my arse once… (Okay twice). But I did have 8kg of gear on my back which didn’t help, so keep it light if you’re not a fan of steep and slippy descents. Stick to the grassy sections when you can and steer clear of the mud, slow and steady wins the race. The path levels out soon enough and then it’s a short hop down to the river which you’ll need to cross.
The stepping stones are ice rinks so avoid if you like your bones intact. Jump a narrow section or walk through a shallow bit if you have good boots.
Then it’s back over the wall and down the hill to complete the route!
So there you have it, a great alternative to Pen y Fan in peak visiting times which offers similar views and a more interesting climb. Perfect if you want to do some landscape photography or just fancy a quiet hike to yourself!
Have fun,
F.
• Travel Photography • Adventure Photography • Landscape Photography • Brecon Beacons • Wales Photography • Wales Hiking Routes • Brecon Beacons Hiking Routes
