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Update:

Updated 2 June 2020 - New blog post - A walk down Briton Ferry Canal

Saturday 31 January 2015

Fan Frynych in the snow - 31/1/2015

It had been a week since we climbed Pen y Fan but we were still craving the delights of the Brecon Beacons. Throughout the week I had been checking the weather uipdates and each day heavy snow had been forecast on the mountains. Our time in the Beacons was not yet finished and we decided to venture to the other side of the A470 and head up to the summit of Fan Frynych

Once again our journey took us over the Black Mountain and, like every other trip over this stretch of road, we had to pull over to get some photos of the amazing scenery. There was still a lot of snow on the ground and the wild ponies were grazing near the edge of the road - two of them came right up to us looking for food. Unfortunately we didn't have anything suitable for them but we did manage to get some lovely pics of them.


One of the beautiful wild ponies
There was still a lot of snow over the Black Mountain
We drove past the Pen-y-Pant car park where we had stopped the week before and were amazed at the amount of cars parked both there and on the road. We glanced up at the path to Pen y Fan and saw people walking up like an army of ants...hence its nickname, the Pen Y Fan Motorway! It was so busy and part of us was relieved that we were going to a much quieter part of the National Park.

Our hike began from a layby  on the A470 (grid ref: SN956227) - a few miles north of the Storey Arms. It is quite a large layby with a picnic bench and information boards - but no toilet or refreshment facilities. We made our way through a wooden gate and into Craig Cerrig-gleisiad nature reserve. 

A cheerful robin greets us
The beginning of the nature reserve
We continued walking up a well laid path which was surrounded by deciduous trees and snow on the ground. It's a fairly steep climb, a little uneven in places and unfortunately not really suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. We reached another gate and as we walked through we were presented with the most beautiful winter wonderland.

The path from the layby
Going through the main gate into the reserve
A winter wonderland with very icy paths
Walking through the reserve we were dwarfed by the overpowering steep crags of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad. This fascinating landscape is the result of the Ice Age 20,000 years ago and over time the ice carved the 150m cliffs we see today.

We made our way along the icy paths which kept disappearing under the thick snow. The reserve is in continuous shade in the winter due to the massive cliffs creating almost an amphirheater and this meant that the paths were getting icier and there was no sign of the snow melting. This shaded area creates perfect conditions for some rare arctic plants that can only be found in this part of the Beacons. The cliffs are also a favoured nesting place for peregrine falcons.


As we climbed we turned around and were starting to get fantastic glimpse of Pen y Fan and Corn Du - they were both covered in snow and you could see the dark wintry clouds surrounding the summits.


Corn Du and Pen y Fan in the distance
The weather was starting to change quite dramatically and as we ventured uphill we were caught in several spin drifts. The sky was turning black in parts and it started snowing off and on, but we continued on the path.

We inadvertently went off path a couple of times due to the snow cover, but luckily we knew the area and managed to get back on track. We could just about see the path in the distance and we followed it, passing the bare hawthorn and rowen trees on the way.


We got to our usual point where we would have a rest and a cup of tea…but the rock we would usually sit down on was completely covered in snow. We didn't mind though - we needed a rest and the views of Pen y Fan were beautiful.


The stormy sky
You can just about make out the path with rowen and hawthorn trees scattered across the landscape
Our rest point - with an awesome view of Pen Y Fan
After warming up with a flask of tea and a Mars bar we continued up the mountain. The snow was getting extremely thick in parts, almost knee deep! In the near distance we could see a cairn and ventured towards it.


Dan battling against the thick snow
The snow was almost knee deep!
The cairn in the distance
When we got to the cairn we once again had awesome views of Pen y Fan and Corn Du in the distance. At this point you have an option to go one of two ways to the summit of Fan Frynych: To the left of the cairn is a ridge which we tried to walk, but the snow was far too thick to see the path, so instead we went straight on (with the cairn behind us). 


Cairn
The sun begins to set
The ridge path was impossible to do due to it being so steep and full of thick snow
The route we took to Fan Frynych didn’t appear to have been touched by hikers for a while, which gave us great satisfaction by making footprints in the unspoiled snow. With the path covered in snow we had to rely on memories of previous visits to navigate to the stile that takes you out of the reserve and onto Fan Frynych.

When we eventually reached the stile the snow was coming down thick and fast with the wind blowing a gale - it was the start of a blizzard!

Walking in untouched snow
The stile that leads out of the nature reserve and onto Fan Frynych
The two of us caught in a blizzard
It wasn't long before we could see the trig point of Fan Frynych. The mountain is 629m above sea level and part of the Forest Fawr section of the Beacons. There is usually a well worn path that leads to the trig point, but due to the snow we couldn't see it. So with the summit straight ahead of us and watching where we were walking we headed straight for it.


I filmed the walk to the trig point… it was freezing, windy and visibility was poor -  it wasn't very pleasant but definitely an experience! On top of the blizzard we had to be aware that there were deep pools of water in this area, so each step on the snow was risky.


Where did the path go? The trig point in the distance
Dan in the blizzard to the trig point
When we finally got to the trig point the blizzard was in full force - it was so cold and the wind was very strong. We got our obligatory trig point photos and then, within ten minutes, the blizzard had ended and the sun came out which brought blue sky and amazing 360 degree views. Please watch the video above to see what we experienced on the summit.

The video of the walk to the summit



Me with the trig point
Dan in the Antarctic...errr actually Mid Wales :)
The Awesome Welsh Dragon trig point of Fan Frynych
We spent a good few minutes up on the summit and as we were loosing light fast it was time to make our way back down the mountain. The footprints we had left whilst walking to the summit were now completely covered over due to the recent snowfall, but eventually we got back to the icy path and then found the stile to get back into the nature reserve.


Going down was both fun and scary. When we have climbed this mountain previously the path up is rocky, sometimes steep and very close to the edge - now it was completely covered with snow. We just had to go for it and spent most of the incline sliding, falling and just hoping for pot luck!  We did however have a lot of fun too... snowball fights, snowmen building and endless falls...the snow in the Beacons was awesome!


Snowman!
Snowball fight anyone?
The sun started setting whilst we descended creating a beautiful pink and purple sky, it was also joined by a full moon. 

We always have a fantastic time when we visit the quieter side of the Beacons and it was extra special in the snow. I would certainly recommend this area if you are fed up with the large numbers of people on Pen y Fan - the walk is challenging but you are rewarded with magnificent views of the National Park…and solitude. 


The sun sets with the moon

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