Читать книгу Hillwalking in Wales - Vol 2 - Peter Hermon - Страница 17

Fan Fawr

Fan Fawr is a shy mountain, denying the viewer from the A470 all but the most fleeting of glimpses. Its immense sprawling bulk is best seen from Fan Llia, asserting itself aggressively and with more than a hint of malice when mist swirls around. The top is a plateau of desolate moorland, tilting gently from the highest point overlooking the Storey Arms to the trig point 0.5 mile away SW. Sadly there is no cairn worthy of the senior peak of the range; just a small cluster of flat stones, unmistakable in clear weather but easily missed in mist or snow.

The view of the Beacons from Fan Fawr is disappointing. Although Y Gryn – for once – looks a worthy hill, the bulk of Corn Du precludes any wider vista. More striking are the views W, where the great whale-backed ridge of Fan Llia hogs the scene with Fan Nedd in the background. In marked contrast a short stroll N from the cairn reveals the green pastures of the Tarell Valley.

Storey Arms route (FF1)

Cross the stile by the car park across the road from the Storey Arms and follow a track that climbs the rather dreary hillside on 270°. Where it levels off, and just before it descends into a gully at 973202, break away L on 190° to mount the hillside near a couple of isolated outcrops. Fan Fawr rises abruptly ahead with a well-worn path climbing directly up its NE face to the summit cairn.

Fan Fawr from near Corn Du

Alternatively (FF1,1) leave the stile on 230° and head directly across country until you meet the path up the NE face to finish as before.

Craig y Fro route (FF2)

This route also starts from a car park on the A470, this time at 971208. A short sharp pull up the broken slopes, keeping the stream and waterfalls L, leads to the broad saddle backing Craig y Fro. From here a narrow but quite distinct track contours across to the N and Craig Cerrig-gleisiad (FF5). For Fan Fawr head first SW and then SE over easy grass to ensure the gentler gradients.

S ridge (FF3)

This little-known route keeps the objective firmly in its sights all the way and follows the edge of the long, elegantly sculptured escarpment that gradually builds up from the SE. Park along the stretch of road around 988175, S of the Beacons reservoir, and from there make a beeline across the pathless fells for the ridge.