Pen Cerrig-calch and Pen Allt-mawr

Submitted by Timwoods on 09 August 2010

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(3 votes)

A circular, half-day mountain (above 600m) walk in Wales starting at Crickhowell, Powys, about 13km (roughly 8 miles) long and . Pen Cerrig-calch and its neighbour Pen Allt-mawr are popular for the views north across to bigger hills of the Brecon Beacons. A tour of the twin summits makes a great morning or afternoon out from Crickhowell. It's a steepish climb, but once you have gained the height, there is a nice & easy high-level walk across the plateau between the cairns. The peak can also be combined with Crug Mawr and Sugar Loaf, both rising just to the east, for a much longer day out. Start: Crickhowell, OS Grid: SO217185 Elevation Profile (x: waypoint number, y: metres)

Gain (+/- 10%): 807m (2649ft)

Total (+/- 10%): 1611m (5286ft)

Loss (+/- 10%): 803m (2637ft)

Max. Elevation: 710m (2329ft)

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Waypoints

1. Crickhowell

OS Grid: SO217185

From the centre of Crickhowell, head out along Llanbedr Road. About 400m past the last houses, a bridleway cuts north towards The Wern.

2. Crug Hywel fort

About 2 km (roughly 2 miles) from 1 OS Grid: SO225204

Footpaths from The Wern head north to Crug Hywel fort, and the start of the climb up. This is the site of an Iron Age hillfort and you can still see a stone/earth rampart. Beyond the fort, the path heads sharply uphill alongside the Trwyn Ysgwrfa spring.

3. Trwyn Ysgwrfa

About 1 km (roughly 1 miles) from 2 OS Grid: SO222217

At about 550m, the slope starts to level out. Keep on a bearing to the summit cairn.

4. Pen Cerrig-calch

About 1 km (roughly 1 miles) from 3 OS Grid: SO218223

The summit is marked by a cairn and is no small hill - 701m. The northwest shoulder leads you towards the secondary summit of Pen Allt-mawr.

5. Pen Allt-mawr

About 2 km (roughly 2 miles) from 4 OS Grid: SO207241

A few metres higher at 719m, and a great viewpoint. If you are doing the round trip to Crug Mawr and Sugar Loaf, drop down from here into Cwm Banw. Otherwise, follow the western edge of the summit plateau around to Pen Gloch-y-pibwr.

6. Pen Gloch-y-pibwr

About 1 km (roughly 1 miles) from 5 OS Grid: SO206231

Keep along the western edge, with good views down into the Usk valley.

7. Down to Foxhall

About 2 km (roughly 2 miles) from 6 OS Grid: SO214217

Drop down the southwestern spur towards Foxhall. From here, join the footpath to Twyn (213203) which runs on to Crickhowell.

8. Crickhowell again

About 3 km (roughly 3 miles) from 7 OS Grid: SO217184

By the time you are back in Crickhowell you will have climbed nearly 700m - a fair day out and well deserving of a pint. The Bear on the High Street is the recommended spot.