4.2 of 5 (4 votes)

Sugar Plum Fairy

A moderate walk (low hills and fells (below 600m)) in national park Brecon Beacons in Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy), Wales, about 18.40km (11.43 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 6:45h. It is unsuitable for families with children, prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs.
Elevation Profile
Ascent 585m (1919ft)
Descent 585m (1919ft)
Max. Elevation 570m (1870ft)
Altitude Gain & Loss 1170m (3838ft)
Start & End
Abergavenny
Distance 18.40km
(11.43mi)
Duration ~6:45h
Difficulty  
Moderate
Car Free Walks TeamCreated by GaryShipp on 28 Nov 2010
The ascent of Sugar Loaf (or 'Y Fal' to give it it's local name) is exponential in many ways. As the views increase in splendour with height, so does the severity of the slopes that guard this fortress of a hill. This route takes in some of the quieter routes around the hill, avoiding the busier areas in the vicinity of nearby car parks. The effort of arriving independent or automobile is well rewarded by hidden beauty in peaceful corners.

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Nearby Walks

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Y Fal - the Sugar Loaf

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Walk Map

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Waypoints

OS Grid SO305136
Start of the walk
OS Grid SO300140
Pop in here for provisions (Tues, Fri and Sat). I brought some lovely plums for a cake recipe to be made when I got home, thus adding lb of weight to my pack!
About 0.70 km (~0.43 miles) from
OS Grid SO291154
There's no particularly recommended route through the 'suburbs' of the town.
About 1.59 km (~0.99 miles) from
OS Grid SO290156
Take this to avoid the walk up the road.
About 0.28 km (~0.17 miles) from
OS Grid SO287159
Join the small lane heading uphill.
About 0.41 km (~0.25 miles) from
OS Grid SO283162
Take the right hand fork as you enter the woods.
About 0.42 km (~0.26 miles) from
OS Grid SO279170
Fork right here for the more direct route to the top of the hill. Leftwards will take you on an attractive alternative path that follows the contours of the hill towards the head of the valley.
About 0.96 km (~0.6 miles) from
OS Grid SO272187
OK, I skipped a bit here, but there are a number of choices of route up to the highpoint, the location of which is pretty obvious when you near!
About 1.84 km (~1.14 miles) from
OS Grid SO259189
Whilst admiring the beautiful views northwards towards the Black Mountains, be careful not to miss the path junction that turns SW here.
About 1.31 km (~0.81 miles) from
OS Grid SO255182
Turn right here otherwise you're in for a MUCH longer walk!
About 0.79 km (~0.49 miles) from
OS Grid SO261182
Having taking on this rather brisk slope, you are confronted by various route posibilities, all pretty much heading the way you want to go.
About 0.57 km (~0.35 miles) from
OS Grid SO268173
From here the masses depart from the route to head down to the nearby Car Park. Unencumbered as you are, we suggest taking a minor path into the beautiful deciduous woodland between where you are and your earlier summit.
About 1.16 km (~0.72 miles) from
OS Grid SO272169
Our walk through here was in a thin layer of late November snow. Promises were made to return in spring to see if the suggestion of bluebells could be true.
About 0.55 km (~0.34 miles) from
OS Grid SO279163
Turn right here to extend the walk via the River Usk. If you're short of time / energy, then the lane straight downhill offers a quicker route back into town.
About 0.93 km (~0.58 miles) from
OS Grid SO275160
It looks like the entrance to the front garden of the cottages. Or maybe it was . . . anyway, we found a way through to the footpath.
About 0.43 km (~0.27 miles) from
OS Grid SO275156
Left or right? It's very much to your preference.
About 0.38 km (~0.24 miles) from
OS Grid SO274148
Whichever way you approached from the last waypoint, head across the road here.
About 0.82 km (~0.51 miles) from
OS Grid SO271145
Turn downstream (right if you struggle with things like this . . .)
About 0.39 km (~0.24 miles) from
OS Grid SO284144
After the footbridge the path narrows to follow the meander round the bend. With much more erosion this path may cease to exist, so mind your footing.
About 1.26 km (~0.78 miles) from
OS Grid SO285139
Welcome back to reality! One can try to imagine what a peaceful spot this once would have been.
About 0.51 km (~0.32 miles) from
OS Grid SO291139
Cross the road here, taking due care, and straight over to the 'Sustrans' NCN marked route.
About 0.63 km (~0.39 miles) from
OS Grid SO299138
The footbridge marked at GR301137 was sadly absent when we visited. Maybe a short term fix or a longer term problem? From this point, either head back into town for refreshment and retail therapy (or hell?!), else find your back back to the station from whence you started some hours earlier.
About 0.78 km (~0.48 miles) from
OS Grid SO305136
There's a cafe here. We can't comment on it though as unusually for us, we timed our arrival to perfection for our scheduled train.
About 0.65 km (~0.4 miles) from

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