1. The walks starts from the village of Glyntawe in the heart of the Brecon Beacons national park. Glyntawe is probably most famous for its incredible Dan-yr-Ogof show caves, a must see for anyone staying in the area.
2. To get to Glyntawe from the M4 in South Wales come off at junction 45 and head north on the A4067 towards Pontardawe. Follow the A4067 for another twelve miles after Pontardawe through the Tawe Valley and you will eventually reach Glyntawe. From the north follow the A40 west out of Brecon until you reach Sennybridge then take the A4067 south from Sennybridge for nine miles to reach Glyntawe.
3. There is parking for several cars at the layby with a telephone box opposite the Gwyn Arms on the A4067 at grid reference SN 846 168 or alternatively use one of the two pubs or the ample pay and display parking down the road at the Craig-y-nos Country Park.
4. The walk is best started from grid reference SN 848 171 on the northern side of the A4067. So from your parking place head along the northern side of the A4067 until you reach this position opposite the Tafarn-y-Garreg public house.
5. Once you are at this position you will see a footpath head north from the road and then cross a footbridge over the River Tawe. Cross the footbridge and then turn right along the fence line of the farmers field, keeping the fence on your left and river on your right.
6. When you reach the corner of the field fence head left or west passing the far end of the farm to a gateway on to open moorland. Pass through the gateway here and head up a steep path through bracken. The path ascends on a north westerly direction and views open up over the valleys to the right and back over Glyntawe. The path will eventually ease off and turns into a splendid ridge walk.
7. The Brecon Beacons has the finest examples of sandstones escarpments in the nation, they are incredible. The area was mainly formed by glaciation during the last ice age. Keep walking along the ridge of Fan Hir and you will now to your right see many fine examples of the effects of glaciation on a landscape.
8. As well as the stunning sandstone escarpments there are two other features clear from Fan Hir. The first you will see is a bizarre small ridge just beyond the foot of the Fan Hir escarpment, this is a fine example of Moraine, caused by an advancing glacier leaving behind unconsolidated glacial debris usually of soil and rock.
9. After gaining the highest northern end of Fan Hir you will be able to look down and see the beautiful waters of Llyn y Fan Fawr a classic welsh cwm or glacial lake.
10. From the high point on the northern end of Fan Hir drop down into Bwlch Giedd then ascend the steep path on the other side to gain height and reach the summit of Fan Brycheiniog at grid reference SN 825 217.
11. Fan Brycheiniog is the highest point of the Black Mountain at 802 metres above sea level, the summit has a useful circular summit shelter just short of its trig point pillar. There are far reaching views from Fan Brycheiniog on a good day as far as Exmoor across the Bristol Channel, Cardigan Bay, Snowdonia and the outline of the Gower Peninsula and Pembrokeshire coast.
12. Continue north along the summit ridge and you will reach the northern summit cairn. The Black Mountain is home to some beautiful wild ponies. By now you may well have seen them but if you haven't already you probably will at some point during the walk.
13. From the northern cairn of Fan Brycheiniog head in a westerly direction. At this pont you could head north out to the the peninsula of Fan Foel or just keep heading west over pathless terrain to reach the bwlch between Fan Foel and Bannau Sir Gaer at grid reference SN 818 218. The view of the north facing escarpment of Bannau Sir Gaer from here is absolutely incredible, it looks and is huge and the wide panoramic views over lower mid wales make for a fantastic contrast.
14. Head up a steep ascent path to top out on the summit of Bannau Sir Gaer for yet more stunning close and far views. Looking west from Bannau Sir Gaer the views across Llyn y Fan Fach to Waun Lefrith and beyond are awesome. Llyn y Fan Fach was once a reservoir, the reservoir building has now been turned into a bothy.
15. Head west from Bannau Sir Gaer and after just over a kilometre you will be next to a scar in the red sandstone rock and above the west end of Llyn y Fach and about to start the descent to Waun Lefrith. It is well worth heading up to the summit of Waun Lefrith just for the view back along the escarpment above Llyn y Fan Fach.
16. From the summit of Waun Lefrith head south for approximately one and a half kilometres down pathless and boggy terrain heading towards the River Twrch. On the map you will see a bridleway which on the ground is actually more of a faint path. You will reach this so called bridleway before you reach the river, when you reach it head left or east to south east along it.
17. Eventually the bridleway path will reach a ford over the River Twrch. The crossing here isn't always easy. especially when in spate so cross where possible then head along the river bank and pickup the bridleway again at grid reference SN 802 197 on the south side of the river.
18. Continue heading south on the bridleway which is now much clearer on this side of the river. After half a kilometre the bridleway splits into two at Banwen Gwyn at around grid reference SN 806 190. Take the left bridleway and continue along it in a south easterly direction crossing the Afon Giedd and ascending slightly as it rounds Sinc Giedd.
19. This area changes to a grassy and limestone terrain riddled with shake holes, streams and even the odd limestone pavement. As you ascend passing Sinc Giedd and Carreg Goch one of the larger shake holes has become a deep and tear shaped pond.
20. After passing Carreg Goch then Castell y Geifr the bridleway starts to descend and turns into more of a proper track. Eventually reaching a step grassy descent then a switchback through gates and down into the campsite at Glyntawe. Head for the entrance of the campsite then left to the main road.
21. Head left again down the main road for another kilometre to reach the layby or start of the walk. Take care on the main road as people do drive like idiots along the road and there is no proper pavement just a wide grass side.
22. For after walk refreshments there is the Gwyn Arms and Tafarn-y-Garreg pubs in Glyntawe, a cafe at the country park car park and plenty of other options in the villages on the way back along the A4067.

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