Walking in the Black Mountains: Ysgyryd Fawr

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by
Tristan Bawn

Although it is fairly short, this walk still has a lot to offer. You gain height quickly following a path through an old woodland and once you reach the top you encounter a stunning view. It's an easy stroll across the top to the trig point and a great place to stop and take in views of the other mountains in the area. The descent via the northern side is a little steeper but fairly short.

Steve Harris stops for a drink on the trig point

As you can see from the pictures, the day we chose to do this route the weather was fairly CRISP and it was a little breezy on top, but the views were great and a few extra layers tamed the cold. On the north side strange ice formations had covered all the trees and grass, it was almost like snow but was in fact ice partially formed by the wind.

Icy conditions

Route on OS Explorer OL13: Start at the carp park on the B4521 north of Abergavenny *SO328163* From here follow the marked track up between two fields and in to the woodland. Keep following this track straight ahead taking you up to the ridge at *SO327172* Keep heading north along the track. This takes you across the top of Ysgyryd Fawr to the trig point and the remains of St Michael's Chapel 486M. *SO332183* Head north from here down a steep path on to the track at the bottom. Turn right on to this track which follows the wall. *SO333185* Stay on this track with the wall to your left. This will start heading back south and eventually back in to the woodland and on to the track you walked up *SO328170* Retrace your steps back along the track to the car park *SO328163*