The crest of Y Grib

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Our view

"A strenuous and airy climb on to the Black Mountains via one of the Beacons' finest ridges."

Walk directions

A set of wooden steps go down from the back of the car park on the eastern side of the road. These lead on to a rough track where you turn right and then, after 30yds (27m), left over a stile. Follow the permissive path down the side of the wood to a stream, cross a stile and then cross the stream.

Keep to the left edge of the field, with trees on your left, and climb steeply to the top of the field. Leave the wood behind and follow the fence line upwards to another stile. This leads on to the flanks of Castell Dinas.

Keep straight ahead here to cross the ruins and descend steeply into a deep saddle. Cross a stile and a broad track, then climb directly up the steep spur ahead. You’re now on Y Grib and it’s possible to follow the faint track all the way up to a cairn and then down to a small notch where your route is crossed by a bridleway.

Climb steeply back out of this and hug the crest up to another cairn. Now keep ahead on a fainter path that passes another cairn before climbing steeply, straight ahead, on to the broad spur of Pen y Manllwyn.

Here, at a tiny cairn, turn right on to a clear track that leads over the top of Pen y Manllwyn (marked by a cairn) and up to the boggy plateau on top of Waun Fach. The summit is stranded in a puddle of wet peat that makes it an undesirable picnic spot. Turn right and follow the obvious path down on to the ever-narrowing spur of Pen Trumau.

Cross the narrow summit and, as the ground steepens, follow the path through rocky outcrops to a broad saddle, marked by a large cairn. Turn sharp right here and follow the main track as it descends, easily at first. This steepens and becomes rocky for a while, going through several gates, before it reaches a gate above a walled track.

Follow the track down to the road and turn right, then immediately left. Drop to the bottom of the valley past Cwmfforest Riding Centre and climb out again on the other side. As the road turns sharply to the left, bear right on to a stony farm track that runs between hedgerows. Follow this track until it turns sharply left where you continue straight ahead along a narrower track between hedges. This will take you past the stile you crossed earlier, on the right-hand side, then take the steps on your left, back to the car park.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Clear tracks over farmland, rolling moorland and narrow ridge, quiet lane, several stiles

Landscape - High mountain plateau, narrow ridge, steep grassy escarpment, deep and remote cwms

Dog friendliness - Care needed near livestock

Parking - Dinas Castle Inn, Pengenffordd, allows parking for small fee

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Powys Dog-friendly walks in Powys

About the walk

This is the classic climb on to the highest ground of the Black Mountains. The steep western slopes of the towering massif, accentuated by a succession of grassy arêtes (narrow ridges) and rounded promontories, hide a multitude of remote cwms (steep-sided hollows at the head of a valley or on a...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

The largest unitary authority in Wales, Powys covers an area of approximately 2,000 square miles. Much of that is mountainous because it actually has the lowest population density of all the Welsh counties.