Where Ravens Dare
23 mile route description –2017 version
This route description is to be used in conjunction with a map and compass
Key:
T JCN – T Junction, AH – Ahead, TR – Turn Right, TL – Turn Left, BR – Bear Right, BL – Bear Left, SO – Straight On, RD – Road, TK – Track, X – Cross, FB – Footbridge, ST – Stile, LMG – Large Metal Gate, LWG – Large Wooden Gate SWG – Small Wooden Gate, SMG – Small Metal Gate, KGT – Kissing Gate,
° – Magnetic Compass Bearing, FLD – Field, YDS– Yards, LHS – Left hand Side, RHS – Right Hand Side, FPS – Footpath Sign, WMS – Waymarker Sign
1. Leave Village Hall BR across car park & TL on pavement to RD JCN (bridge on RH). TL to main RD (A468) & X RD to pavement opposite & TR. At 1st turning on LHS, TL up Lewis Street. Continue uphill on RD for 700 YDS to double LMG and ST on RHS (GR 210 898). X ST & TL onto TK towards farm buildings. SO to pass in front of farm house & under metal frame. AH to LMG. Thru & in 15 YDS reach ST on LHS. X ST & ascend to TK. TR on TK to No Entry signs. SO & in 10 YDS BL off TK onto minor path with fence on LHS to reach ST & LMG. X ST & continue uphill with fence on RHS for 300 YDS to ST on RHS. X ST & FLD (040°) to ST. X ST & TR on stony TK to reach trig point at summit of Mynydd Machen. (GR 223 900)
2. Leave the trig point on broad path (040°), keeping mast on LHS. Follow the broad path as it starts to descend & bends to the R. On descending, arrive at WMS (Raven Walk) on LHS & TL. At the next Y JCN WMS (Raven Walk) SO. In 270 YDS BR to pass small birch tree on your LHS. In 100 YDS BR steeply downhill through bracken to reach minor lane. TL & follow lane to arrive at RD JCN. TR, cross cattle grid & follow RD downhill. Near to RD sign ‘Black Vein Mountain Road’ TL and walk underneath the dual carriageway. (GR 225912
CHECKPOINT ONE - (Total Distance 3.2 miles & 1040 feet ascent)
Opens 0900 Hrs - Closes 1100 Hrs
3. SO, X river & enter built up area. At X RD’s, SO into ‘Black Vein Road’. (ignore RD on L -WaunfawrGardens) to arrive at T JCN. X RD to pavement opposite & TR. At 1st JCN, TL into ‘Medart Street’ & SO towards railway. X railway line (CARE) to path opposite. Follow path, ignoring stone steps on LHS. Arrive at canal & TR onto towpath. In 200 YDS TL over bridge, opposite Whysom's Wharf. Thru metal barriers and AH up lane (no through road). In 600 YDS arrive at ST on LHS and TK on RHS (GR 235 921)
4. Continue uphill on RD for 360 YDS to FPS on RHS. BR uphill onto path passing through KGT on route to arrive at forestry TK.TR & in 10 YDS TL uphill to arrive at Pegwn-y-Bwlch (GR 238 929). TR steeply uphill (FPS Twmbarlwm) to reach trig point.
5. From trig point, SO to reach summit mound of Twmbarlwm. Leave summit via wooden steps on far side of mound. (100°) Climb the small flight of four steps & then TL & follow path as it bends around to the LHS. The path descends & then bends to the R to reach KGT. Thru & SO. (25°) The path is wide & grassy. Follow the path then TK for 1.2 miles as it gently descends & then ascends as it follows the ridge. As the path gently ascends, the path will come alongside a young forestry plantation. (GR 254 942)
6. The path will narrow & become a TK & the ground to the R will drop away far more steeply. At (GR 259 951) the TK starts to bear slowly away from the forestry on the LHS. CONCENTRATE ON ROUTE DESCRIPTION HERE. Follow TK & cross marshy area & then start gently ascending on stony TK. 150 YDS after start of ascent BR (020°) off the TK onto a faint grassy path that becomes wider. DO NOT FOLLOW OBVIOUS STONY TK FOR MORE THAN THE 150YDS. The path will gently climb. In due course, you will see a line of electricity pylons ahead of you. Approx 20 YDS before reaching the pylons, arrive at a path JCN. (GR 264 965)
7. SO. (015°) Pass under electricity wires & after 100 YDS reach path fork. BR & head downhill towards the trees. The path descends steeply & passes between a lone tree & the end of the small felled forestry plantation. The path will meet another path that is descending from L to R. Join this path & continue descending, steeply at times to reach a T JCN with fence & trees ahead. (GR 266 967)
8. TL & follow path downhill. At the bottom the path will reach a path JCN. SO. (345°) (Pilgrims Route) The path will contour around the small side valley to arrive at a LMG (green) with green KGT. (GR 263 972)
9. Thru & continue down TK. At 1st TK JCN, BL. (initially 090°) Ignore all side paths & TK’s & SO to emerge from woods at green KGT.SO on wide TK to pass a notice board set into a stone structure. Pass notice board to arrive at car park. (GR 277 980)
CHECKPOINT TWO - (Total Distance 10 miles & 2758 feet ascent)
Opens 1030 Hrs - Closes 1300 Hrs
10. Return to notice board & TR (315°) onto small path. The path will climb. Ignore the faint path that leads off to the R, path bears L onto 270° as it climbs steeply uphill. The path will reach a X TK. SO passing to the R of a large pile of stones. The path will join a wide TK that is climbing uphill from the R. BL onto this TK & climb towards the mast. Pass to L of mast & SO on broad grassy path that becomes an earth path. Follow path (252°) for 0.8 miles to reach path JCN. (GR 259 979)
11. TL (130°) sharply. Follow path passing trig point on L. Continue to follow path (as it becomes less defined) gently downhill to arrive at T JCN. TR (200°) Ignore path on L after 35 YDS & SO. (195°) Arrive at X TK directly underneath pylons & SO. Arrive at major X TK. (GR 259 971)
12. TL (130°) sharply. Follow path passing trig point on L. Continue to follow path (as it becomes less defined) gently downhill to arrive at T JCN. TR (200°) Ignore path on L after 35 YDS & SO. (195°) Arrive at X TK directly underneath pylons & SO. Arrive at major X TK. (GR 259 971)
13. SO (235°) & after 200 YDS arrive at X TK. SO (240°) & after 1.6 mile arrive at LMG & ST (Sign for Mynydd Maen Common on RHS). (GR 240 951) X ST & SO thru 3 LMG, passing new wooden posts on both LHS & RHS. SO to emerge onto lane with beech canopy. Follow TK L and R to arrive at TK JCN and fingerpost on LHS (Cwmcarn Right of Way). SO direction Cwmcarn & in 200 YDS TL with corner of stone wall on LHS (15 YDS before LMG ahead). (GR 233 948)
14. In 150 YDS TR thru SWG and continue downhill with fence and forestry on LHS. Continue gently downhill through two more SWG until you reach fence corner on LHS. BL downhill (240°) soon reaching LMG & ST. X ST and continue downhill with fence on LHS. Ignore next ST on LHS near broken LMG and continue downhill thru woodland until you reach forestry TK. (GR 226 943)
15. TR & in 10 YDS TL, fingerpost on LHS (Right of Way to Cwmcarn). Continue past Restricted Byeway sign on LHS and thru SMG to enter enclosed TK, thru LMG to reach tarmac RD with new houses on RHS. Continue on RD to L & X RD JCN, AH to T JCN. TR on pavement to reach 20 MPH then No Entry signs, SO to main RD (Cwmcarn Hotel opposite). TL & follow pavement for 60 YDS. X RD to CWMCARN VILLAGE HALL. (GR 219 936)
CHECKPOINT THREE - (Total Distance 15.3 miles & 3538 feet ascent)
Opens 1145 Hrs - Closes 1530 Hrs
16. Leave hall & TL. After 60 YDS TL & walk along lane. Keep to the R of ‘Cwmcarn Hand Car Wash’. Walk past & walk thru metal barriers & follow path to go thru subway. On leaving subway, BR & follow RD as it bends to the L to become ‘Chapel Farm Terrace’ & SO. Leave the built up area, X river & follow RD as it bends to the R. Cross railway line & TL. (GR 214 937)
17. Follow TK & ignore all LMGs & SO (240°) uphill, signposted with blue arrow. Arrive at forestry TK. TL & after 5 YDS, TR (signpost Mynydd Islwyn). Follow the main path as it climbs, zigs & zags & eventually levels off to emerge from the forestry at ST & SMG next to a sculptured raven. (GR 204 936)
18. X ST & SO to ST. X ST & SO keeping fence on R. Where fence joins dry stone wall, X ST (Brecon Beacons approx 325°) & walk in same direction, now keeping wall on L to arrive at ST. X ST & follow wall behind shooting range buildings to arrive at ST. X ST & follow wall to ST. X ST & follow wall to ST. X ST & reach RD. (GR 194 939)
19. TL & follow RD. At the first farm, ‘Cwmcaesingrug Farm’, TR & walk down driveway. Keep all farm buildings on the R & look for SMG to the L of the farmhouse. (Raven Walk WMS) Thru & descend to arrive at ST. X ST & descend steeply towards the disused reservoir below. (260°) (maintain this bearing to the valley floor- aim R of the obvious path ahead) X stream to ST. X ST & cross dam wall to reach ST. X ST & TL. Follow path contouring around hill to arrive at ST. X ST & BR (260°) to walk uphill into FLD. Aim for top L corner of FLD to KGT. Thru to reach RD. TL & follow RD for 340 YDS to TK on RHS. TR & follow TK downhill passing cottage (Twyn Gwyn) on RHS to reach RD. TL & follow for approx 40 YDS & then TR to walk steeply downhill. (GR 182 927)
20. The lane will eventually emerge at a RD. X to pavement opposite & TR & walk to RD JCN. TL & walk downhill to the main RD. TL & walk to pedestrian crossing. X RD & SO on tarmac lane to reach RD. X RD to pavement opposite & TL. After 230 YDS TR. After 50 YDS TL through gates & TL to Ynysddu Community Hall. (GR ST 180 924)
CHECKPOINT FOUR - (Total Distance 19 miles & 4559 feet ascent)
Opens 1300 Hrs - Closes 1700 Hrs
ALL ENTRANTS MUST LEAVE THIS CHECKPOINT BY 5PM AT THE LATEST. ANYONE NOT LEAVING BY THIS TIME WILL BE RETIRED.
21. Leave CP & TR. Return to High St. TL & follow LH pavement to green railings & TL to X bridge. Pass Ynysddu Hotel & follow the lane as it bends to the L. BL onto steps & walk up to emerge onto a disused railway line. TL. After 400 YDS arrive at green metal barrier. SO for 1300 YDS to arrive at small wooden bench just before wooden fence. SO, X over stream & after 20 YDS TR up steps. At top reach WMS & metal pole. TL & follow path through woods over 6 small wooden footbridges & duckboards to arrive at RD. TR & immediately after small white building, TL up first set of steps. Follow path to L on stone chippings passing WMS & small stone building (camping barn) on RHS & gradually uphill to reach forestry TK. TL & after 530 YDS BR off TK next to FPS & notice board. Uphill ignoring SWG & ST to reach KGT. TR uphill to TK. TL & ignore all paths to the L & R to arrive at RD. TR, X cattle grid.(GR 202 905)
22. BR onto broad TK, passing a sign for Mynydd Machen Common. Just before the green gate, BR onto the narrower path, pass large boulderto arrive at a SMG next to LMG. (Mendips on 150°) Thru SMG & ignore all paths to the L & R. The path will start to descend. Arrive at LMG. Pass through & SO. Path will emerge onto a RD. SO downhill & ignore all RDs to the L & R. Follow RD to the main RD at the bottom of the hill. X RD & TR. TL at first junction & retrace your steps to the finish. (GR 209 891)
(Total Distance 23 miles & 5400 feet ascent)
Congratulations on completing ‘Where Ravens Dare’ 23 miles challenge walk.
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