Pen Cerrig Calch Walk Plus Table Mountain & Pen Allt Mawr

Trail Review: https://roamingspices.com/pen-cerrig-calch-walk/ Music: https://soundcloud.com/scandinavianz/scandinavianz-adventure-free-download-soon-on-spotify?si=5152483566014e4ea74a5526d74f4efd _____________________ Pen Cerrig Calch Walk - Step by Step Part 1: Crickhowell to Table Mountain From the Crickhowell High School car park, turn left onto New Road and in approximately 100 metres turn left again onto the A40. Continue along this road for approximately 600 metres, turning right on Pregge Lane, just before reaching the Indian restaurant (Red Indigo). In around 200 metres, take the path off to your right and shortly after it crosses the Cwmbeth Brook (stream), take the steps to your left through the gate. Now follow the trail up the left-hand side of the field directly ahead of you. After reaching the top of the first field, pass through another gate and continue to follow the line of the hedge to the end of the second field and through the gate. The trail now runs between two hedges, before soon reaching yet another gate. You now enter a charming wooded valley, the trail ascending gradually as you progress with the Cwmbeth Brook off to your left. You will eventually emerge from the woodland and upon reaching - yes you guessed it - another gate, cross the Brook and continue north through a pleasant meadow. Upon reaching the top of the meadow, the trail actually runs along the river bed flanked on either side by traditional stone walls. Keeping your feet dry, however, should not be too difficult unless of course you are hiking in particularly wet conditions, leading to greater river flow. The path soon bears left away from the stream and enters a stone sheep pen via another gate. Head to the right and leave the sheep pen via the opening in the direction of the upslope. The trail now sweeps to the east, following the wall to your right as it meanders its way through the blanket of ferns that cover the mountainside. It is now simply a case of following this obvious trail to the top of the ridge before making one final short climb to the summit of Table Mountain, sitting at 451 metres. Walk the perimeter of Table Mountain summit absorbing the wonderful views in all directions, including Crickhowell to the south and the unmistakable Sugarloaf Mountain to the southeast. Part 2: Pen Cerrig Calch Walk Drop down from the summit in the direction from which you arrived. But this time, follow the obvious trail through the ferns, in the direction of the broad plateau that lies to the north. The route ascends gradually at first, becoming steeper as you climb to the top of the ridge. Once the steepish climb is complete, the trail flattens out somewhat and becomes sedate once more. At this point, be sure to turn and appreciate the wondrous view back down to the summit of Table Mountain and beyond! Continue up the centre of the grassy, broad summit plateau and before long you will reach a rocky path that will lead you directly to the trig point at the 701 metre peak of Pen Cerrig Calch. Part 3: Pen Allt Mawr From the trig point, continue along the path in a northwesterly direction until you begin to drop down from the summit plateau. At this point, follow the indistinct path towards and then along the left-hand ridge of this broad and flat section of the walk. You will now get to enjoy sweeping south-westerly views towards the Usk Valley. As the trail reaches its most westerly point, it cuts back towards the north, now following the westerly ridge of the plateau. In approximately 1.3 km, you will arrive at the trig point marking the 719-metre summit of Pen Allt Mawr. From here, you have some wonderful views to absorb; To the north, is the distinctive flat-topped summit of Waun Fach, the highest peak in the Black Mountains. To the northwest, lies the broad summit plateau of Mynydd Llangorse with the narrow, hump-backed Mynydd Troed slightly further to the northeast. As Pen Allt Mawr is about the furthest point from the beginning of the walk, this is an ideal spot to have a decent break and recharge your batteries, while soaking in the wide-ranging vistas. Part 4: Homeward Bound From Pen Allt Mawr, take the path south, hugging the easterly ridge, giving you superb views towards the Grwyne Fechan valley. Eventually, the path veers away from the edge of the ridge and rejoins the trail leading you back in the direction of the summit of Pen Cerrig Calch. It is now just a case of retracing your steps back to the start point of the walk in Crickhowell.