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Crickhowell Circular via Table Mountain and the three Pens Walk

Table Mountain and an airy ridge walk in the Black Mountains across three tops with a scenic descent.

Brecon Beacons Circular Tough

History

Club walks since April 2015, and a summary which goes back to Jan 2010.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sat, 12-Jul-25 Airy ridge walk across three tops with a scenic descent: Crickhowell Circular via Table Mountain and the three Pens [Brecon Trip] 11 hot with a breeze on the tops
Sat, 06-Aug-22 Airy ridge walk across three tops with a scenic descent: Crickhowell Circular via Table Mountain and the three Pens [Crickhowell Trip] 11 sunny
Mon, 16-Sep-19 Airy ridge walk across three tops with a scenic descent: Crickhowell Circular via Table Mountain and the three Pens [Black Mountains Trip] 15 humid overcast wet on higher ground
Thomas G
Length : 20.4 km (12.7 mi), with options to shorten or lengthen
Ascent/Descent : 973 m
Net Walking Time : ca. 6 hours
Toughness : 8 out of 10

Take the 08.50 bus (Line 43, direction Abergavenny/Y fenni, from Stand 3), arrives 09.42.
Return buses are on 15.13 (43), 16.31 (X43), 17.31 (43), 18.29 (X43), 19.38 (X43).
From the centre of the rightly popular town of Crickhowell, within minutes you rise up steeply (with an 12% average gradient) for 3 km – mainly through pastures – to the excellent viewpoint that is the eponymous Iron Age hillfort site of Crug Hywel (or Table Mountain), which gives its name to the town and towers above the Usk Valley. You ascend further up the flank of the main mountain range above the town to Pen Cerrig-calch, the first of three high tops along the ridge. Continue to the slightly higher second top, Pen Allt-mawr and down to the third top, Pen Twyn Glas.

The further descent now follows the easterly spur of the range with a gentle gradient and some fantastic views to the valleys either side and out to Sugarloaf/Y Fâl. A short stretch of road walking is followed by a re-ascent up to the col between Table Mountain and Pen Cerrig-calch and then follows the Beacons Way contouring the hill for a while before dropping down to town through the ancient woodland of the Cwm Cumbeth, with the bubbling Cumbeth Brook never far away. The route finishes through the heart of Crickhowell past most of its tea options.

Walk Options :
A Very Short Walk leads back down to town from the Table Mountain, on a westerly loop along the Beacons Way and down the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (7.5 km/4.6 mi, 389m ascent, 4/10).
A Short Walk leads in a westerly loop from either Pen Cerrig-calch or Pen Allt-mawr (the latter route partly map-led) and down the lower part of the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (11.5 km/7.2 mi, 658m ascent, 5/10; or 16.5 km/10.3 mi, 741m ascent, 6/10).
A Variation of the Ending continues along Llanbedr Lane, entirely on tarmac, cutting out the re-ascent to the Crug Hywel and the descent down the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (cuts 1.5 km and 217m ascent, 7/10).
An out-and-back Extension from the last of the Pens to Waun Fach, the highest top in the Black Mountains, results in a 31.0 km/19.2 mi walk with 1402m ascent/descent, a strong 10/10.
A Longer Walk out to Waun Fach, followed by a descent along its easterly ridge to Llanbedr village and along roads to Crickhowell, has 31.6 km/19.6 mi and 1218m ascent/descent (10/10).
A sheltered dropout route avoiding the final ascent to the Waun Fach and Pen y Gadair Fawr ridge in the event of the weather turning, is described.

Lunch: Picnic .
Tea: Plenty of options in Crickhowell, see the pdf for details.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.
  • Thomas G
    Jul-25

    30 deg in London, 31 in Brecon and 32 in Crickhowell. As a plot to avoid the summer heat, this posting was an abysmal failure. But...

    Of the 10 walkers yesterday, we lost one to driving home (the heat), 1 to sitting the day out (the heat on the walk and in his tent) and one to the Brecon Parkrun.

    We had 2 arrivals though, both with a trying journey (one with a broken down train and subsequent taxi journey, one with an overheating bus that was taken out of service mid-journey).

    1 other had signalled joining us but wasn't there in Crickhowell when we got going at 9.50.

    On slowly up the steep, with plenty of stops (in the shade) but 1 fell behind, and when we had reached the Table Mountain, the announced walker caught us, with one of his sons in tow. They had left London at 6 and arrived in Crick at 10. The newly assembled group of 10 stayed together up to and over the 3 Pens, where father and son moved swiftly on, 1 went on along the long walk via Waun Fach (with a pickup from the Llanbedr pub offered), the rest rested for a while before commencing the Main Walk.

    2 of those then followed the road into Crick while the remaining 5 went back on up the hill and completed the walk, getting to Crick at just before 5.

    Drinks in The Bear for 8 of us, before the 17.31 bus or a lift by one of the drivers or a drive to Llanbedr to pick up the brother walker.

    Lots of wild ponies with many foals, a herd of cattle with very young calves. A newly installed engineered path up from Table Mountain to Pen Cerig-Calch, not just in the spring-fed streams area where it makes sense but also higher up through the heather and bilberry ground, which is unsightly and seems OTT.

    Bilberries in sufficient amounts for dessert, a breeze at the top almost all the time, heather in good colour, fine views and no heatstrokes. We had a great day.

    The walker that fell behind walked up to Pen Cerig-Calch and back down on a half self made route, back in Crick at around 3.

    11 hot with a breeze on the tops

  • Karan
    Jul-25

    Supplementary

    1

    Attempting the longer walk, this walker encountered no problems on a lovely route until post his descent of Pen Twyn Mawr.

    Without an OS map to refer to, confidence was lost in my navigating abilities. To get safely down off the ridge became the priority. Hence a decision was taken to get off the ridge path and into Mydd Forest with the intention to head towards the main road running near the river. This was not without its difficulties through some steep woodland descents.

    Eventually he was relieved to find a forest car park (Cadwgan) also a popular wild swimming spot where cars and people were a welcome sight. 7 miles away from the Red Lion pub (sadly not open I later discovered) and with the kindness of strangers he was able to get in touch with his driver who collected me from the car park having waited in Llanbedr. On this occasion no hitchhiking was required and this walker was glad mountain rescue weren’t required. Safely back in Brecon 19:45 not deterred to try solo navigating off text again but a lesson learnt.

Thomas G
Length: 20.4 km (12.7 mi), with options to shorten or lengthen
Ascent/Descent: 973 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours
Toughness: 8 out of 10
Meet at 09.35 at Crickhowell Square Bus Stop.
[From the direction of Brecon: take the 08.45 (Line 43), arrives 09.35. From the direction of Abergavenny: take the 08.43 (Line 43), arrives 09.04.
Return buses are on 17.37 and 18.04 direction Brecon, and on 16.50 and 17.24 direction Abergavenny.]
From the centre of the rightly popular town of Crickhowell, within minutes you rise up steeply (with an 12% average gradient) for 3 km – mainly through pastures – to the excellent viewpoint that is the eponymous Iron Age hillfort site of Crug Hywel (or Table Mountain), which gives its name to the town and towers above the Usk Valley. You ascend further up the flank of the main mountain range above the town to Pen Cerrig-calch, the first of three high tops along the ridge. Continue to the slightly higher second top, Pen Allt-mawr and down to the third top, Pen Twyn Glas. The further descent now follows the easterly spur of the range with a gentle gradient and some fantastic views to the valleys either side and out to Sugarloaf/Y Fâl. A short stretch of road walking is followed by a re-ascent up to the col between Table Mountain and Pen Cerrig-calch and then follows the Beacons Way contouring the hill for a while before dropping down to town through the ancient woodland of the Cwm Cumbeth, with the bubbling Cumbeth Brook never far away. The route finishes through the heart of Crickhowell past most of its tea options.
A Very Short Walk leads back down to town from the Table Mountain, on a westerly loop along the Beacons Way and down the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (7.5 km/4.6 mi, 389m ascent, 4/10).
A Short Walk leads in a westerly loop from either Pen Cerrig-calch or Pen Allt-mawr (the latter route partly map-led) and down the lower part of the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (11.5 km/7.2 mi, 658m ascent, 5/10; or 16.5 km/10.3 mi, 741m ascent, 6/10).
A Variation of the Ending continues along Llanbedr Lane, entirely on tarmac, cutting out the re-ascent to the Crug Hywel and the descent down the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (cuts 1.5 km and 217m ascent, 7/10).
An out-and-back Extension from the last of the Pens to Waun Fach, the highest top in the Black Mountains, results in a 31.0 km/19.2 mi walk with 1402m ascent/descent, a strong 10/10.
A Longer Walk out to Waun Fach, followed by a descent along its easterly ridge to Llanbedr village and along roads to Crickhowell, has 31.6 km/19.6 mi and 1218m ascent/descent (10/10).
Lunch: Picnic.
Tea: Plenty of options in Crickhowell, see the pdf for details.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.
  • Thomas G
    Aug-22

    Could there possibly be better walking weather than we had? I doubt it.

    Could there possibly a better combo of multi-week weather and time of year to bring out the natural features of the area while providing for easy walking on good paths? I doubt it.

    Talybont man had taken a day off for visiting Brecon and Abergavenny, so with 3 new arrivals we were 11.

    We started in sunshine with fluffy clouds and in 14 degrees, at 90m above sea. 2 hours later at the trig on Pen Cerrig calch we were in sunshine with fluffy clouds and in 14 degrees, only now at 701m above sea. The views were tremendous, the air abuzz with the sound of bees and bumblebees feasting on the vast swathes of heather in full purple bloom. There was also the green and red brown of the leaves of whinberry bushes, which still had enough berries for a spot or two of foraging. Then there was the grey of the limestone outcrops (the 'calch' in the hill's name).

    After a rest, we continued along the edge with a new engineered and well-drained path (not that the drainage had much to do over the last weeks) to Pen Allt-mawr and on to Pen Twyn Glas. Time for lunch, before 6 turned right for the Main Walk, and 5 bore left for the Long Walk. This was glorious and gloriouser, as we went up to Waun Fach and on (engineered paths again) via Pen y Gadair Fawr to do the whole horseshoe ridge. Walking through a sea of purple, sometimes almost at head height, with views of Skirrid and Sugarloaf. Paradise. That stretch to Crug Mawr before the final descent is probably a touch longer than one wishes at that stage, but it is what it is. Late afternoon sun threw shadows on hill sides and valleys, making even bracken slopes look interesting.

    We got to The Red Lion in Llanbedr for 18.30 for a very well deserved drink, and were then spared the final 3.5 km of tarmac by one of the Main Walkers picking up up in his car. Perfect.

    sunny

Thomas G
Length: 20.4 km (12.7 mi) [shorter and longer walks possible]
Ascent/Descent: 944 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours
Toughness: 9 out of 10
10.00 Bus Line X43 from Abergavenny Bus Station Stand 5 , arrives Crickhowell Square 10.20 . Return buses : 17.31 , 18.31 .
From/To London:
Take the 06.45 Swansea train from Paddington (07.12 Reading), arriving Newport (Wales) at 08.31. Connect to the 09.05 Transport for Wales train to Manchester Piccadilly, arrives Abergavenny 09.28. For the quietest route from train to bus station, consult the pdf for SWC 334.
Return trains : 18.14 --> 21.12 , 18.57 --> 21.31 , 20.45 --> 23.39 .
From the centre of the rightly popular town of Crickhowell, within minutes you rise up steeply (with an 12% average gradient) for 3 km – mainly through pastures – to the excellent viewpoint that is the eponymous Iron Age hillfort site of Crug Hywel (or Table Mountain), which gives its name to the town and towers above the Usk Valley. You ascend further up the flank of the main mountain range above the town to Pen Cerrig-calch, the first of three high tops along the ridge. Continue to the slightly higher second top, Pen Allt-mawr and down to the third top, Pen Twyn Glas. The further descent now follows the easterly spur of the range with a gentle gradient and some fantastic views to the valleys either side and out to Sugarloaf/Y Fâl. A short stretch of road walking is followed by a re-ascent up to the col between Table Mountain and Pen Cerrig-calch and then follows the Beacons Way contouring the hill for a while before dropping down to town through the ancient woodland of the Cwm Cumbeth, with the bubbling Cumbeth Brook never far away. The route finishes through the heart of Crickhowell past most of its tea options.
A Very Short Walk leads back down to town from the Table Mountain, on a westerly loop along the Beacons Way and down the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (7.5 km/4.6 mi, 389m ascent, 3/10).
A Short Walk leads in a westerly loop from either Pen Cerrig-calch or Pen Allt-mawr (the latter route partly map-led) and down the lower part of the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (11.5 km/7.2 mi, 658m ascent, 6/10; or 16.5 km/10.3 mi, 741m ascent, 8/10).
A Variation of the Ending continues along Llanbedr Lane, entirely on tarmac, cutting out the re-ascent to the Crug Hywel and the descent down the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (cuts 1.5 km and 217m ascent, 8/10).
An out-and-back Extension from the last of the Pens to Waun Fach, the highest top in the Black Mountains, results in a 31.0 km/19.2 mi walk with 1402m ascent/descent, a strong 10/10. [map-led]
A Longer Walk out to Waun Fach, followed by a descent along its easterly ridge to Llanbedr village and along roads to Crickhowell, has 31.6 km/19.6 mi and 1218m ascent/descent (10/10). [map-led]
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here .
Lunch: Picnic .
Tea: Plenty of options in Crickhowell, see the pdf for details.
  • Thomas G
    Sep-19

    14 on the walk, in various subgroups at the start (bus, car, early start), but all united on Pen Cerrig-calch. The ascent to Table Mountain had been relentless but dry, and with the rewards of fine views. The further ascent to the ridge proceeded under dark clouds and eventually we were engulfed in them, an effect known as 'slight drizzle with no views'. So it stayed for the duration of the high ridge walk. At the first top 4 had taken the 2nd possible shortcut to catch the 14.20 bus back to Abergavenny. Between tops 2 and 3 we had some hard rain, then drizzle, to then finally emerge from the clouds, now with views again, after about 2 bours. The weather improved enough to take waterproofs off for the long scenic descent, with the higher ridges still under clouds, but partly emerging. Quite atmospheric.

    4 chose the road ending, avoiding another 240m ascent and 6 went back up and across the ascent route by Table Mountain for a scenic descent along the slope then down along the wooded Cwm Cwmbeth and past some Highland cattle lookalikes with impressive horns. Time enough was left for tea in Crick and then the 17.31 bus...

  • Thomas G
    Sep-19

    humid overcast wet on higher ground

  • Anonymous
    Sep-19

    Sunny Wales Club? Smashing Weather Club? 2 years running with phenomenal weather in Wales (except for Monday, but it was nice to get some use out of that wet weather gear after carrying it all weekend). Another great SWC trip.

  • Thomas G
    Oct-19

    Plus 1 late starter, who had to go to Cwmbran first thing to pick up her mobile phone at the bus depot, and walked the short version. 15