Pandy Inn to Llanvihangel Crucorney walk

24.7 km (15.4 mi), with 871/836m ascent/descent. For a shorter or longer walk see below Walk Options.

8 out of 10, with 6 ½ hours walking time.

This route at the south easterly end of the Black Mountains area in the Brecon Beacons National Park starts with a steep ascent onto an Iron Age hillfort site and on to Hatterrall Hill, and then follows Offa’s Dyke Path and the Beacons Way across Hatterrall Hill and the largely heathery – but in parts boggy – open moorland of the dramatic Hatterrall Ridge with fine panoramic views from this natural boundary of a ridge up along the wild, lonely and beautiful Vale of Ewyas (the valley of the River Honddu and the easternmost valley of The Black Mountains) and across the South Wales mountain ranges to the west, and over the plains of the Welsh/English borderlands to the east, on a good day all the way to The Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills.
A dramatic descent at the start of the return leads down into the Vale of Ewyas with a bird’s eye view of the fascinating ruins of Llanthony Priory, the remnants of one of Wales’s great medieval buildings, and to lunch at its cellar bar or a nearby pub.
The return down the glacial valley between steep ridges offers fantastic views to the Sugar Loaf and Skirrid mountains near Abergavenny, some old oak woodlands, river meadows and plenty of waterways streaming down the hillsides. A memorable highlight is Cwmyoy village, both for the ascent of the superb viewpoint of a crag above the village and for the renowned crooked church, bent and twisted due to the still active landslide on which it was built.

Shorter and longer options are described.

A Shortcut just before lunch cuts 3.2 km/2.0 mi and 121m ascent.
Another Shortcut cuts the climb up the hill looming over Cwmyoy village, cutting 740m and 43m ascent.
A Shortcut mid-afternoon cuts 360m and 63m ascent.
An Extension over the superb viewpoint of Twyn-y-Gaer (hillfort) adds 2.0 km/1.2 mi and 196m ascent.

Pandy Inn Bus Stop, map reference SO 335 224, is 9 km north east of Abergavenny, 200 km west northwest of Charing Cross and 109m above sea level; Skirrid Inn Bus Stop, map reference SO 325 206, is 2 km south west of Pandy and 144m above sea level. Both are in Monmouthshire, Wales. Pandy Inn and Llanvihangel Crucorney are served by line X3 (Cardiff - Abergavenny – Hereford) with 7 buses a day Mon-Sat only. Fares from/to Abergavenny are £3.40 and £3.10 respectively (04/19).

Saturday Walkers’ Club: This walk is doable as a daywalk from London, especially if you have motorised transport, but also if taking a train to Abergavenny to connect to above bus service.

OS Explorer: OL13 (Brecon Beacons National Park – Eastern Area)
OS Landranger: 161 (The Black Mountains/Y Mynyddoedd Duon)
Harvey Superwalker XT25: Breacon Beacons East/Bannau Brycheiniog Dwyrain
Harvey British Mountain Map: Breacon Beacons/Bannau Brycheiniog

Llanthony Priory Hotel Cellar Bar Llanthony, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 7NN (01873 890 487). The Priory Hotel’s bar is located 12.5 km/7.8 mi into the walk.
The Half Moon Inn Llanthony, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 7NN (01873 890 611). The Half Moon is located 13.0 km/8.1 mi into the walk.
Llanthony Treats Honddu Cottage, Llanthony, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 7NN (01873 890 867). Treats is located 13.1 km/8.1 mi into the walk.

The Old Pandy Inn Hereford Road Pandy, Monmouthshire, NP7 8DR (01873 890 208). At the start of the walk, so a tea stop if walked in reverse.
The Queen’s Head Cwmyoy, nr Stanton, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 7NE (01873 890 241). The Queen’s Head is located 2.4 km/1.5 mi from the end of the walk.
The Skirrid Mountain Inn Skirrid View Llanvihangel Crucorney, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 8DH (01873 890 258). The Skirrid Inn is located at the end of the walk.