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Sugar Loaf Circular from Abergavenny walk

Ascent of the iconic Sugar Loaf along quiet paths: lush pastures, ancient oak woods, grassy ridges, heather and gorse. Tea at a vineyard.

Brecon Beacons Circular

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sun, 14-Apr-24 Sunday Walk - Sugar Loaf/Mynydd Pen-y-fâl (Abergavenny/Y Fenni Circular) [Abergavenny Trip] [Extra Walk] 9 sunny with a cold wind
Sun, 26-Sep-21 Sunday Walk - Sugar Loaf/Mynydd Pen-y-fâl Circular (from Abergavenny/Y Fenni) [Abergavenny Trip] 10 sunny with a breeze and passing clouds
Sun, 15-Sep-19 Sunday Walk - Sugar Loaf/Mynydd Pen-y-fâl Circular (from Abergavenny/Y Fenni) [Black Mountains Trip] 20 warm and humid with some clouds
Thomas G
Length: 19.0 km (11.8 mi) [shorter and longer walks possible]
Ascent/Descent: 622m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours
Toughness: 6 out of 10
09.30 Start at the Train Station, group passes the café at the Bus Station at 09.40.
From the pretty town centre of Abergavenny walk up the iconic Sugar Loaf mountain, initially steeply up through lush pastures and ancient oak woods to Twyn-yr-Allt, a former settlement on one the lower foothills of the Black Mountains. From there continue along the mildly undulating treeless plateau to Deri hill, covered in whimberries, bracken and gorse before turning steeply up the barren easterly flank of Sugar Loaf through the upland heathland, to the summit ridge of the southernmost peak of the Black Mountains, with superb panoramic views (in good weather) across South Wales and South West England.
Descend gently down the heather and gorse-covered flanks and continue along the gentle ridge of Mynydd Llanwenarth to descend more steeply through the large ancient oak wood of Deri Fach into St. Mary’s Vale and along the spring-fed Nant Iago (stream) to tea at the superb Sugar Loaf Vineyard’s Café and Tasting Room, before re-tracing the outbound route through the town centre.
Sugar Loaf is an immensely popular destination. The chosen route avoids paths from and to popular car parks, preferring quieter paths, while providing for a mixture of environments and views in all directions. Due to being a conical top distant from any neighbouring mountain chain, Sugar Loaf is very exposed to bad weather. Especially the summit plateau can be unforgiving. Only the very highest bit can be skirted.

A longer descent route and a scenic diversion to a nearby pub at the bottom of the mountain in Llangenny are described, as is an alternative descent through Deri Fach oak wood along more challenging paths.

Walk Options
A start/finish at the Bus Station cuts 730m each way and 30m ascent at the end of the walk. Pick up the directions at the end of the second paragraph.
A taxi ride can cut out the first steep ascent out of Abergavenny to the entrance of Sunny Vale farm at the top of the straight bit of Pen-y-Pound road by a sharp right turn (3.2 km into the walk). The taxi ranks with the best chance of a car being present are at the train station and on Frogmore Street by the Tesco (1.5 km into the walk). Pick up the directions at the end of the first paragraph on page 5.
A Longer Descent Route down the flank of Sugar Loaf adds 2.2 km/1.4 mi and 71m ascent.
A Scenic Diversion to the Dragons Head in Llangenny adds 4.0 km/2.5 mi and 237m ascent to the longer descent route. From the pub it is straightforward to bail out to Crickhowell, along a signed lane (buses back to Aber: 15.57, 17.57).
Lunch: Picnic.
Lunch Off-Route: The Dragons Head in Llangenny (located 2.2 km downhill off the long route, after 12.9 km/8.0 mi of walking).
Tea: The Sugar Loaf Vineyard Coffee Shop and Tasting Room in Abergavenny (open to 17.00, located 3.7 km from the end of the walk). Plus plenty of options in the centre of Abergavenny.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.334
  • 14-Apr-24

    I was at thebus station 0940 but no one else. Maybe I'll meet you guys en route

  • 14-Apr-24

    Indeed. Apologies to EBB (and 1 other) who joined us today: the remaining walkers had agreed last night to start from the Tesco at 9.45, as all our accommodations were in that part of town, and we didn't expect new walkers to turn up. BUT we didn't put a comment up to that effect! Slack...

  • 14-Apr-24

    4 departures from town today, 3 of whom had not been on yesterday's walk though.

    Not a great example for effective communication, today's outing, but a great day out.

    2 new arrivals started at train and bus station respectively, but passed each other unbeknownst as they had never met before. 5 of the resident walkers meanwhile had agreed to start further up the route, as that's where their hotels/guesthouses were, but without telling the rest of the world (via a blog comment).

    We were met at our meeting point by 1 of the newbies, the club's no. 2 butterfly spotter. The other newbie only caught up with us on Sugar Loaf's top. Meanwhile, 2 other walkers had driven up to the outskirts to drop their car there, ready to drive home straight after the walk. Their last message had been that they'd walk the route in reverse though, so we put the phones away and stopped worrying about meeting them, but in fact they then changed their mind and waited at the road top for us for some considerable time, not realising that we had already long passed that point and were in fact ahead of them! They were so far behind in fact that they never caught up with us until the Vineyard Café, despite us walking the short extension! At least the sun was shining...

    In fact it was sunny all day with a very cold wind though and we reached the top a few minutes after noon. Lunch was had there, with the fantastic views, despite the usual circus up on the top of stag groups and other day trippers up from the car park halfway up the hill.

    We took the short extension and then also the longer route through the wonderful oakwood glen of the Nant Iago, reaching the café just after 3 pm, I think. Wines, teas, coffees and cakes were consumed at an outside table, bottles of wine bought to take home.

    Back in AberG just after half four.

    9 sunny with a cold wind

    Wildlife: wild ponies, buzzards, ground nesters, tadpoles (thousands of them in a pool on the descent), a couple of types of butterflies, a ladies smock plant, male red tailed bumblebees, bloody-nose beetles, a Gwynne's mining bee, wildflower covered road verges and banks.

    One walker reported having heard a cuckoo on yesterday's walk.

  • 14-Apr-24

    Very enjoyable walk despite missing the group. We clearly underestimated the groups speed up the hill from town centre, but got to practice our navigation! Overall an excellent trip with challenging but rewarding routes in good company

Thomas G
Length: 19.0 km (11.8 mi) [shorter and longer walks possible.
Ascent/Descent: 622 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours
Toughness: 6 out of 10
09.30 Start at the Train Station, group passes the café at the Bus Station at 09.40.
From the pretty town centre of Abergavenny walk up the iconic Sugar Loaf mountain, initially steeply up through lush pastures and ancient oak woods to Twyn-yr-Allt, a former settlement on one the lower foothills of the Black Mountains. From there continue along the mildly undulating treeless plateau tox Deri hill, covered in whimberries, bracken and gorse before turning steeply up the barren easterly flank of Sugar Loaf through the upland heathland, to the summit ridge of the southernmost peak of the Black Mountains, with superb panoramic views (in good weather) across South Wales and South West England.

Descend gently down the heather and gorse-covered flanks and continue along the gentle ridge of Mynydd Llanwenarth to descend more steeply through the large ancient oak wood of Deri Fach into St. Mary’s Vale and along the spring-fed Nant Iago (stream) to tea at the superb Sugar Loaf Vineyard’s Café and Tasting Room, before re-tracing the outbound route through the town centre.

Sugar Loaf is an immensely popular destination. The chosen route avoids paths from and to popular car parks, preferring quieter paths, while providing for a mixture of environments and views in all directions.

Due to being a conical top distant from any neighbouring mountain chain, Sugar Loaf is very exposed to bad weather. Especially the summit plateau can be unforgiving. Only the very highest bit can be skirted.

A longer descent route and a scenic diversion to a nearby pub at the bottom of the mountain in Llangenny are described, as is an alternative descent through Deri Fach oak wood along more challenging paths.

Walk Options
A start/finish at the Bus Station cuts 730m each way and 30m ascent at the end of the walk. Pick up the directions at the end of the second paragraph.
A taxi ride can cut out the first steep ascent out of Abergavenny to the entrance of Sunny Vale farm at the top of the straight bit of Pen-y-Pound road by a sharp right turn (3.2 km into the walk). The taxi ranks with the best chance of a car being present are at the train station and on Frogmore Street by the Tesco (1.5 km into the walk). Pick up the directions at the end of the first paragraph on page 5.
A Longer Descent Route down the flank of Sugar Loaf adds 2.2 km/1.4 mi and 71m ascent.
A Scenic Diversion to the Dragons Head in Llangenny adds 4.0 km/2.5 mi and 237m ascent to the longer descent route. From the pub it is straightforward to bail out to Crickhowell, along a signed lane.
Lunch: Picnic.
Lunch Off-Route: The Dragons Head in Llangenny (located 2.2 km downhill off the long route, after 12.9 km/8.0 mi of walking).
Tea: The Sugar Loaf Vineyard Coffee Shop and Tasting Room in Abergavenny (Open to 17.30, booking recommended, located 3.7 km from the end of the walk).
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.334
  • 26-Sep-21

    The same 10 walkers as yesterday, unsurprisingly, joining the group at whatever place was nearest their accommodation. The weather was very much on our side, as we had sunshine mostly, with plenty of passing clouds, and a 2 minute period of spittle just long enough to produce a faint rainbow. The walk 'leader' led from memory and promptly lost his way for a few minutes on the ascent up Twyn-yr-Allt, leading to a short stretch through very high bracken. Other than that, it was pleasant, if steep at times, walking. Far views galore, with a strong breeze keeping the clouds moving, and also the sight of rain lashing down on the Central Beacons (no flip-flop wearing tourists on Pen-y-Fan today, one would guess).

    We saw wild ponies, bales of freshly cut bracken (where do they go with those?), and sheep of course.

    7 walked the longer descent route, and 5 of those the thrilling route through the 'gnarled wood' of old oak trees. Got to the Vineyard Café at 15.30 when the norm route walkers had just/were just leaving.

    A very good day.

    sunny with a breeze and passing clouds

  • 26-Sep-21

    Peat-free compost. That's where cut bracken goes, apparently. Save the planet, buy bracken-based compost!

Thomas G
Length: 19.0 km (11.8 mi) [shorter and longer walks possible]
Ascent/Descent: 595 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours
Toughness: 7 out of 10
09.30 Start at the Train Station, group passes the café at the Bus Station at 09.40.
From Crickhowell take the 09.25 (Bus Line X43) to Abergavenny, arrives 09.39 at the Bus Station.
Return buses to Crickhowell: 16.15, 18.15.
From/To London:
Daytrip not possible this weekend due to trackworks.
From the pretty town centre of Abergavenny walk up the iconic Sugar Loaf mountain, initially steeply up through lush pastures and ancient oak woods to Twyn-yr-Allt, a former settlement on one the lower foothills of the Black Mountains. From there continue along the mildly undulating treeless plateau tox Deri hill, covered in whimberries, bracken and gorse before turning steeply up the barren easterly flank of Sugar Loaf through the upland heathland, to the summit ridge of the southernmost peak of the Black Mountains, with superb panoramic views (in good weather) across South Wales and South West England.
Descend gently down the heather and gorse-covered flanks and continue along the gentle ridge of Mynydd Llanwenarth to descend more steeply through the large ancient oak wood of Deri Fach into St. Mary’s Vale and along the spring-fed Nant Iago (stream) to tea at the superb Sugar Loaf Vineyard’s Café and Tasting Room, before re-tracing the outbound route through the town centre.
Sugar Loaf is an immensely popular destination. The chosen route avoids paths from and to popular car parks, preferring quieter paths, while providing for a mixture of environments and views in all directions.
Due to being a conical top distant from any neighbouring mountain chain, Sugar Loaf is very exposed to bad weather. Especially the summit plateau can be unforgiving. Only the very highest bit can be skirted.
A longer descent route and a scenic diversion to a nearby pub at the bottom of the mountain in Llangenny are described, as is an alternative descent through Deri Fach oak wood along more challenging paths.
A start/finish at the Bus Station cuts 730m each way and 30m ascent at the end of the walk. Pick up the directions at the end of the second paragraph.
A taxi ride can cut out the first steep ascent out of Abergavenny to the entrance of Sunny Vale farm at the top of the straight bit of Pen-y-Pound road by a sharp right turn (3.2 km into the walk).The taxi ranks with the best chance of a car being present are at the train station and on Frogmore Street by the Tesco (1.5 km into the walk). Pick up the directions at the end of the first paragraph on page 5.
A Longer Descent Route down the flank of Sugar Loaf adds 2.2 km/1.4 mi and 71m ascent.
A Scenic Diversion to the Dragons Head in Llangenny adds 4.0 km/2.5 mi and 237m ascent to the longer descent route. From the pub it is straightforward to bail out to Crickhowell, along a signed lane.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.
Lunch: Picnic.
Lunch Off-Route: The Dragons Head in Llangenny (located 2.2 km downhill off the long route, after 12.9 km/8.0 mi of walking).
Tea: The Sugar Loaf Vineyard Coffee Shop and Tasting Room in Abergavenny (Open to 17.00, located 3.7 km from the end of the walk). T=swc.334
  • 15-Sep-19

    Some started from the train station, some from the bus station, some from along the route close to their accommodation, others had started a little earlier, but on the first top, the Twyn-yr-Allt ancient settlement, 20 walkers were united (1 from yday skipped this walk, as she had gone up Sugar Loaf last year). The quiet route along Deri hill, avoiding the tourist masses until the top of the Loaf, seemed to find favour. A refreshment stop was made on the flank of the main ascent before the final push up, fearing the wind and the number of people on the plateau, but neither were too unnerving: lots of people, yes (incl. a 6 week old baby) but all well behaved walkers, not noisy flip-flop wearing tourists. All (from what I hear) took the longer and quieter descent route, and 6 descended all the way into the valley to The Dragon's Rest in Llangenny. What a nice pub! Recce walks had been on weekdays, so I had never been inside. Very friendly staff, very tasty food and atmospheric rooms. Recommended.

    1 walker was met there by relatives and left with them for Newport and a train back to the Smoke. 1 other met friends up from Bristol (who then joined the walk for a very short stretch and proceeded to the Vineyard Café by car). We ascended back up the slope and down into St. Mary's Vale and along the Nant Iago stream through Deri Fach oakwood for a very lovely stretch. And when we got to the vineyard, the cafė was just closing, and most of the other walkers were just leaving, they had stayed there a full 90 minutes!

    A fine day.

    warm and humid with some clouds