Talybont to Pen Y Fan and back
Variation of The Gap using an OS map.
Start Talybont (Village Hall Car Park). Up behind the White Hart onto the old tram track above Talybont Reservoir. Branch up off the tram track until you hit a track in open land near Pen Rhiw. Follow this track past Bryniau Gleision and directly into the forest and down to above Pentwyn Reservior; this very wide track swings North parallell to railway. Follow this track till it hits the road, go left then immediately right onto the Taf Fechan Forest track. Stay left, then a bit further stay right where the track touches the road. Down and up a steep gulley, then a steady climb to the point between Fan Y Big and Cribyn. Branch left to go round Cribyn, this leads to the summit of Pen Y Fan (difficult track, lots of start/stop and places where you have to push the bike; also you have to carry it the last little bit). Get photo at summit.
Initially carry the bike off of the summit then descend Cefn Cwm Llwch (very steep in places!). You will come out at a small car park.
At this point there are many ways to get back to Talybont: I chose the lanes to Llanfrynach, then joined the canal path at Pencelli back to Talybont.
Finally, in case you are unaware, there are lots of walkers going to, at and descending from Pen Y Fan.
Mountain Bike
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