Black Mountains Round
The Black Mountains Round is a 40 km fell-running circuit of the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons — visiting the main ridges and summits of this compact upland block on the English-Welsh border near Abergavenny.
This route has no official waymarking. Serious navigation experience is required — do not rely on GPS alone. Carry OS 1:25,000 maps and study the line before you go.
About Black Mountains Round
The Black Mountains form the south-eastern corner of the Brecon Beacons National Park — a compact group of long, flat-topped ridges running north-south between the valleys of the Wye and the Usk. The Round visits the main summits (Pen y Gadair Fawr, Waun Fach, the Hatterrall Ridge) in a satisfying circuit that showcases the area's broad, grassy ridges and excellent long-distance views.
At around 40 km with approximately 2,000 m of ascent, it is a strong half-day challenge on good fell-running terrain. The Black Mountains are less visited than the central Beacons and the paths less obvious — navigation skills are useful.
The route
From Abergavenny or Hay-on-Wye: north along the Hatterrall Ridge (the Offa's Dyke path provides a useful spine), west to Waun Fach (811 m, the highest point) and Pen y Gadair Fawr (800 m), south along the Grwyne Fawr valley and back to the start on the ridge or valley floor.
Getting there & logistics
Base: Abergavenny (train) or Hay-on-Wye (bus). Both are good starting points.
Best time: April to October. The Black Mountains are grassy and drain well.
Safety
The Black Mountains ridges are broad and navigationally straightforward in good visibility — in mist, the flat ridge tops can disorient. In an emergency: call 999 or 112, ask for Police then Mountain Rescue. Brecon MRT. Pre-register SMS 999.
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