Walking Itineraries - Brecon Beacons

1 InformationPlease noteThis rewarding walk takes you up the distinctive Sugar Loaf Mountain. Viewed from somedirections it has the shape of a sugar loaf or even a volcano (which it isn t!). It is a short climb to the summit and on a clear day it is possible to see hills as far north as Shropshireand as far south as Somerset as well as many of the major mountains in the Brecon Beacons . BelowSugar Loaf, Abergavenny is an interesting market town with a castle and market hall and lots toexplore. Where is it? Explorer Map OL 13 or Landranger Map 161 Grid reference: SO 268 at car park on MynyddLlanwenarth below Sugar Loaf.

2 Please see pg 2 for more miles/ 5km. 268m of up to 2-3 hoursTerrainThere are wide grassy paths on theslopes- a steady ascent /descent. It will besteeper near the summit. Rocky, uneventerrain around the summit. It can beslippery in wet weather so take care andkeep to paths. There are no gates/stilesbut is not suitable for a wheelchair orscooter. GradeStrenuousPlease be aware that the Sugar Loaf walk should not be undertakenwithout appropriate clothing andfootwear, map and compass andknowledge of navigation, especially inpoor weather.

3 Navigation can be difficultin poor conditions so check the weatherforecast beforehand. #?tab=mountainWeather ItinerariesSugar Loaf Mountain near Abergavenny RouteFrom the North Heading towards Abergavenny along theA40 take the first left after the Lamb andFlag public house up a narrow roadsignposted Sugarloaf the South Follow the A40 (signposted Brecon ) out of Abergavenny, passing Nevill HallHospital on your left. Shortly after thehospital; take the narrow road to theSugar Loaf Vineyard which is on yourright.

4 NextFollow the signs for the vineyard andtake the next left, and the next left will pass the vineyard on your 7LA. Carry along the road headingup a steep hill. After a sharp hairpin bendto the left the road will fork. Take theright-hand road with the P sign. Afterapproximately 1km you should see alarge car park on your left. This is thestarting point. On your way home you may find itpreferable to carry on past the vineyardand not turn right. Instead, follow theroad until you reach a junction withChapel Road. Take a right turn here andfollow Chapel Road back until it joins theA40.

5 You will come out nearly oppositethe Railway Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. Crown copyright and database rights 2016 Ordnance Survey suitable on this route Navigation practice, photography, bird Route12 Grid Ref: SO 268 167. At the northern edge of the car parkthere should be a large National Trust sign with some walkingand nature information. From there the very noticeable pathheads away left as you look at the sign (due north). Grid ref: SO 266 172. The path passes the corner of adrystone wall.

6 As you approach, Sugar Loaf should becomevisible (on a clear day) to your right. If you continue on, thepath then passes another corner of the dry stone wall. Shortlyafter the path will fork. Take the right-hand path and continueon your journey. In front of you (still due north), you will be able to see araised embankment heading up towards the summit. Headingtowards the embankment, a smaller path will intersect withthe path you are on. Continue straight ahead. Soon you willsee another larger path crossing with the path you are the left-hand path and head towards the embankment.

7 Grid Ref: SO 265 181. This is the point that the path you areon will meet with the embankment. Follow the embankmentup the hill eventually reaching the summit close to the trigpoint. The last 500 metres on this path becomesincreasingly steep, uneven and with some loose footingso take care. 346 Grid Ref: SO 272 188. This is the summit of Sugar Loaf 596mabove sea level. At the southern edge of the summit (you arelooking back towards the car park), is a clear path leadingdown.

8 Be aware that it is steep and the ground can beloose in places. The path will fork - keep to the right-handpath. Head straight over when another path intersects withthe path you are on. Grid Ref: SO 266 179. Eventually you will link back up withthe path you originally started on at another intersection. You can follow this back towards the corners of dry stonewall that you passed earlier and finally back to the car shorten Distance: miles At 4, Grid Ref: SO 262 181 rather than following the embankment up thehill take the path heading right as you look at the Sugar Loaf(easterly).

9 At the next intersection, head right again and followthe path back to the lengthen If using public transport it is possible to do alonger walk starting from Abergavenny (9 ) car park is free and there is space for a minibus. It canget busy at peak times. Access lanes are narrow so any vehicle largerthan a minibus would have difficulty. Refreshments and toilets The Lamb and Flag Public House isclosest to the start point. there are numerouspubs/caf s in Abergavenny town centre.

10 There is a shop and caf situated in the Tithe Barn open Monday Saturday 9am National Park and Tourist Information Centre is also situated in the Tithe Barn (openMonday-Saturday 10am -2 pm) Tel: 01873 nearest toilets are at the Lamb and Flag public house if you arestopping there for refreshments. The nearest public toilets are inAbergavenny at the bus station on Monmouth Road and also at thecar park in Castle Street and at Frogmore St/Queens St junction. Public Transport start point is not accessible by public transport.