Sugar Loaf Mountain and Abergavenny ,Brecon Beacons South Wales 9th August 22

 GPX File Here

I got the urge to be back in the mountains, last time I was in the mountains was back kin December 2017! So I decided to drive to the Brecon Beacons for the day to climb Sugar Loaf or Pen Y Fal as its known in Welsh 

I left home at 3.30am and drove the three and a quarter hours to Sugar Loaf Mountain Car Park at NP7 7LA. I was grinning like a child in a sweet shop as I got near, I could see Sugar Loaf from the A40 as the sun rose, it was great to be back in the mountains again!

I arrived at 0645am and parked up and took in the amazing view that was bathed in a warm glow from the rising sun.

I leave the car park and take a path uphill, gentle at first.

The Sugar Loaf mountain dominates the skyline of the surrounding countryside and provides a spectacular backdrop to the market town of Abergavenny in South Wales.

Peering between the ridges of the Llanwenarth, Deri and Rholben hills, the Sugar Loaf is one of the highest peaks in the heart of the Black Mountains. It stands at 596m high and offers glorious panoramic views across South Wales, the Brecon Beacons, and into south-west England.

Its conical shape is reminiscent of a volcano, but the mountain is made of the same old red sandstone as the rest of the Black Mountains. But once on top of Sugar Loaf you will discover that it too is a relatively flap-topped peak with a ridge running along its length.

Welsh Mountain sheep (Welsh: Defaid (sing;"Dafad") Mynydd Cymreig, pronounced [ˈdevaɪd ˈmənɪð ˈkəmrɛɨɡ]) are small, hardy sheep from the higher parts of the Welsh mountains.The males have horns, and the females are polled (hornless); they have no wool on the face or legs, and they have long tails (normally left undocked). There are a number of varieties, bred for sheep farming in Wales. These are mainly colour variations, but some are being developed as separate breeds.

The open moor land of the Sugar Loaf is a registered common spanning two counties. The largest part lies in Monmouthshire, with the rest in Powys.

Common land is privately owned land, which local farmers have a right to graze livestock on. This means the mountain plays a vital role for the surrounding farms which hold grazing rights on the Sugarloaf.

 It is the southernmost of the summit peaks of the Black Mountains, with a height of 1,955 feet (596 metres). Sugar Loaf was gifted to the National Trust by suffragette Lady Rhondda

The original Welsh name of the hill appears to have been Mynydd Pen-y-fâl. Translated into English, this name means 'mountain of the head/top of the peak/summit' from mynydd, pen and bâl. The name Sugar Loaf has been popularly applied to numerous hills which have a perceived resemblance to a sugarloaf; the nearest other such hill is the Sugar Loaf, Carmarthenshire.

It is a popular misconception that Sugar Loaf is an 'extinct volcano'; an idea born perhaps from the striking resemblance of its conical outline, particularly when seen from the east, to that of a classic volcano. It is however composed entirely of sedimentary rocks. In common with the rest of the Black Mountains, the hill is formed from Old Red Sandstone which was laid down largely during the early part of the Devonian Period. Its lower slopes (up to around 1,000 feet (300 m) are composed of mudstones and sandstones assigned to the Senni Formation whilst its upper reaches are composed of the more sandstone-rich sequence known as the Brownstones Formation. The very summit of Sugar Loaf is formed from sandstones of the Quartz Conglomerate Group which are of late Devonian age. There are a number of landslips on its flanks which are believed to date from early post-glacial times. The former Usk Valley glacier divided to north and south of it as it travelled eastwards, though the mountain itself is largely free from glacial till.

Upon reaching the base of the hill the climb becomes steeper and one final push is required to reach the ridge summit.

One more hard push to the summit, it certainly does steep near the top!

I made it to the summit and take in the views around me and stop for a break and a drink at the trigpoint.

The view from the summit covers the Black Mountains to the north, the Cotswolds to the east, as far as the Brecon Beacons including Pen y Fan and Corn Du to the west and the Bristol Channel to the south. The Skirrid is easily visible to the immediate east, including its spectacular landslip at its northern end. On a clear day it is possible to see hills as far north as Shropshire and as far south as Somerset.

Skirrid visible in the distance (another to climb at some point).

The Sugar Loaf is very popular with walkers and offers easy ascents on foot from the Sugar Loaf car park, at about 1,000 feet (300 m), or longer ascents from Abergavenny, Crickhowell or Llangenny.

The Black Mountains are a range of hills and mountains that largely lie between the towns of Abergavenny, Crickhowell, Talgarth and Hay-on-Wye. And why are they called the Black Mountains? Some say that it was the Saxons who provided the name for they always saw these mountains from the eastern side of the Wye. But when seen from a closer viewpoint the colours may vary from green in summer sunlight, to purple in late summer, changing to russet when the bracken is dying in late Autumn, but brilliant white in Winter, if snow has fallen.

I start my steep descent down taking care on the loose earth below my feet.

I had initially thought I'd take the path straight down into the valley and up the steep path you can see ahead. But I got so far down and changed my mind and turned right to stay up higher and cut out the needless climbing.

The bracken was alive with stonechats and some kind of warbler I couldn't get closer enough to see which kind.

A look back to Sugar Loaf.

Back at the car I eat my lunch and drive back down the steep road that leads from the car park. Its a lot busier now and the road is single track with a lot of stopping and cars having to reverse up a long distance so we're able t pass.

I park up in Castle Street Car Park NP7 5EE and walk around to the Castle.

Its closed and doesn't open until 11am.

Abergavenny Castle (Welsh: Castell y Fenni) is a ruined castle in the market town of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales, established by the Norman lord Hamelin de Balun c. 1087. It was the site of a massacre of Welsh noblemen in 1175, and was attacked during the early 15th-century Glyndŵr Rising. William Camden, the 16th-century antiquary, said that the castle "has been oftner stain'd with the infamy of treachery, than any other castle in Wales.

The castle is located immediately to the south of the town centre. It was built by the Normans to overlook the River Usk and its valley, and so guard against incursions into the lowland areas south and east of the town by the Welsh from the hills to the north and west.

The castle, now in ruins, had a stone keep, towers, and ditch as fortifications. It also housed the family and army of the lord and had cellars, kitchens, a great hall, gatehouse, and a chapel, although it is doubtful whether any of the families treated the castle as their main residence. A curtain wall surrounded the castle.

The high, formidable curtain wall, dating from the 12th century, is now the most impressive part of the ruin. A 19th century lodge was built on the top of the motte in the 19th century.

I walk back and down onto the High Street.

Abergavenny meaning "mouth of the River Gavenny") is a market town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales. Abergavenny is promoted as a Gateway to Wales; it is approximately 6 miles (10 km) from the border with England and is located where the A40 trunk road and the A465 Heads of the Valleys road meet.

Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches. The town contains the remains of a medieval stone castle built soon after the Norman conquest of Wales.

I visit the historical Abergavenny Market is in the heart of the town and is always bustling with locals and visitors. The hall is famed for its decorations lovingly handcrafted by Peak in Crickhowell for the Abergavenny Food Festival.

General Market

Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9am – 5pm.
Bric-a-Brac / Flea Market

The varied mix of arts and crafts meets in the Market Hall every Wednesday from 6am – 5pm.
Craft Fair

Every second Saturday of every month.
Antiques Fair

Held every third Sunday of the month from 9am – 4pm.
Artisan Market

Expect a wide range of locally sourced produce and art on the fourth Thursday of every month from 9am – 2.30pm.

The town derives its name from a Brythonic word Gobannia meaning "river of the blacksmiths", and relates to the town's pre-Roman importance in iron smelting. The name is related to the modern Welsh word gof (blacksmith), and so is also associated with the Welsh smith Gofannon from folklore. The river later became, in Welsh, Gafenni, and the town's name became Abergafenni, meaning "mouth of (Welsh: Aber) the Gavenny (Gafenni)". In Welsh, the shortened form Y Fenni may have come into use after about the 15th century, and is now used as the Welsh name. Abergavenny, the English spelling, is in general use.

In 1996 a film, Intimate Relations starring Julie Walters, Rupert Graves, Les Dennis and Amanda Holden, was filmed at many locations in and around Abergavenny.

I walk around back pass the castle and down to Castle Meadows.

Here I walk down and stroll along the River Usk.

The River Usk  rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain (y Mynydd Du), Wales, in the westernmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially forming the boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys, it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and Abergavenny after which it takes a more southerly course.

Beyond the eponymous town of Usk it passes the Roman legionary fortress of Caerleon to flow through the heart of the city of Newport and into the Severn Estuary at Uskmouth beyond Newport near the Newport Wetlands. The river is about 125 km (78 mi) long.

I walk up to the bridge and cross the busy Merthyr Road and back along the Usk to try and find a deep stretch of water to swim in.

I find a suitable stretch below the rumbling cliff of red earth.

I walk back to the bridge and cross back over into Castle Meadows to walk back to the car.

The walk from the car park to Sugar Loaf and back was a mere 3.5 miles with 235m of ascent. I have no idea of mileage in Abergavenny but a pleasant day. Now for the 3.5 hour drive home, a long but amazing day!