THE GAP, BRECON BEACONS

Distance 35km (21.7 miles) Climbing 790m (2,592ft) Time 2hrs 30mins to 4hrs 30mins

Route summary This classic Brecon Beacons route navigates a wide variety of trails, but the main interest is of course ‘The Gap’. Situated by the curiously named Fan y Big, this natural saddle between two mountains offers amazing views and a superb, long rocky descent Start/ inish Talybont-on-Usk Bike Hub car park (grid ref SO 113/229, postcode LD3 7YQ)

1

Head left on the road, past the Talybont Stores, then right by the White Hart to go over the steep bridge. Bear right to join the Ta Trail, heading uphill. Climb gradually on a good, narrow trail and keep ahead, onto the Brinmore tram road.

2

When the trees disappear on your left-hand side, and there are a couple of byways on the right going downhill into the woods, keep ahead/left out of the trees. Climb the rocky trail and bear right at the fork. Follow the track around the hip of the hill, through a gate and along another rocky ascent to the top.

3

Bear right at the fork, across the top and then left to drop down the hillside. When you meet a forest track, turn right and follow it all the way to a road. Cross the tarmac, bear left and then right. Keep right at the fork around the corner, continuing ahead on the bridleway along the side of the hill. Make a right at the road, immediately heading back o -road on a wide, rocky track, uphill. After passing through the gate, take care on the steep, techy trail. 4

Continue uphill on the main track all the way to the top – The Gap – and take in the views before continuing down the other side. Take care on the technical trail and over the water bars. Go through a gate and down a sunken track to some tarmac. With a gate on your left and three on your right, pass through the middle (wooden) gate on your right.

5

Follow some rocky singletrack until it becomes tarmac and brings you to a T-junction. Turn right on the road, then go right at the next T-junction. Keep left at a fork, then bear left on a bridleway. Go down the left-hand side of the field to a stream and join the bridleway, with the river on your right.

6

Turn right at the road, into Llanfrynach. Bear left in the centre, past the church, to the main road junction. Go right, then, after crossing a bridge, right again to join the cycle path alongside the canal. Follow this all the way back to Talybont.