10.8 kilometres (6.7 miles) involving 370 metres of ascent (1214 feet)
Compiled by Nigel Phillips
Weather can change very rapidly in this area of the National Park. Protective clothing should be taken and walking boots are a necessity, as is an OL 12 Ordnance Survey map. A compass should be carried to check the direction of travel across the mountain.
Head east along the tarmac road which passes the Abercrave Inn and then the Doctor’s Surgery. Turn left at the entrance to Abercrave House and go through a wooden gate and along a track which runs beside a fast flowing stream. This is ‘Nant Craf’ (stream of wild garlic), after which Abercraf was named.On your right is Abercrave Farm, surely one of the prettiest farms in South Wales. Pass through two farm gates heading north-east to begin the ascent of the mountain.
Stay on the main track, which is a bridleway and some 500 metres further up the hill go through a metal gate [8294-1337] which is at the junction of several paths and tracks.
Bear left after the gate and ascend a short rise to a way-marked stile. Cross the stile and follow a stone wall on your left for 250 metres to another stile. Cross and turn right across some duck-boarding, heading north, to come to two way-marker posts at footpath junctions.
Continue heading north-west up an obvious track (although this can be obscured by high bracken in late summer). Where this becomes wider it was the tramway to an old Silca Sand Quarry.
At a fork in the grassy tramway, bear right. You will see a stile and finger-post to your left. Bear right again onto a steep tramway which was an Inclined Plane used to bring limestone from the Cribarth mountain to Abercrave. Bear left at a short way-marker (do not ascend the incline) heading north-west.
On your left you can see remains of more Silica Sand Quarries.
Pass behind a large rock and on a clear day look at the superb views down the Swansea Valley. The path now contours around the hillside to arrive at Pant-y-Ffyrch [8241-1388] which is the ruin of an old drovers inn. Cross a stile and head in the direction of signpost saying ‘Open Hill’, continuing northwards towards a mound of rocks.
After 60 metres, and just before the rocks, you will come to another grassy tramway. Turn right and follow this for 450 metres up another steeply inclined plane, heading north-east, up the south-west flank of the Cribarth mountain.
At the top of the incline continue walking north-east, following sheep tracks to the summit of Cribarth (423 metres, 1387 ft.), where there is a cairn and white trig-point [8283-1420] Pause to look at the spectacular panoramic views before descending from the summit in a north-easterly direction to meet a high stone wall.
Continue alongside the wall in the same direction for about 200 metres until it bears right. Follow the wall for another 30 metres before striking out again in a north-easterly direction (bearing 64º) for 200 metres, where you will eventually come to a raised grassy tram-road which is somewhat hidden from view amongst piles of Limestone.
It is important that you locate this particular tram-road, as there are many others in this area. So check your Compass to make sure you are going in the right direction.
Head north-east along this tram-road for 700 metres, until a large quarry site is reached.
There are steep drops on your right along the path at this point, so be careful in adverse conditions.
In the distance you will see the distinct shapes of Fan Gyhirch and the prominent quarry face at Penwyllt.
From the quarry carry on heading north-east over the brow of the hill and descend to a ladder stile over a stone wall [8384-1499]. Cross the stile (the views up the Swansea Valley are spectacular) and continue downhill, keeping a wire fence on your left.
This is a steep descent and although steps have been cut in the hillside, it can be slippery in wet weather.
( For an easier descent turn right after the ladder stile and follow the stone wall. Then bear left following white-topped marker posts to join the main path.)
As the wire fence turns, the path veers off to the right, away from the fence. There are good views here of Craig-y-nos Castle, just before you descend more steps cut into the hillside. (This can be a difficult path to follow in late summer, when the vegetation can obstruct the way ahead).
At a wooden ‘open hill’ marker post at the end of the descent, turn left, and go through an assortment of gates and stiles before crossing the A4067 road. Turn left, and walk along the main road for some 400 metres, to the entrance to Craig-y-nos Country Park.
Craig-y-nos Country Park originally formed the grounds of Craig-y-nos Castle which was the home of the famous opera diva Adelina Patti between 1878 and 1919.
Enter the Country Park (where you will find toilets, exhibitions and a shop) and proceed through the car park, turning left at the end of a brick wall and then right as you arrive at the duck pond. Bear right again, walking alongside the river for 50 metres, and then left across an oak footbridge. From the bridge you will be able to see the confluence of the rivers Tawe and Llynfell.
Turn left after the footbridge to walk upstream by the river Tawe until you arrive at a wooden fence by a notice-board [8429-1574]. This is the northern extremity of the Country Park. Turn right here and, after a wooden gate, right again onto a wide stony bridleway heading south.
Continue along the bridleway for 600 metres (this can be muddy) to reach a metal gate by a cottage and then a tarmac country road. Keep to the road to pass Grithig Cottage on your left and, 40 metres further on behind some plastic bollards, you will see the river outflow of Ogof Ffynnon Ddu on your right.
Carry on along this road, and at a ‘T’ junction with another road, turn right. After 200 metres this road swings right at an electricity pole with a street-light on it. Take the right turn and cross the River Tawe at Pont yr Offeiriad [8458-1454] to arrive at the A4067.
Turn right at the main road and walk north-westerly for 200 metres (there is no pavement, but you can walk on the grass verge). Cross the road and then go left at a minor road that ascends, south-westerly, towards Pant-y-Wal farm.
300 metres up the hill, and before you reach the farm, look for a way-marked stile [8417-1446] on the left, as the road turns sharply right. Cross the stile and follow an obvious track heading south, keeping a fence on your left. Keep going straight on across the fields through 3 gates/stiles and at the 4th stile, cross and bear immediately right, heading for a stone wall with a wooden gate [8396-1413] in it.
Go through the gate and follow the wall on your left, heading south-west, for 250 metres, where you will see an ornamental metal gate in the wall.
At this point, bear right and ascend a well worn and somewhat eroded path to gain a plateau on the hill-side. Continue south-westerly for 300 metres, passing behind some outcropping, to find a stile [8345-1374] set in a stone wall. Past the stile, follow an obvious path for 200 metres, to arrive at a gate in a fence. Turn left before the gate and cross some stone wall debris to turn right and skirt the perimeter of a grassy field.
After crossing another stile an obvious 150 metre long grassy track will lead back to the junction [8294-1337] of several paths and tracks you passed on the route up the mountain.
Go through the metal gate and bear right on the stony track back to Abercrave Farm and then right onto the tarmac road which leads back to the Copper Beech [8241-1287], where a roaring fire, extensive menu and a fine selection of Real Ales await
© Nigel Phillips – January 2007