Crug Mawr is a 550m hill in the Black Mountains range above Crickhowell. It is the final summit on the above route, before you descend all the way back to a river, crossing it into LLanbedr and back to the start point.

Crug Mawr
Crug Mawr, the Skirrid is in the distance. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.
Crug Mawr
A colourful approach. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

The approach path winds gently through purple/pink heather and offers good views South, taking in the Sugar Loaf and Skirrid. The summit is distinctive and has a good trig point that is very photogenic.

Crug Mawr
A slightly steeper final ascent. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

You can walk this hill from many different directions and the Beacons Way crosses from East to West past the trigpoint as well. It would be well worth walking just this hill, but on this walk it is the perfect final summit.

Crug Mawr
Looking South. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

Summit views are superb and some of the best on this route – definitely worth coming back to in different weather.

Crug Mawr
Skirrid and Sugar Loaf. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.
Crug Mawr
Great views of the Sugar Loaf and much more peaceful. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

The descent, heading West on the Beacons Way, offers great views up the valley and would make a good route up. All of the paths in this area look well-maintained and signposted if you wanted to do a small circular route the maps should be accurate in terms of footpaths shown.

Crug Mawr
Looking back during the ascent, you can see Crug Mawr trigpoint on the top right. | Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

I absolutely recommend the whole walk above, but even if you don’t fancy that and normally just walk the odd mountain, this hill is well worth walking and one of the highlights of the Black Mountains.

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