Pen Garnbugail is a 477m hill at the heads of the South Wales Valleys, in the county of Merthyr Tydfil. It offers easy access and decent parking, with very little ascent needed to visit the trig point, which sits on top of an ancient and large burial cairn and stone circle. You can also visit a memorial stone for an Irish warrior dating back to the late sixth or early seventh century.
Part of this walk is on an old Roman road – that once linked Cardiff with Brecon – which linked a series of Roman forts. Both the forts and the road were constructed by Julius Frontinus, the governor of Britain who undertook the conquest of Wales, between AD 74 and AD 78.
Views right from the car park are impressive, taking in large sweeps of the South Wales valleys down to the sea in the South and the Brecon Beacons in the North. Walking is easy, with soft, sheep and horse-trimmed grass underfoot and clear signs to follow – at least for the first few landmarks.
It’s a really good hill and earns its place on The Miners list.
