Cefn Cil-Sanws: Perfect Solitude in Bannau Brycheiniog

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Cefn Cil-Sanws is a 460m hill above Merthyr Tydfil at the Southern end of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. It is an incredibly peaceful area to visit and you’ll rarely see another walker.

This walk has two sections of ascent, one at the beginning and one at the end. The rest of the walk is very gentle and sloping. The path can be boggy and wet in place with lots of small streams to cross, normally these can be overcome with a long stride, but make sure you have waterproof boots on. It is a very peaceful walk with great views and a real sense of being in a wilderness.

Cefn Cil-Sanws
Llwyn-onn reservoir viewed from the path up

Parking by Llwyn-onn reservoir you need to cross the road and find the public footpath sign and gate. Once into the first field you start the ascent up. The path is clear to follow and well-marked, the start can be muddy so make sure you’ve got grippy walking shoes / boots on. The path soon takes you away from the road noise and into a peaceful and sheltered forest.

Cefn Cil-Sanws
The path meanders through a forest on the way up

This eventually leads you to a final gate that delivers you onto open moorland with views of the central Bannau Brycheiniog mountains – Pen y Fan, Corn Du and Cribyn in particular.

Cefn Cil-Sanws
The final gate takes you out into the wilderness

You follow the path straight on and this path will eventually take you right, at which point you’ll head South with a stone wall a little way on your right.

Cefn Cil-Sanws
The path leads you through golden grass

You follow the track and it then breaks right again, at which point you follow the wall on your right closely until you get to a gate with a small patch of trees ahead on your right.

Cefn Cil-Sanws
After walking the wilderness you’ll eventually to this gate

Once through the gate you’ll start the second section of ascent on a path that eventually fades away, but walk diagonally left following sheep trails and you’ll eventually see the trig point and summit stone shelter ahead of you. Repeat the walk back to the car.

Cefn Cil-Sanws
The trig point and stone shelter

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