A fairly short and easy walk taking in the highest point of the South Wales Coalfields, the 600m summit of Craig y Llyn.
Parking is at one of the best spots on the Rhigos Mountain Road, with stunning views across the lowlands towards Moel Penderyn and the Brecon Beacons Mountains. Another benefit, for those wanting a relaxing walk at least, is that the parking spot is high up so the car does the main ascent for you.
Once you’ve taken in the extensive views you can walk along the craggy edge and start a small amount of ascent up to the start of the zipline. The path is easy to follow and the extensive views continue. The path then takes you up a slightly steeper section and you enter some thin woodland and head towards the forestry.
Eventually you’ll hit a path off to your left, turn off the path you have been on here and head up this track a short way and you’ll arrive at the trig point in a small clearing surrounded by trees and not too far from the forest gravel road. Views are limited – unless you bring a drone – but the trig is very peaceful and sheltered.
You can then head back down the track to the point at which you turned off and head left, heading further West along a nice forest track until you hit a path that makes you take a u-turn. This path will take you along the edge of the impressive crag, with great views that make up for the lack of views at the trigpoint.
This is a real hidden (perhaps) gem and a lesser walked crag with almost the height of better known cliff edge walks such as Craig Cerrid-glesiad in the Brecon Beacons. It is definitely worth taking this minor detour and you also get views of the second lake, far below.
At the end of this track you’ll rejoin the main path that you walked up on, which you can then follow back to the car. Sometimes there will be a posh coffee van parked in the layby where you can get refreshments. You can sit back and continue admiring the views either way.