trails for running (or walking) in brecon beacons

[E38Ross]

I'm based in south wales when at uni and have found some lovely places to go running nearby (e.g. from thornhill near caerphilly) towards rudry and beyond; but looking to find some others really, anyone know of anywhere within a 30 minute drive of pontypridd?

i find the taff trail rather dull around the ponty area until you get much past merthyr really. looking to run anywhere from 10-15+ miles really.

any thoughts? google map links would be massively appreciated
the more off-road the better really, i love running in woods etc, but don't mind the odd bit of tarmac to link places up if needed

thanks in advance chaps

Ross


ps - i'm sure i've asked this before as i'm getting deja vu but can't find the thread. and yes, i know, running is a stupid idea

[Gumstabber]

Try speaking to the brecon visitors centre thats who I got all my mountain biking maps and routes from. They did a little pack for £5 or something with about 15 different routes in.

[E38Ross]

Gumstabber said:

Try speaking to the brecon visitors centre thats who I got all my mountain biking maps and routes from. They did a little pack for £5 or something with about 15 different routes in.

Good shout will give them a call. Not been mountain biking in Brecon but have done afan loads which I love!

Cheers

[zasker]

Plenty of places if you use the Pontsticill Resevoir as a starting point. Can't see the trail on google maps but you can if you go to satelite view. Track follows the line of the Brecon Mountain Railway. Railway. The railway ends near Torpantau but you can then cross the road and the track carries on all the way to Brecon on the roman road if you want to go that far. Alternatively just off the A470 passed Llwyn On Resevoir you have Garwnant Visitors centre plenty of tracks around there. Might be better off parking near the dam of Llwyn On and starting from there as you can park there and don't have to pay.

[Gumstabber]

Parking at the visitors centre is only a couple of quid for ages anyway.

[E38Ross]

just phoned the visitors centre and have to say the chap on the phone was really helpful, and genuinely showed an interest (being a runner himself!) and said i should pop up to the visitors centre and either him or someone else would be more than happy to show show me some routes there which will be 10+ miles all off-road. so probably going to take a trip up there Sunday

zasker said:

Plenty of places if you use the Pontsticill Resevoir as a starting point. Can't see the trail on google maps but you can if you go to satelite view. Track follows the line of the Brecon Mountain Railway. Railway. The railway ends near Torpantau but you can then cross the road and the track carries on all the way to Brecon on the roman road if you want to go that far. Alternatively just off the A470 passed Llwyn On Resevoir you have Garwnant Visitors centre plenty of tracks around there. Might be better off parking near the dam of Llwyn On and starting from there as you can park there and don't have to pay.

thanks for this mate. would that be this trail here...

http://g.co/maps/wfym6

which you cans see on satellite view (if you zoom in 1 or 2 clicks) carries over to the right and below of the point marked A? judging by some of the pictures on there looks cracking. where is the closest place to there for parking?

thanks chaps keep 'em coming

edit - also found craig-y-nos - anyone have any experience of that place? big enough to do a 10+ mile run?

thanks again

Edited by E38Ross on Monday 5th March 17:16

Edited by E38Ross on Monday 5th March 17:18

[zasker]

Yeah that's the one and you can park at A. If you cross the road heading south you can see the track through the woods that runs parallel with the resevoir but then does a loop to the east before heading back towards the resevoir. Will try and work out how to plot a route on google maps and post it.

[E38Ross]

zasker said:

Yeah that's the one and you can park at A. If you cross the road heading south you can see the track through the woods that runs parallel with the resevoir but then does a loop to the east before heading back towards the resevoir. Will try and work out how to plot a route on google maps and post it.

thanks

i think to plot "off-road" stuff you need to click on the ruler-like icon at the bottom-left of the map and mark a point, then draw a straight line to another point, then right click on the map, then left click on another point and so forth. think i MAY have found it (will draw a plot after dinner!), can you park at dolygaer outdoor education centre? even on sundays?

seriously appreciate it mate

Edited by E38Ross on Monday 5th March 19:36

[E38Ross]

hmmm, when you do that won't give you a link. is this the loop you mean?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Unknown+road&a...

anywhere to park near A (that outdoor education centre??) so i can run that part, cross the road and carry on the other then head back after 5-8 miles total?

fk me, i think i'm right in saying all the white lines above coed craig ty-bach and below abercynafon as well as to JUST east to the talybont reservoir are all trails too....? if so....thanks SO much for pointing me to that place....if so, that's where i'm heading this sunday morning

thanks again

Edited by E38Ross on Monday 5th March 20:09

[zasker]

Yeah that's the loop. You can park near the Dolygaer Outdoor Centre but there isn't much room. If you park there just under the bridge and to the left is a gate. That takes you up and over a stile and brings you out on the bend between D and E. Alternatively you can park at the south end of the resevoir and follow the track to the east of the resevoir, you can then either follow the railway line straight to dolygaer outdoor centre or go up and around the loop you have marked. There are plenty of tracks around coed criag ty-bach and most are pretty good for running on can be a little bit boggy up on the top in places as the ground is quite peaty.

http://www.blackmountainsite.co.uk/tunnels-and-cav...

Plenty of parking marked here (look at the map)also if you want to try around coed criag ty-bach.

Normally quite a few walks and mountian bikers around but only ever seen a handful of people running.

[E38Ross]

zasker - thank you SOOOOO much. had an absolutely fantastic run. probably the best run i've ever, ever done. 12 miles, lovely weather...not a cloud in the sky, almost entirely off-road and some of the best scenery my eyes have ever had the pleasure to lay eyes on.

unbelievable! i'll be going there every 2-3 weeks for my sunday long runs now well worth the trip out.

thanks again, totally made my weekend! have a virtual pint

[zasker]

Glad you enjoyed it, weather was pretty good yesterday. Was out on the mountain bike both Saturday and Sunday but stayed more over towards the A470 and the resevoirs on the road to Brecon. Still good views but there is more tree coverage.