Twmpa & Pen y Gadair Fawr

It is cooler today after another week of heat. I worked out a route back in the black mountains, starting again at gospel pass, but this time heading up Twmpa then along the ridge line towards Mynydd Bychan staying on the tops, curving around to Pen y Manllwyn, Waun Fach before reaching Pen y Gadair Fawr. Down to the car park at Blaen-y-cwm, before turning around, back up the valley to Grwyne Fawr Reservoir, then continuing up to the ridge above and back the way I had come out.

I drove up to Gospel pass and parked in the highest car park, with a convenient path across the slopes to meet the main path from the col.

At the main path I could look over the edge and down to Hay and the Wye river.
The path leads up to the summit of Twmpa.

After the initial steeper section the top rounds off.

Looking along the ridge, and the initial much steeper descent protected by stone steps.

The hanging col below he summit with paths down to the Wye valley. the gravel and stone path continues along the ridge relatively flat before a climb again to the next top.

the trig point and another meander along the wide and shallow ridge

At the next col there was a crossroads of paths - I will come back here later along a different path.
Here the ridge turned south and I continued along the, now grass and peat path.

Views down to Pengenfford - there is a walk up from there.
However I continued along to Pen y Manllwyn.

The final slope up to Pen y Manllwyn, t=with the next bump on the skyline.

Another flat traverse across to Waun Fach, with a small climb at the end.

A flat trig point on the summit marks a junction of tracks, however I continued along the main ridge towards the next bump - Pen y Gadair Fawr - sitting what appears to be much more proud than the ones so far.

The climb up to the summit of Pen y Gadair Fawr.

Looking south and across to Pen y Fan

Looking north along the ridge I walked down

Taking the path down to Mynydd du forest and valley.
Initially continuing with the grass and stone paths.

Lower down through swathes of bracken that hid the path in places.
Down below in the valley there was a police car on the valley road - I would guess why later.

At the river the path turned along the nearside bank, until a bridge much further down. There were the remnants of many "camp" fires along the side of the stream.
With the water level as it is this year I could have used the stones to cross.
I then followed the tarmacked road down to the car park.

The main car park, and path back up the valley.
In here were a number of mountain rescue vehicles and an ambulance. So there must be someone lost on the hills - hence the police.

Along the valley the byway track climbs up the eastern side of the valley above the river.
This is primarily a quad bike track.

The track climbs up to the dam on the Grwyne Fawr reservoir.

At the reservoir the track split, and I chose the one to the top of the dam.
I would regret this later.

Beyond the dam a footpath led past more fire remnants and the side of the reservoir.
As the path approached the end it became more of a sheep track and I had to leave the edge of the reservoir and climb up the side a way.
At the was a small hut and a very steep exit route back up to the track I should have followed.