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Cats Back Ridge to Hay Bluff


by Imperial Dave

Route details

Region: Brecon Beacons
Start at: car park
Circular Route
Start grid ref: SO288329
Difficulty: Easy
Scramble element: Walking
Grade:
Distance: 14.7 kilometres
Total ascent: 0 meters
Approx. time needed: 3 hrs 45 mins
Map: OL13 or LR161
   
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Long description
Park at the little car park at the foor of the Cats Back Ridge.

The initial climb up onto the ridge is a little steep and will leave you breathing hard by the time you get there. Once on the top, make your way along a delightful ridge which feels in places like a knife edge but is in fact easy and safe to walk on. Make your way to Black Hill trigpoint taking in the stunning views to the east.

Pushing on from Black Hill, your path slowly pulls left until it merges with the opposite Hatteral ridge. Follow the merged path NW until you reach Hay Bluff. It really is worth stopping here for a look around and the scenery is beautiful.

Make your way back along the ridge you have just walked but instead of taking the left hand path back to Black Hill, take the pathway straight on along Hatteral Ridge for another 3 miles. At SO 270 319 there is a path that leads down off the ridge and into the Olchon valley. Zig-zag with the path until you cross the road at the bottom, picking up the path again and then cross the brook. Pass through Black Hill farm and up onto the road which you then follow for the last few hundred yards up nad back to the car park

Getting there

By car is the only way

Facilities

none although there are plenty of pubs in the nearby countryside and Abergavenny is only a short drive away

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Discuss this route


redscotti
Enjoyable route. Did it this spring in glorious susnshine - wonderful. Highly recommend visiting "The Carpenter's Arms" in nearby Walterstone for a celebratory pint (or more...!)
Posted: 31/08/2011 at 21:46


Imperial Dave
Cats Back Ridge and Black Hill is a mini classic with stunning views to the east and north
Posted: 31/08/2011 at 22:01

Routes talkback: Cats Back Ridge to Hay Bluff

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