Black Mountains Winter Wild Camp (South Wales)

This will give you an idea of the environment   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-33506589

You need to be a winter mountain walker with experience of using micro-spikes / micro-crampons; you also need to be an experienced wild camper to participate in this event. If you are unsure whether this event is suitable for you, please do contact the event leader. 

You need to be appropriately equipped (including micro-spikes or micro-crampons) and keen to participate in the event in challenging weather. If there is a risk of lightning or extreme winds, we may need to shelter for many hours or curtail the event.

The first eight pictures were taken during a pre-walk of the event in December 2017, during which we had near perfect conditions. If we are very fortunate, we will get to hike and camp in snow; it’s rather more likely to be very wet and somewhat windy.

Following a chip shop supper in Crickhowell, it will be a 5 minute drive to the secluded layby where we will leave our cars at the hike start point. Then in darkness a steep ascent to the ramparts of the ancient Crug Hywel hill fort to get to the top of Table Mountain (451m). Another 340m of ascent will get us over Pen Cerrig-Calch (701m), to then find a place to sleep at an altitude of about 650m if the weather is kind. We’ll get up at dawn and then to the top of Pen Allt Mawr (719m), for an early morning panoramic view across all of the Black mountains; followed by Pen Twyn Glas (646m) and Mynydd Llysiau (663m) to get to the highest summit Waun Fach (810m). We then continue over Pen y Gadair Fawr before finding a suitable place to spend our second night high in the mountains. The next day we have Pen Twyn Mawr (658m), Disgwylfa (540m), Crug Mawr (550m) and Blaen-yr Henbant (498m) to contend with, before descending to go over the Upper Cwm Bridge over the Grwyne Fechan, past the ancient church (first recorded in 1060) and into the village of Llanbedr and on to our cars.

Dogs: Dogs are not allowed on this event.

Photo Credits: All photos taken by Paul Ridealgh; permission is granted to OutdoorLads for further use.

IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement

You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.

COVID-19 – IMPORTANT, Please read the following before you sign up to this event:

• Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are extremely mild, or who lives or is in a support bubble with someone showing symptoms, is asked not to attend. This is in line with the government’s coronavirus advice.
• You must also immediately self-isolate and not attend the event if you or someone in your household or support bubble shows coronavirus symptoms or tests positive. Read the NHS self-isolation guidance.
• OutdoorLads strongly encourages all attendees to take a rapid lateral flow test immediately prior to attending an event. This will help to keep everyone safe. Order free Rapid Lateral Flow Tests.