Mountain rank by height: 43 out of 188
Height: 2,631ft | 802m
Region: Brecon Beacons
Grid ref: SN825217

The highest peak in the Black mountains (and this is the Black Mountains on the left side of the Brecon Beacons, not the other Black Mountains North of Crickhowell) and the 43rd highest peak in Wales. The summit offers impressive views towards Pen y Fan and the mountains in between, all of which I have now walked, so it is good to be able to see those mountains from different perspectives.

Fan Brycheiniog
Fan Brycheiniog viewed from Fan Foel. There is a trig point and a stone shelter on the summit. Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

When I walked it from a distance I thought there were a series of small tents pitched on the summit… but this turned out to be drop bags of gravel for some planned improvements to some element of the summit or nearby paths.

Fan Brycheiniog
Not tents at all. The incongruous site of construction work at the summit. Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

This is a well-walked summit with good paths up in a few different directions and I saw a good few walkers on it – including a family that had two boys aged around 6-8, which is a great effort considering the height of this mountain and the scale of the surrounding drops.

Fan Brycheiniog
Llyn y Fan Fawr below offers alternative routes around this area and makes different loops possible. Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.

The shelter offers a welcome break from the wind, but it is harder to use in these Covid times. I walked onto Fan Hir, planning to have a sit down after I’d completed my six summits for the day, but on my return the shelter was occupied so I had to carry on and settle for a step on the Beacon’s way as a resting point instead.

Fan Brycheiniog
A well constructed shelter at the summit. Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.
Fan Brycheiniog
Trig point view. Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.
Fan Brycheiniog
Trig point view. Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 24mm, f11.
View to Fan Gyhirych
The view across to Fan Gyhirych, with Pen y Fan in the distance on the far left. Tamron Adaptall SP 24-48 @ 48mm, f11.

You can quickly drop down to Fan Hir via a steep path with steps – which I had to avoid as snow drifts had filled it – and that completes the six summits of the Black Mountains if you’d started at the A4069 car park.