Fan Fraith

Rising above the head of the Tawe Valley, this broad, grassy Nuttall offers a quieter alternative to its more famous neighbors. Its rounded summit plateau provides a striking perspective across the gap to the dramatic eastern cliffs of Fan Gyhirych, while the ancient route of Sarn Helen skirts its lower northern slopes.

• •The name is Welsh in origin, with 'Fan' meaning 'peak' or 'beacon' and 'Fraith' (the feminine form of 'brith') meaning 'speckled' or 'mottled,' likely referring to the varied textures of grass and gritstone on its flanks.
• •The summit provides an unhindered view of the steep, craggy eastern face of Fan Gyhirych, a sight often missed by those who stick to the more popular central peaks of the Brecon Beacons.
• •Just to the north of the hill lies a section of Sarn Helen, the Roman road that once connected the forts at Coelbren and Brecon Gaer, providing a sense of ancient history to the approach.
• •The summit plateau is so vast and featureless that reaching the highest point feels less like a peak conquest and more like finding the driest patch of moss in a very large field.