Banc Bwlchygarreg

Banc Bwlchygarreg is the sort of place that makes you appreciate solitude, mainly because nobody else is silly enough to be there. Perched above the Llyfnant Valley, it offers windswept views of Pumlumon and a masterclass in why Mid-Wales needs better drainage.

• •It stands as a Marilyn, meaning it has at least 150 meters of prominence. This ensures you will feel every bit of the ascent, even if the peak itself looks like a slightly over-ambitious molehill.
• •The name translates roughly to 'Ridge of the Stony Pass,' referencing ancient transit routes through the Cambrian Mountains. These paths were used long before anyone thought hiking uphill for fun was a reasonable hobby.
• •The fell overlooks the Llyfnant Valley, which was once a Victorian hotspot for those seeking 'sublime' landscapes. Today, it is mostly a hotspot for moss and very confused-looking sheep.
• •Geologically, the area is composed of Silurian gritstone and shales, part of the rugged 'Green Desert' of Wales. This composition guarantees that any flat-looking ground is actually a cleverly disguised puddle.
• •Navigating this terrain is less of an orienteering exercise and more of a negotiation with the local peat. If you reach the summit without a boot full of swamp water, you have clearly cheated by staying on the few existing sheep tracks.