Pant y Creigiau

Perched above the Talybont Reservoir, Pant y Creigiau is the sort of place that makes you appreciate a good pair of gaiters. It’s a quiet, gritstone-scattered plateau offering superb views of the Central Beacons without the Disneyland-style queues of nearby Pen y Fan.

• •It forms part of the dramatic northern escarpment of the Brecon Beacons, where the Old Red Sandstone suddenly decides it's had enough of going up and levels off into a windy plateau.
• •The name translates roughly to 'hollow of the rocks,' a fairly literal description for the gritstone outcrops that huddle here like grumpy petrified trolls.
• •It’s a prime spot for spotting Red Kites, who often glide past with an expression that suggests they’re judging your choice of waterproof trousers from several hundred feet up.
• •Geologically, this area sits on the edge of the South Wales Coalfield, though you're more likely to find a lost compass than a seam of anthracite these days.
• •The 'path' across the top is frequently a creative interpretation of a swamp; if you manage to cross without a boot-full of peaty soup, you’ve clearly cheated or mastered the art of levitation.