Chwarel y Fan
679m (2228ft)
The Black Mountains, The Brecon Beacons, Monmouthshire, Wales
Chwarel y Fan is the highest point in the county of Monmouthshire.
Chwarel y Fan means 'Beacon of the Quarry' in Welsh and is pronounced 'choo-a-rel-ee-van'.
The summit of Chwarel y Fan is marked by a cairn.
You can find Chwarel y Fan & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Chwarel y Fan and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Chwarel y Fan and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10.25ml (16.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,093ft (638m) |
| Time: | 5.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Capel-y-ffin - Chwarel y Fan - Blacksmith's Anvil (stone) Twyn Talycefn - Rhos Dirion - Rhiw y Fan - Twmpa (Lord Hereford's Knob) - Darren Lwyd - Capel-y-ffin
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 14ml (22.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,808ft (856m) |
| Time: | 8 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Capel-y-ffin - The Offa's Dyke Path - Black Mountain (South Top) - Black Mountain - Hay Bluff - Gospel Pass - Twmpa (Lord Hereford's Knob) - Rhiw y Fan - Rhos Dirion - Twyn Talycefn - Blacksmith's Anvil - Chwarel y Fan - Capel-y-ffin
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Chwarel y Fan
Jonathan Morris walked up Chwarel y Fan on January 18th, 2024 [from/via/route] Llanthony Priory [with] Mi Madre [weather] Windy & Wet
Donovan Suddell climbed Chwarel y Fan on April 23rd, 2023 [from/via/route] Gospel Pass [with] Wife [weather] Sunny until 16:00 then cloudy, rain at the very end - Very long circuit including traversing two steep valleys
Mark Davidson bagged Chwarel y Fan on July 14th, 2003 [from/via/route] Walk po116 Black Mountain & Rhos Dirion from Capel-y-ffin [with] Theresa [weather] Warm & sunny - really good walking weather
Sion Britton hiked Chwarel y Fan on December 19th, 2021 [from/via/route] O Maes Parcio Gospel Pass. [with] Solo [weather] Clir/ Oer
Bleddyn Rhys summited Chwarel y Fan on May 13th, 2017 [from/via/route] Cylch sydyn o Gapel y Ffin i Chwarel y Fan a Twmpa. [with] ar ben fy hyn eto! [weather] Diwrnod braf gyda chydig o wynt. - Charity event ymlaen ryn diwrnod felly lot fawr o bobol ar ben Twmpa. Peint wedyn yn yr hen abaty!
Robert Shaw conquered Chwarel y Fan on May 13th, 2017 [from/via/route] From Llanthony whilst doing the Black Mountain Challenge. [with] Alcester Gents Sports Club [weather] Wet & misty
Alan Smith scaled Chwarel y Fan on March 23rd, 2017 [from/via/route] Gospel pass [with] Matthew
Christina Lander walked up Chwarel y Fan on March 18th, 2015 [from/via/route] Capel-y-ffin - Black Mountain (South Top) - Black Mountain - Hay Bluff - Gospel Pass - Twmpa - Rhos Dirion - Twyn Talycefn - Chwarel y Fan - Capel-y-ffin [with] Dick [weather] Dry with sunny spells
Vince Wetton climbed Chwarel y Fan on October 10th, 2014 [from/via/route] Po116 [with] RTM [weather] Sunny with showers - Long but satisfying walk
Robert Taylor-Marriott bagged Chwarel y Fan on October 10th, 2014 [from/via/route] Route 63: South Top, Black Mountain, Twmpa, Rhos Dirion, Chwarel y Fan (CB). [with] Vince Wetton and Robert Taylor-Marriott. [weather] Sunny, cloudy & light rain.
Tim Buckley hiked Chwarel y Fan on September 14th, 2013 [from/via/route] po116. Started from Gospel Pass car park as two lunatic dogs were loose in Capel-y-ffin. [with] Solo walk. [weather] Sunny spells, strong winds at this point - it is quite exposed. - Great summit, well worth the walk. Views of the Bristol Channel & Waun Fach to the west. Trail bikes have cut up the paths considerably from Rhos Dirion to Chwarel y Fan. Reached this point at about 12.30 having set off from the car park at 9.45am.
David Lane summited Chwarel y Fan on August 14th, 2008 [with] Kelly
Steve Gilmore conquered Chwarel y Fan on November 17th, 2012 [from/via/route] from Cappel Y Ffin [with] Mark Gilmour & Steve Taylor [weather] a bit of Sun, wind, rain & mist - Great walk
Victoria Bates scaled Chwarel y Fan on July 14th, 2012 [from/via/route] po148
Ray O'hara walked up Chwarel y Fan on May 16th, 2012 [from/via/route] Capel-y-finn, Black Mountain & Twmpa
Michael Rygol, Louise Sandwith, John Cuthbert, Paul Booth, Trevor Williams, David Price, Matthew Thomas and Richard Penney have all walked, climbed & bagged Chwarel y Fan.
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