South Wales Traverse

The South Wales Traverse is a long distance fell running challenge across the mountains of south Wales. It is a linear route of 118 kilometres (73 mi) taking in some 31 summits over 610 metres (2,000 ft) high, providing around 5,500 metres (18,000 ft) of ascent.

The aim is for challengers to complete the route on foot within 24 hours. The route takes in the mountain ranges of the Black Mountain, Carmarthenshire Fans, Fforest Fawr, Central Brecon Beacons, and the Black Mountains, across most of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The selection of summits that must be visited is simply all peaks standing at over 610 metres (2,000 ft). Arguably, some of the peaks are points along the ridges rather than true summits in their own right but some consider this to add to the theme of a linear long distance challenge. Challengers may start at either end, but traditionally it is run from west to east so that both the prevailing wind can be from behind and 60% of the ascent can be completed in the first half.

The Traverse is considered by many who have completed it to be the Southern Britain equivalent of rounds like the Bob Graham (37 by 21/07/2020). However, it has seen far fewer successful completions than these rounds, due to the relatively low numbers of challengers who attempt it each year. The fastest known time for the Traverse is 14 hours 18 minutes by Dan Doherty on 15 April 2017.[1] The fastest female traverse was by Katie Roby in 2013 in a time of 19 hours 53 minutes.[2]

The challenge is used to be referred to as the "Brecon Beacons Traverse", but this only cites the relatively short section from Storey Arms to Talybont over the Central Beacons failing to recognise the wider significance of the challenge.

Route

Below is a list of the summits that must be visited starting at Pen Rhiw Wen/Herbert's Quarry, running west to East.

Summit Grid reference Altitude/m
Pen Rhiw-wen - A4069SN 730184495
1Garreg LwydSN 740179616
2Garreg LasSN 777203635
3Bannau Sir GaerSN 811218749
4Fan BrycheiniogSN 825218802
5Fan HirSN 830209761
Trecastell roadSN 853203369
A4067SN 870195387
6Fan GyhirychSN 880190725
7Fan NeddSN 913184663
Sarn Helen/minor road junctionSN 925185400
8Fan LliaSN 938186632
9Fan FrynychSN 957227629
10Rhos Dringarth (Craig Cerrig-gleisiad)SN 960217629
11Fan FawrSN 969193734
Storey ArmsSN 983203445
12Y GyrnSN 988215619
13DuwyntSO 005207824
14Corn DuSO 007213873
15Pen y FanSO 012215886
16CribynSO 023213795
17Waun RyddSO 062205769
18Allt LwydSO 078189654
AbercynafonSO 083177212
19Cefn yr YstradSO 086137607
PyrgadSO 101159260
Llangynidr - Red LionSO 155194127
Cwm-guSO 200209190
20Pen Cerrig-calchSO 217223701
21Pen Allt-mawrSO 206243719
22Mynydd LlysiauSO 207279663
23Waun FachSO 215299811
24Pen y Gadair FawrSO 229287800
25Pen Twyn MawrSO 242267658
Grwyne Fawr (minor road)SO 252285407
26Chwarel y FanSO 258294670
27Rhos DirionSO 211334713
28TwmpaSO 224350690
Gospel PassSO 235352550
29Hay BluffSO 244366677
30Black MountainSO 255350703
31Pen y Garn FawrSO 277311616
Llanthony Priory51.943°N 3.038°W / 51.943; -3.038SO 287279241

Route profile

Below is a profile of the route, again starting at Pen Rhiw Wen/Herbert's Quarry, running west to East.

South Wales Traverse profile
gollark: That's just mending but stupider.
gollark: Just give me power to access people's inventories and I'll deal with it for you.
gollark: Block value used to be 50 times higher in the past™, and block rate was divided by 5 a while ago.
gollark: None are safe.
gollark: This doesn't work that well either, because Krist is massively skewed in favour of early adopters.

See also

References
  1. "Martin Stone's Long Distance News Summary", The Fellrunner, Spring 2017, 84-86.
  2. http://www.merrell.com/UK/en_GB/blog?url=%2F/merrell_uk/2013/07/28/katie-breaks-ladies-record-south-wales-traverse/

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