Mynydd Pen-y-Fal

Also known as:
Sugar Loaf Mountain
Nearest town:
Crickhowell (4km WSW)
OS reference:
SO25871896
OS sheet:
161
Latitude:
51° 51' 49.65 N
Longitude:
3° 4' 36.02 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Looking south, with the summit of Blorenge rising on the left skyline.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 6, 2023
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Looking NW, with Pen Cerrig-calch on the left and Waun Fach and Pen-y-Gadair Fawr on the right.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 6, 2023
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The cist in the western cairn from above – no snow filling it this time.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 6, 2023
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The superbly sited western cairn, looking along the Usk valley towards the Brecon Beacons.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 6, 2023
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The eastern cairn, looking east towards the summit of The Sugarloaf.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 6, 2023
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The low heather-covered eastern cairn, looking northwest towards Pen Cerrig-calch.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.4.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 6, 2023
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Seen from Hatterrall ridge, with sunshine hitting the Vale of Ewyas.

Image credit: A. Brookes (18.8.2018)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Dec 2, 2018
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Long zoom from Raglan Castle. The Mynydd Pen-y-Fal ridge, where the cairns are, can be seen immediately to the left of the iconic summit.

Image credit: A. Brookes (21.2.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 9, 2015
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Flanked by Blorenge (left) and Ysgyryd Fawr (right), the Sugarloaf seen from Raglan Castle in Monmouthshire.

Image credit: A. Brookes (21.2.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 9, 2015
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The western cairn is quite low, despite its wonderful cist. The main path running up the western ridge of The Sugarloaf passes close by (and can be seen behind the cairn in shot).

Image credit: A. Brookes (31.1.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 1, 2015
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Looking across the Usk Valley from the western cairn. Mynydd Llangatwg is the limestone escarpment opposite, where half a dozen substantial Bronze Age cairns can be found.

Image credit: A. Brookes (31.1.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Mar 1, 2015
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Mynydd Pen-y-Fal is the ridge in the centre of shot. The eastern cairn is on brow of the ridge, the better western cairn is over the brow and therefore out of sight from the summit.

Image credit: A. Brookes (31.1.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 27, 2015
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Approximate positions of some of the many Black Mountains monuments visible from the Sugarloaf.

Image credit: A. Brookes (31.1.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Feb 26, 2015
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Here’s what I missed previously. The cist is filled with snow, the view is towards Pen Cerrig-calch (right) with the even snowier Brecon Beacons far left.

Image credit: A. Brookes (31.1.2015)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 31, 2015
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The Sugarloaf/Pen-y-Fal seen from the Grwyne Fechan valley to the northwest. The cairns are on the flatter spur on the right.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.3.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 5, 2014
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Mynydd Pen-y-Fal/The Sugarloaf rises above Abergavenny, Usk Valley to the left, Black Mountains to the right. Seen from Ysgyryd Fach.

Image credit: A. Brookes (3.6.2013)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 29, 2013
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Seen from the Black Darren bronze age cairn, in the Black Mountains to the northeast.

Image credit: A. Brookes (14.7.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Aug 11, 2012
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Seen from Hatterall Hill, with Twyn y Gaer hillfort immediately in front.

Image credit: A. Brookes (23.11.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Nov 27, 2011
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Mynydd Pen-y-Fal seen across the Usk Valley from Darren Cilau north of Twr Pen-Cryn.

Image credit: A. Brookes (8.1.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 10, 2011
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

View of the eastern cairn, looking south with Blorenge behind.

Image credit: A. Brookes (3.1.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 4, 2011
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The eastern cairn, looking towards Pen y Fan and the central Brecon Beacons.

Image credit: A. Brookes (3.1.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 4, 2011
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The eastern cairn. Looking towards Twr Pen-cyrn, with its own cairns.

Image credit: A. Brookes (3.1.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 4, 2011
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The summit of Pen y Fal from the Mynydd Pen-y-Fal ridge in the vicinity of the eastern cairn. The summit is not visible from the western cairn.

Image credit: A. Brookes (3.1.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 4, 2011
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Seen from Crug Hywel. The cairns are on the ridge, far right.

Image credit: A. Brookes (24.12.10)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 1, 2011
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Seen from Crug Hywel hilllfort. Pen-y-Fal rises above the Grwyne Fawr valley.

Image credit: A. Brookes (24.12.2010)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 1, 2011
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Viewpoint is Ysgyryd Fawr. Pen Cerrig-calch and Pen Allt-mawr rise beyond.

Image credit: A. Brookes (7.3.10)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 1, 2011
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Mynydd Pen-y-Fal viewed from Pen Cerrig-calch, itself bearing funerary cairns. Note how the monuments are not placed at the summit as some might expect.... Ysgyryd Fawr is visible left skyline.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 21, 2010
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

Approaching the ‘Sugar Loaf’ from a sweltering Mynydd Llanwenarth to the south. The burial cairns are sited upon the ridge, far left skyline.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 21, 2010
Image of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal (Cairn(s)) by GLADMAN

The expansive vista from the crags to the west of the summit of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal.... the funerary cairns lie at the far end of the ridge leading away to the left. The Black Mountains rise beyond, also bearing Bronze Age monuments – albeit of larger dimensions. The Pen Cerrig-calch / Pen Allt-Mawr ridge is centre left skyline, rising above the hillfort Crug Hywel.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 21, 2010

Articles

Mynydd Pen-y-Fal

thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jan 3, 2011

Damn and blast! “Visited” 3.1.2011 and didn’t bother looking at the Coflein map or Mr G’s map refs before going. And went the wrong way! Aargh. We were no more that 100 yards from the western cairn when we turned off the path southwards....

A further visit is clearly in order to assuage my immense irritation.

I dunno Mr G, you give me a simple job to do...

Mynydd Pen-y-Fal

GLADMAN
GLADMAN Jan 1, 2011

Mynydd Pen-y-fal, aka the ‘Sugar Loaf’, is a mountain possessing a distinctive profile which seems to ingrain itself upon/within the consciousness of walkers of upland South Wales... in a similar manner to that of the much more substantial Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du to the west. Why this should be so, I don’t really know, but many has been the time the Mam C has excitedly pointed it out from the summit of much higher peaks. It’s shapely isolation rising to the north of Abergavenny beguils, maybe, or is there simply ‘something’ in the local memes, perhaps? As a result I had to bring the Mam here, sooner or later, if only to stop her bloody going on about it, although at pains to point out that it possessed no prehistoric cairns. That I knew of, that is. Shows how much I knew, then.....

By far the easiest approach is from Abergavenny itself, a busy gateway town, with remnants of a Norman fortress where William de Braose infamously murdered the local Welsh leaders in 1175. King John, in turn, sorted him out and the present day locals appear to hold no grudges to visitors .... although if they knew my mum’s maiden name was ‘Bray’ things might be different! Anyway, a minor road leaves the A40, just past the hospital on the right [heading west out of town], climbing steeply – and rather spectacularly, it has to be said – to a large parking area upon the southern flank of Mynydd Llanwenarth, this boasting superb views across the Usk to neighbouring Blorenge and its massive Bronze Age burial cairn. Hence, clear and obvious paths lead northwards towards the summit of the Sugar Loaf. This should be well within the scope of even occasional trekkers as long as right hand diversions down into Cwm Trosnant are avoided! A final, steep section brings the traveller to the top, crowned by a pristine white OS trig pillar. And most certainly no funerary cairn. Not up here anyway, although they grace many of the summits of The Black Mountains arrayed in splendid ranks to the north. Yeah, despite just failing to reach that ‘magic’ [in reality purely academic] 2,000ft mark, the Sugar Loaf is one hell of a viewpoint and well worth the effort of climbing purely for the perspective it provides of this corner of Wales, particularly bearing in mind the relatively modest effort involved reaching the top. Ysgyryd Fawr, that sacred-hill-cum-hillfort, is seen to great effect to the east with another hillfort, Crug Hywel, profiled to the north west.

Your average punter can return to the car from whence they came... or – in retrospect the essential route for any TMA-er – the more adventurous may follow the grassy ridge to the west. We choose the latter on a whim and, while passing a couple of cairns nearing the end of the ridge, the Mam C comments that these do indeed look very, er, ‘old’ to her. Upon checking the map, I reckon not and think that they must be ‘walkers’ cairns’ since this is such a popular peak (ha!). We consequently don’t linger, but swing southwards before descending sharply eastwards to pick up a track back to the car.

So ends a brilliant day, but one with an unexpected, if somewhat embarrassing, yet very welcome twist for the old stone hunter. Subsequent checking of Coflein records confirm that the Mam was indeed right. Sugar Loaf has its funerary cairns after all....

Miscellaneous

Mynydd Pen-y-Fal
Cairn(s)
GLADMAN
GLADMAN Dec 21, 2010

A Bronze Age funerary cairn upon the western ridge of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal, the mountain more usually known locally as the ‘Sugar Loaf’ due to the profile it presents to Abergavenny. Having never seen such a loaf I’m afraid I couldn’t possibly comment....

Coflein has the following to say:

“Remains of two burial cairns....on the west-facing slopes of Mynydd Pen-y-fal. The westernmost cairn” – this one – “is situated downslope of the first. It is roughly circular on plan and measures about 8.5m in diameter and up to 0.5m in height. A stone built cist is visible within the centre of the cairn, measuring 1.35m from north-east to south-west by 0.6m transversely and about 0.5m in depth. Source: Cadw scheduling description of 02.2006 F.Foster/RCAHMW 03.2006”

Sites within 20km of Mynydd Pen-y-Fal

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