Section 2 - Garth
Section 2: Garth Road Viewpoint to Maesyron
Distance 10 km
Walk 3 hours
Ride 1 – 2 hours.
Summary
Mainly hard tracks and forestry roads
Section 2 of the Epynt Way runs inside the north-west boundary of the training area between the Garth Road viewpoint located on the B4519 Upper Chapel to Garth Road and the hair pin bend on the Tirabad road near Maesyron. There is good parking at the Garth viewpoint and limited parking is available at Maesyron.
The first section follows a flat well-defined track high along the ridge north of the Mabbions Way military road. The path then enters a hilly area of intensive forestry, mainly along little used tracks, before dropping steeply to a stream crossing to emerge onto a public road. Riders must avoid this final section by exiting early using the adjoining bridle way.
Route Description
From the Garth Road viewpoint (SN 963 466) proceed 3 km south-west along the track that runs parallel to the Mabbions Way military road at a slightly lower contour. On no account should this road be crossed - it marks the boundary of the live firing area! The track occasionally dips down to deep runoff pools. These can be circumvented without leaving the track.
There are sweeping views to the north and occasional glimpses across the Epynt plateau to the Brecon Beacons in the south. There is a monument to the construction of Mabbions Way by the Royal Engineers in 1947 (SN 941 450). The Epynt Way can be accessed here via two public rights of way: one from the village of Llangammarch Wells via a steep, heather lined bridleway and the other from Cnwch via a gentler slope (see Llangammarch Wells Circular Route for latter).
After a further 0.8 km, (SN 937 443) leave Mabbions Way and head west down a forest track for 0.7 km to a junction with an ancient bridleway. Turn right to follow this down 0.4 km north-west to join another forest track on the range boundary (SN 927 448). Two more external bridleways join the path here: from Penrhiw and Esgair Annell.
Take the lower right hand fork here and follow this winding and undulating track for 1.5 km to reach a cross roads with the main track down from Mabbions Way (SN 919 438). Follow the main track for 0.4 km round a deep ravine.
At SN 913 432 leave the hard track to descend through a bridle gate and cut 0.7 km across an open grass sheepfold to the edge of another forest block, (SN 908 433). From here, follow the range boundary 0.3 km downward.
After descending the steep slope through the larches you reach the mature conifer wood at SN908429. Follow the top edge of this wood to the end of the big trees where the path begins to descend. Turn sharp right (south) here to descend to the river alongside its tributary, crossing at the confluence and still heading south. This connects into the hard track leading to the ‘S’ bend on the public road above Maesyron (SN 907 430).
