Gravel loop
105km loop 1800m climbing and a good pub option halfway around
this is a great intro to gravel. some nice stretches off road using wide forest fire trails, disused railway tracks, canal towpath plus a few more technical sections high up on the open Beacons.
start off with rolling road section through to Talybont. Turn left in the village and take steady climb unto reservoir.
take left across the dam wall and pick up the Taff trail following it all the way up the valley with really nice steady consistent gradient all the way to top of Torpantau. when you hit the road turn left to the summit and then take fast descent past tea rooms( check name) and then short punchy climb top the t junction. here we got left and follow Pentwyn reservoir. take care coming steep downhill to junction where we go right and then right again onto the trail just beyond the t junction.
follow this trail through forest above Pontsticilli reservoir and then dive down to the dam, follow road around to the right and look for taff trail again on right where it follows disused railway all the way to Merthyr. here we go right again heading towards Llwyn onn reservoir. keep reservoir on right for a mile until a left turn heading sharp up hill. climb up this narrow lane through forest until it open out to open beacons. this takes all the way to Penderyn. r
turn right onto A4059 for a mile or so before taking left turn ( usually ice cream van on the corner).
head to Ystradfellte> good pub for a stop.
choice here. 1 go right and follow lane directly to Devils Elbow or 2 go left up hill for 2 miles before taking left , following lane to the end before picking up path that crosses river and picks up Beacons way. go right and follow it north to meet the road that leads to Devils staircase at old Roman campo site.
fast descent off staircase and through top Heol Senni. turn right , then left and right to cross A4215. follow this lane to come up onto beautiful Mynydd IlItud. keep going and down into Brecon. pick up the canal and poodle all the way back to PYP