Stunning frosty day on Begwns Bluff (Hay On Wye) and Aberedw Hill (Builth Wells, Mid Wales).

Updated: Oct 3, 2020

Begwns Bluff (414m) and Aberedw Hill (451m).

Begwns Bluff

This was a stunning winter morning doing two Marilyns. Begwns Bluff is a typical common summit with not much height gain at all (168m) but it is a lovely hike. You can do the top in a shorter route but I decided to stretch it out a bit and walk from the 2nd road (there are two that dissect the common). You basically walk West across the common over the 2nd road and up to the 'roundabout'. This is a circular wall with a copse of trees inside it. Next to this is the trig point. This leg is about 3kms and after this hike back down to the road and as a variant I walked South East down to the small lake (no name). It's about 2km to the lake but please include this variant as the lake is stunning with Harry Potter type trees sticking out of the lake. After the lake continue North East back to the start which is another 2-3km. All in all a 7km hike done in 1hr 30m. The best thing was it was a frosty morning and the views were stunning. This would make a brilliant trail run as it is off road, good terrain and not much height gain.

Parking and Access: There is room for about 5-6 cars at start location.

Route Summary: Quite a flat ciruclar route with not much height gain but with fine views. 7km, 168m height gain done in 1hr 30mins.

Aberedw Hill

Nearby is Aberedw Hill and again this is a typical common summit but much steeper than Begwns. The start is on the road but its not long before you turn off left or SE to a smallholding on a farm track (there is a static caravan here at the entrance). Now there is no style or footpath markings at the entrance but there is a designated footpath here and I confirmed this with the owners of the people who live at the premises (Neuadd Fach). Continue through the 'farm yard' going up hill. I did see one foot path sign but the route is self explanatory and follows the footpath heading generally South but uphill through three fields that are on your map. This is a steep little hill but it is not long before you get to the top and from there most of the hard work is done. This is about a km and a half from your start point.

About now the common opens out before you and the route takes you about 3kms South West around the summit to the end of a wide plateau. You come to a small monument i.e. an erected stone and then turn and head North East for 1km and head for the trig pointed summit. This is a nice area too and when you leave you head North West for another km before you join the path you came in on. After this it is another 2kms or so to the end following the way you came up.

The views on this hike today, a cold and clear day, was superb. The Wye valley looked spectacular with mist rolling down it and the nearby Carneddau Hills (no not the North Wales version) was stunning. The hike is interesting with even some antiquated farm implements dotted about the place for no sensible purpose and this high common itself is simply beautiful. All in all a 9km hike with a steep 345m height gain done in 2hrs 8m.

Parking and Access: There is room for about 2-3 cars at start location. Which is a small lay-by on a bend on an UC road.

Route Summary: A very steep first ascent but then a high common plateau with stunning views. 9km, 345m height gain done in 2hrs 8mins.

GPX files: For gpx files go to the Peakbagger website by following these links and go to the bottom right hand of the page and click ‘Download this GPS track as a GPX file.’