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Name:Cefn yr Ystrad
Hill number:2260
Height:617.3m / 2025ft
RHB Section:32A: Llandovery to Monmouth
Nuttall/Wainwright area:Brecon Beacons
County/UA:Powys
Catchment:Catchment Boundaries, Rhymney, Triples, Taff, Usk
Class:Marilyn, Hump, Simm, Hewitt, Nuttall,
Buxton & Lewis, Bridge, Clem
(Ma,Hu,Tu,Sim,Hew,N,BL,Bg,Cm)
Grid ref:SO 08697 13737
Summit feature:ground by trig point
Drop:177.2m
Col:440.1m  SO 0524 1723  
OS map sheet(s):(1:50k) 160
(1:25k) OL12E
Observations:ground by ancient cairn at SO 08801 13630 is c 0.5m lower
Change log:show changes for this hill entry
GPS data:show GPS entries for this hill

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N.B. Some hill summits are on private property or on land where there is no public right of way.  Permission should be sought from the landowner where access to a hill summit is through private land.
Please report via the contact page any logs you see below which describe or encourage acts of trespass.  Please quote the hill number and hill name.

Logged Descriptions  (logged by 489 users, only the latest 50 shown - Show all)ByDate of Ascent
SOTAmike.hartley24/03/2024
From resevoir 8 mile circularJacquiH723/02/2024
From CP at the NW of Pontsticill Reservoir clockwise circular. With R.Dan Baddeley27/08/2023
Round from car parkholtsd27/05/2023
Parked in the pass at SO052172 - Pant y Creigau, Bryniau Gleision, Cwar yr Ystrad and Cefn yr Ystrad (latter a repeat - also 24.03.09). Sunny and breezy. Had a snooze in one of the wind shelters on Cefn yr Ystrad.Herbert Anchovy22/05/2023
From Pontiscill Water Worksprwild07/05/2023
15.3 miles 1818ft walk, start at Pontsticill Reservoir carpark to Merthyr Common, Pen March, Twyn Ceilog, Bryniau Gleision, Cefn Yr Ystrad and Cambrian Way to Pant Y Creigiau return by Torpantau raiway station path.stephenbuda01/05/2023
Trig point on high ground but the two ancient monuments of Carn Felen and Carn y Bugail look higher by eyeVulcan05/03/2023
Cafe near the endgingerreader26/02/2023
From parking near a gate at Trefil quarry a Eight and half mile walk with 800ft of ascent. Returning the same way.WAYNE ROWLETT22/01/2023
Parked next to Pontystcil water treatment works. Bridleway up, explored the extensive quarry. Descended via high level track then sheep trods back to join bw. Cloud at first, cleared as I was on summit.Nick Canute09/10/2022
Parked on road o/s water works, steep path up to small quarry, continue up to inscribed stone, couldn't find it, continue to trig and cairns, drop down to large quarry, very interesting, through quarry to path, across to brynau gleision top and down to dolygaer centre, reservoir path then road back to startTribal2er26/09/2022
from Trefil P and Ksenrab29/08/2022
With Dusty & Ted Richards final Welsh Marilyn and 4000th TUMP summit. Dusty also showed us an OS bolt block.vegibagger21/06/2022
Parked near Pontsticill station Anti-clockwise route using bridleways deviating for some nav practice round the 570 knolls.JK17/04/2022
Climbed from parking spot below Pontsticill Reservoir, initially along marked bridleway then walking to summit via series of trods across boggy ground following a roughly NE line. Two large Bronze Age burial mounds and a WW2 memorial located on the summit area. Returned by same route.southern_rambler26/02/2022
Parked at Pontsticill, up via Cwar Ystrad quarry looped backandrew.morel25/02/2022
Great day out, very clear, and a good one to finish off the Brecons. Gently sloped but very well featured walking up to the summit which was difficult to spot with all the undulations in the ground. Not made easier as I was racing the light and reached the summit at sunset. Took a bearing off the sunset to get down and luckily there was a large , deep quarry to stop me going to far off track on the way down.andrewroberts24/02/2022
Circular hike starting from car park (CF48 2UR) by Ponsticill Reservoir (there are two but I chose the one further south in Llyngeren) - dam road by waterworks - Twynau Gwynion Quarries - Cefn yr Ystrad - Garn Felen trig point - Cwar yr Ystrad - Cwm Criban - Cefn yr Ystrad - Dam road by waterworks - car park.manilena28/11/2021
Came up from Pontsticill Dam via Merthyr Common & Pen March. A cold, windy day. Solo.Dangerous Dave27/11/2021
Solo hike, first in sunshine but swiftly clouding over. Starting at car park beneath Bleaen Onneu quarry, to the 541m trig pillar and on to the Chartist Cave then Summit of Mynydd Langynidr. Descent to road and on to the disussed quarry of Cwar Blaen-dyffryn, then summit of Cefn yr Ystrad (617m). Descent around the quarry to Pen Bwlch Glasgwm, to follow ridge up to Tor y Foel (551m) and descent into Llangynidr. Return to car. ~26Km with ~800m ascent.VirtualMountain23/11/2021
Drove up quarry road, past gate at SO118130. This gate appears to be open mid week and until 15:30 each day. No other restrictions on driving up I could see. I was able to follow the potholed track successfully all the way to the junction at SO084145. Leaving a short walk SE around the main quarry hole to approx SO088142 and onto the hillside above to reach the summit. Very quick and easy route if you are in a hurry.geralddavison12/11/2021
From Trefil, through quarry, over S5 and round to the multiple tops. Visited them all in case.iangalbraith22/10/2021
Limited off-road parking by grit bin outside water works below Pontsticill Reservoir. Up bridleway heading NE to meet another bridleway. Followed faint path & animal trods to meet good track at 078128. Followed to 600m contour then cut direct to summit. KeithByTheC08/10/2021
From Water Treatment plant in Pontsticill, as per Nuttals. My last 2000ft plus Welsh Marilyn. Back via edge of quarry and then outward route.IanHHill08/10/2021
From public road end above Trefil. No sign of a gate either locked or unlocked. Road/track configuration did not match map but no p[roblems, along the quarry track to a suitable point and up over easy ground / sheep trods etcdickscroop05/10/2021
https://www.strava.com/activities/5763592284rhif709/08/2021
Cerdded o Trefil.sionbrit22/07/2021
Circular walk from Pontsticill around the reservoir and back via some peaks including Cefn yr Ystrad. Walk during heatwave, so very hot and lots of sun protection required - no wonder the route was so quiet!JazDisney18/07/2021
Followed the route in the Nuttall guide, after bagging the summit we continued on to the Naughty Stone and then walked back up the quarry road and then back down the origianl path. 9.42 miles 3hrs 26mlee_philpot04/04/2021
From the dam at the reservoir to the SW. The hill was very wet after overnight rain, and it drizzled during the walk. Visited the trig and high point.NormanW04/10/2020
With: hb; From CP by Pentwyn Dam, followed Rly S on E bank, then track SE then E, before heading up to SW ridge of Cefn yr Ystrad and easy walk to summit. Stopped by Trig and SE Cairn. Skirted quarry NE before taking track to Talybont Dam.Ian Baines26/08/2020
With: ib; From CP by Pentwyn Dam, followed Rly S on E bank, then track SE then E, before heading up to SW ridge of Cefn yr Ystrad and easy walk to summit. Stopped by Trig and SE Cairn. Skirted quarry NE before taking track to Talybont Dam.Helen Baines26/08/2020
From Trefil locked gate, closes at 3.30pm on sign, so a longer walk up the quarry road then open hillside on sheep tracks between sink holes. Fine Cairn and views.N.Morters24/08/2020
From Dolygaer. Circuit of Pant y Creigiau, Bryniau Gleision, Cefn yr Ystrad, Twyn Ceilog, Pen March and Merthyr Common. (Too foggy to go scrambling about for Cwar yr Ystrad)Arbie06/08/2020
With Cheryl. From Pontsticill Reservoir.MGT6713/03/2020
Bwlch - Wenallt - Tor y Foel - Bryn Melyn - Bryniau Gleision - Cefn yr Ystrad - Twyn Ceilog - Rhymney.Mark Jackson21/02/2020
Great summit with ancient cairn, OS bolt, trig not to far away & some great views - although the rain & low cloud today hampered those. Terrible weather on the way back to the car over Pant y Creigiau inc snow.DanMaisieBex18/02/2020
Traverse above Talybont reservoir. Difficult to know which is actual top so went to all cairnsbenwloudon18/02/2020
From Pontsticill Reservoir Dam SO 06232 11924, walk down hill on road to the bridleway then follow paths up. Once halfway up paths not clear - tracked across on bearing following sheep/rabbit runs.Stevooo21/09/2019
From the north, after driving up minor road then potholed quarry roads to leave car at 086144, then SE around the fenced off quarry then SW to large pile of stones that mark the summit. Nice all round views.Topographer5705/09/2019
From Pontsticill Reservoir Dam SO 06232 11924 Return via DolygaerWestdenewalker26/07/2019
Parked at Pontsticil reservoir and loop following mountain railway, climbed to quarry and returned via bridleway Testing new poles out.philwhit14/07/2019
From YHA at Tal-y-bont reservoir over Tor-y-foel then ridge walk to and through quarries to high point with cairns and pillar.richardrosser13/07/2019
From Dolygaer. Circuit of Pant y Creigiau, Bryniau Gleision, Cwar yr Ystrad, Cefn yr Ystrad, Twyn Ceilog, Pen March and Merthyr Common. Shouldn't have bothered with the last three as it was a thankless bogfest for uninspiring 'summits'.welshyboyo27/05/2019
Off road parking near Pyrgad. Up out of Cwm Pyrgad onto top road. Micro nav exercises towards trig point and back. Met local MRT again on a grid search practice with their dogs after seeing them in action the previous day on a helicopter evac of a young person in a large school DofE group in appalling weather. With a group of explorer scout leaders on a hilltraining weekend.richard6917/03/2019
In fading light from Pontsticill. Ponies to keep me company after long drive from home.lordtonult15/02/2019
Circular from Pontsticill Reservoir. Beautiful sunny January day with clear views all around.liljonb28/01/2019
Circular hike starting from little layby on the dam road by Ponsticill Reservoir - dam road by waterworks - Twynau Gwynion Quarries - Merthyr Common - Pen March - Cefn yr Ystrad/Garn Felen trig point - Cefn yr Ystrad - Dam road by waterworks.manilena02/01/2019
Fell run (ish) from the quarryMadjonny07/12/2018