Llanddeusant

Llanddeusant is a community in Carmarthenshire, about 5 miles south-east of Llangadog, and Wikipedia records a population of 220 at the 2011 census. The name means “church of two saints”, from a tradition that Teilo and David met here. It lies below the north-facing scarp of the Black Mountain, Y Mynydd Du, which Wikipedia describes as the westernmost range of the national park.

Why base here

This is the only base on this site on the western range, and it is chosen for one mountain. Wikipedia gives the Black Mountain’s highest point as Fan Brycheiniog at 802m, and the northern escarpment in Carmarthenshire, the Carmarthen Fans, as a separate line of summits including Fan Foel and Picws Du. The glacial lake Llyn y Fan Fach sits under that escarpment, and Wikipedia puts Llanddeusant below the scarp and the lake. The Beacons Way, the 99 mile path across the park, runs through the hamlet. Anyone who wants the quiet end of Bannau Brycheiniog, a long way from the crowds on Pen y Fan, will find it here, and the cost is that there is almost nothing else within reach.

On foot versus by car

Llyn y Fan Fach does not start from the doorstep. The walk’s own page starts at the Llyn y Fan Fach car park on the minor road about 2km east of the hamlet, so plan for a short drive or an extra 2km of road on foot. From there the loop is 8.6km with 485m of ascent, over the 749m summit of Picws Du and along the escarpment edge, which that page rates moderate. It is the only activity this site joins to Llanddeusant, so a week here is that walk and the Beacons Way.

Practicalities

Llangadog is the nearest village with a station, on the Heart of Wales Line, and Wikipedia says Transport for Wales operates every train that calls there. The station is at street level on Station Road beside the River Brân, and the Beacons Way finishes there, so the long-distance path links the station to Llanddeusant on foot. This guide has not sourced a bus from Llangadog to the hamlet, so assume a car for the last miles and check Traveline Cymru before planning without one.

Who this base does not suit

Anyone who wants more than one mountain will run out of walks within days, because the only listed day starts from a single car park. Nor is this the place for waterfalls, canal towpaths or a market town. For the central Beacons and Pen y Fan, Brecon is the better base, and for the quieter Neuadd valley and Fan y Big, Talybont-on-Usk.