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Name:Carn Gafallt
Hill number:2210
Height:466m / 1529ft
RHB Section:31C: South-West Wales
Nuttall/Wainwright area:Central Wales - Elan Valley
County/UA:Powys
Catchment:Wye
Class:Marilyn, Hump, Tump (400-499m), Clem
(Ma,Hu,Tu,4,Cm)
Grid ref:SN 94008 64648
Summit feature:cairn
Drop:157m
Col:309m  SN936638  
OS map sheet(s):(1:50k) 147
(1:25k) 200W
Observations:ground c.50m SE is lower
Survey:Abney level
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 197 users)ByDate of Ascent
Parked on verge 200m SW of Pen y Castell (SN 939639). Up through wood, gorse and heather.JGC19/03/2024
There is a good parking spot on a sharp bend in the minor road, south of Dolafallen. Bridleway to Fron-dorddu. Fortunately, there is a good path to get you through the dense gorse onto the broad ridge. Sheep tracks to the cairn. With Jill.Dangerous Dave05/02/2024
Parked in large area at bottom of road up to Fron dorddu farm. Up the zig zags and followed BW uphill and once on access land followed good track uphill. Slowly narrowed into ATV and sheep tracks almost to cairn at top, but enough boots had trampled an obvious last few metres. Cairn seems to have been moved from HP. Would imagine going slow if track not followed across access land.PeterD14/02/2023
No need for anyone to face a long deep heather trudge. My route had just 25 metres of final deep heather to the cairn. Good advice in the notes from Gill Stephens. From the farm to the north where I asked permission to park and advice on route farmer confirmed that west track from first U bend back from the farm went not only up to right of a little bit of forest but further than shown on map up across grassy thistly sheep field through another gate at the top and there was then grassy tracks plus footpaths to 25metres from the top. Splendid.. Job done.vegibagger17/06/2022
Followed DanMaisieBex route, all the way up bridleway to end of wood, then ATV tracks and sheep tracks to summit (except for last few metres). 4miles under 1 hrs 45 walking time.JulieB26/05/2022
From Elan Oaks campsite up lane to Pen y Castell onto ROW to open access land. Followed edge of wood past cairns and up through bracken, heather and gorse to summit. Returned due east to track and back down ROW.dgresty19/11/2021
From the large pull in at the end of the Fron-dorddu Road. Followed the BW to the access Land then ATV and sheep tracks to near the summit. The Summit Cairn has been removed, looks likes its been incorperated into the lower cairn 10m awayJephcote8321/10/2021
Parked at Dollafallen and then up the east side.Stevooo31/07/2021
Parking for 2-3 cars at SN 9494 6587. Walked up PRoW through farm at Fron-dorddu, then traces of a path to the top over the access land. Maisie's 100th Marilyn.DanMaisieBex04/06/2021
Short extra following Drygarn Fawr. From Frondorddu as per Gill up the zig road then track to high point where an ATV track heads up avoiding the worst of scrub then sheep tracks to summit. Clear sunny and met Norman just after he left summit.N.Morters27/09/2020
From the end of the Fron-dorddu Road. Took a poor route involving deep heather. Descent better after advice from Nigel whom I met whilst there.NormanW27/09/2020
Along the Wye Valley Way from Llanwrthwl then continuation along ROW before detour to summit. Good track most of the way, then we plotted our way through the bracken on sheep cleared trails.summitter16/09/2020
p pen y castell road verge as others up track then straight up woods over BWF then through trash not as bad as I thought straight back down good views over elan whimberries goodunderhill17/07/2020
With Emmasimon and co20/05/2020
1/4: From Edal village after sleeping in van. Misty, no views, very still. Up direct through trees – very rough underfoot. Down to north, back along road. Rounsfell27/12/2019
Carn Gafallt from Pen y Castell. Beautiful sunny late afternoon. A real bash through knee deep heather in places. 5.3km with 220m ascent in 1.5 hours.silveracorn_alan04/08/2019
From road at Pen y Castell via footpath, then pathless vegetation to summit cairn.Winterfloodian10/07/2019
Start at Pen y Castell to S (verge parking). I left the ROW (track) at closest point to hill, walking though fairly open woodland & then some heather bashing to summit - a fairly short ascent.ger18/04/2019
From Elan Village. Went straight up through bracken, bilberries and heather. Then went east to the Wye Valley Way, initially a bit rough with a little bit of gorse.Alan Moore01/01/2019
From start of road up to Fron-dorddu (SN 946657), zig-zagging up road/track/path to SN 950647, then pathless tiresome heather to summit.Isbjorn15/11/2018
Splendid cairn on top within pathless knee- high bilberries, gorse, heather and fern. Approached via RoW to E. Hard work but enjoyed ripe bilberries under blue skies. We returned due south through delightful oakwoods, still pathless but shorter.Denise 31/08/2018
Followed Gill's route. Lost the path occasionally close to the summit so a bit of bracken and heather to thrash through but generally not too bad. Managed to stick to the path OK on the way down. Twilight walk, arriving at the summit 25 minutes after sunset but still light enough to see and barely used my torch on the descent.Herbert Anchovy28/07/2018
After Drygarn Fawr and coffee and cake in the Dam visitor centre with Elizyanne. From Pen y Castell parking next to the big shed. up ROW to SN948642. then circled around the Blue bird on the 1 to 25 map using sheep and horse tracks all the way to the summit. no gorse.GmacT20/07/2018
Coffee, cake and rain! Circled round to avoid the whins. Two horses observed the proceedings. Once at the top found an easier path down to the track.elizyanne20/07/2018
#642 From Pen y Castell, no issues with; gates, fences, bracken, heather or gorse!tim74728/04/2018
From Elan Valley Visitor Centre, short road walk then BW through Talwrn Wood and muddled through from the E. Managed to avoid to gorse and worst of the heather. Descended between the cairns to the wood to regain BW.milimana08/04/2018
Second attempt, after the first attempt never started when I got my car stuck in a gateway near Talwrn farm. This time from a very sensible parking place opposite the entrance to Fron-Dorddu, up the bridleway onto the moor, and a few yards beyond the moor gate, there is an ATV track leading up towards the hill. There's a good, narrow grassy path/sheep trod almost all the way to the top, and only a few yards of heather bashing to the summit. Fresh snow made this a lovely walk, with fine views. After the walk, I visited Talwrn with presents to say thanks to Heather and Emma for extracting my car from the gateway, and was treated to tea and home-made Bara Brith.Gill15/02/2018
From Llanwrthwl village. Met a chap from New Radnor who said mid Wales was much better than the Lakes as you rarely meet anyone all day. How true. Lots of sheep tracks to follow across the plateau.mindlessflogger28/10/2017
Walked up the bridleway track through the lovely woods up to the top, then had planned to walk across the top via the cairns, but it was very tough going, especially with a small dog. Finally dropped down to the top of the woods where there was a path of sorts running along the fence. Had to break up from there to the cairns then up to the top. Nice tiny cairn here and lovely views. The heather was in full flower, but made it very tough going.Neolith26/08/2017
2nd of 3 today. Parked at Pen y Castell farm and followed track for a while before going direct up through the woods to b/w topped fence. This was the easy bit. What folled was bracken. Followed by heather and gorse. By the time I was up onto the flattish summit area I was wishing I had put shin pads on! Hatefull stuff. Summit gives reasonable views. A small cairn to the West(ish) marks a view down to the reservoir. This will be one of those once in a lifetime hills.stig_nest06/08/2017
Parked in bridleway entrance to SSW, simple up and down.rhalstead27/05/2017
Spent day walking a few hills and benchmarking in the valley below.Dusty09/04/2017
From due south. Easy at first, rougher in woodland, finally very hard going through steep and long heather, and yes there is gorse too.Topographer5707/04/2017
Parked behind the barn Pen-y-Castell after asking the farmer who was walking past. Up the track heading E then N for a while up the FP before heading W along sheep tracks to the top. Just the occasional boggy bit presented a challenge. A nice isolated top with small cairn.Father Ted02/04/2017
Up and down in 40 minutes, from the south. Initial track and woods are lovely, but as others have said, heather and gorse on top.huwthomas04/03/2017
From Llanwrthwl. Good going on bridleway but then very tussocky and hard going to get to the top!twg2714/02/2017
Up bridleway from the north.Lionel Bidwell24/08/2016
From Pen y Castell and up the bridleway track, striking out left over access land once it levels out. Very tussocky heather moor - hard work. An undistinguished summit for sure, but watch out for the rear species of bird here - I saw it.G4OBK (Phil)08/04/2016
5/5 Last of snowy cold day (Craig Dyfant/Craig Fawr/Pen Garn Ddu/Cnwch/Carn Gafllt)Fergalh06/03/2016
Parked on grass beside road 940642 & followed farm track about 1km & then various sheep tracks trying to avoid boggy & gorse areas. Nice short hill with excellent views.CodyleCoyote15/02/2016
With Trefor. Wye Valley way from Rhayader then track to East once on ridge. Cut up steeply through bracken heather and gorse. Better way off by heading east from summit following sheep tracks.mike.hoult30/07/2015
Parking on grass verge near Pen y Castell. On RoW initially then when path veers sharply E, steeply up through trees to break out onto heather/gorse clad hillside. Rough and steep to HP.jonglew28/06/2015
With: hb; Followed the bridle track from farm at SN940641 onto open fell then cut across to the summit. Returned via same route.Ian Baines07/03/2015
With: ib; Helen Baines07/03/2015
Parked on the grass verge behind a large metal garage on the minor road to the south (SN940640) – N. and then E. along the track to a metal gate – Followed fence line to top corner where it is possible to cross (no barbed wire!) – Followed paths across the face of the hill and approached the summit from the east. (PM,CM)gerrybowes27/10/2014
From 940641 where we parked the car. Took the track north and then east before cutting up through the forest in a round trip of 50 minutes with GB and CMbolton27/10/2014
With PM & GBCJM27/10/2014
KeithByTheC24/05/2014
Walk up from Elan visitor centre.Rob Pen y Garn18/10/2013
I hadn't been looking fwd to this one but it went well. Parked on road to N at 946656, up track to access land W of Bwlch Goch. Followed tracks made by the black cattle to within 30m of summit, enjoyed fine view of Elan Dam and reservoirs. Returned a similar way across the moor, then continued to Bwlch Goch and ROWs E and N of Coed Bwla for a pleasant variant return. A fine spring day and very dry conditions must have helped- the cattle tracks seemed to go from one boggy area to the next, they seem to love wild and wet. Following their tracks might be miserable in wet conditions.pwheeler06/05/2013
W Jenx from minor road at SN940640, just room to park. Took track up to woods and broke up through these to steep ground/heather and bracken. V rough but able to gain summit. Easier descent (and ascent) further to East and follow fence line down to gate across track used to ascend from road.nordicstar17/11/2012
Quick ascent from SN940640 where one can park on the verge. Cut straight up through woods then heather/gorse to summit. Worth going to west end of hill for views of Caban-coch. Direct descent from there was slightly less prickly.davidpettit8424/06/2012
Parked to the south. Started up track and then decided to go straight up through the woods and then heather and gorse. Not recommended if you are wearing shorts.clivevilla11/03/2012
SN9400864649Anton06/08/2011
"http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=1511466"Ianto&Sue27/02/2011
Solo192119/11/2010
Delighted to find there was a road going much farther up the hill than my 1974 map showed! Parked at SN 941 644 and young dogwalker from farm led me up first part of the path. Deep heather and spikey gorse!! Good views though.signyred18/07/2010
Parked at 947657 (11:10) and walked up farm track and good path through fields (with cows) to col, then W for 1 km along faint path to summit. Weather fine. Back same route; finish 12:40 dbb18/06/2010
From west south west after parking at cattle grid and walking up on north side of fence thro' wood with almost a steep path to a small metal gate and thro' more bilberries, heather, gorse and bracken to the summit.Dugswell221/02/2009
From South. Lots of Good foot high gorse and heather for last few hundred fairly steep metres. No path. Heather will be joining in in the Summer. Not my favourite top!destaylor16/02/2009
From some buildings (one with vicious looking spiky tree in garden) on narrow road to S. Trees, bushes, gorse, heather. Summit area several small cairns in the heather. Good views over reservoir.Aye Jimmy24/07/2008
And again on 31-08-2018 with Denise. A lot more gorse now than I remembered. Nice Oak woods on W slope.RichardM17/02/2008
Via the path at SN 950 646summitsup27/01/2008
From Elan Village.Eddie28/10/2006
Parked on road to south. Went almost direct to top. Got a tick for all the bracken and heather bashing. Returned by going E to bridleway then down to car.robphys30/05/2005
petey18/06/2004
Parked at the visitors centre then used the roads to come in from the west. Returned via the northgaryhoney04/01/2004
Galltywenallt21/04/2002
8 marilyns solo in mid-Wales, drive and running by 8.20am. Day after Yossi Brain -mountain guide memorial in Walsall & night in bunkhouse at PYB. Up and down from Elan village.Chris Pearson14/11/1999
My 650th Marilyn. Clamber uphill from farm. On bridal path over bracken through thinning wood to deeper bracken at the top. Red kite and 4 more on descent.arranc05/04/1999
RSPB reserve, fine setting. Talwrn@940641, BW then decidu wdld & heather to summit RHW23/01/1999
Jill Robertson05/02/2024
fionnag30/07/2023
dave g30/07/2023
Andy West17/07/2023
davecnash27/05/2023
richwales08/07/2022
Barry Smith28/06/2022
beckybags22/05/2022
A Peckish22/05/2022
Martyn116/05/2022
Glenysj2116/05/2022
ketzster08/05/2020
fantango08/02/2020
try9fan15/07/2019
ARC18/05/2019
Philshills20/04/2019
outlawcatcher10/10/2018
thenomad25/09/2018
davefh21/06/2018
geralddavison29/04/2018
needanewdog07/04/2018
danpquinn26/03/2018
PM28/12/2017
Fellhugger31/07/2017
Tony Wilson18/04/2017
Crumblie216/11/2016
iainwalton04/10/2016
TK23/09/2016
Susan Bidwell24/08/2016
aul-fogie06/06/2016
mntainman01/03/2016
rogreeves15/02/2016
LovelyLass15/02/2016
Tony S02/12/2015
Bruckner725/10/2015
MM25/09/2015
KM25/09/2015
TREBORK20/09/2015
salen20/09/2015
PGCE12/03/2015
Iona16/10/2014
Tom Mundell16/10/2014
Trekking toes16/10/2014
govanah24/05/2014
tallscottishguy24/05/2014
G0HIO14/05/2014
nicolajane30/10/2013
Lynfa Penygarn18/10/2013
softsquare14/07/2013
AlanD10/04/2013
jenx17/11/2012
Fletch29/09/2012
LizH28/11/2011
PeterAH28/11/2011
carole engel06/08/2011
Tony Rogers11/03/2011
jimbloomer14/02/2011
Laurel03/10/2010
Rowan03/10/2010
interloper16/09/2010
GaryJones01/04/2010
tomandivy16/11/2009
AndyS02/10/2009
Steve Q02/08/2009
boxblade28/06/2009
Owen B17/06/2009
andrew brown11/11/2008
mae20/07/2008
DARRENG27/06/2008
alda12/06/2008
Alison R12/06/2008
Tony J08/06/2008
Adrian08/06/2008
Sprog08/06/2008
chriswatson08/06/2008
Minto07/06/2008
chrisbien05/06/2008
GWR Chris16/04/2008
milejunkie01/04/2008
Keri01/04/2008
bertbarnett12309/11/2007
Smudge03/11/2007
Martin R16/06/2007
GeoffC21/05/2007
RobertP13/05/2007
richtea504007/09/2006
ajwxyzt07/09/2006
Kiltie12/08/2006
Archie14/04/2006
KathW14/04/2006
stevent080908/04/2006
dochart11119/02/2006
Campbell Singer03/02/2006
peterstanding22/01/2006
Colin Crawford29/09/2005
Jon F03/09/2005
Jim.Fothergill21/08/2005
ianwatson27/12/2004
Tricky09/04/2004
johnbarnard2527/03/2004
David Rawden27/09/2003
Man of Kernow122/03/2003
TheMolluscMan22/03/2003
petesimpson03/01/2003
Calico01/01/2003
alda31/12/2002
ChrisU30/12/2002
BaggerGutt01/12/2002
Sherlock14/09/2002
DewiH12/09/2002
Jim T05/05/2002
chalky195322/03/2002
iaindbrown17/08/2000
andrew.allum01/01/2000
Halfdecent00/00/2000
David Purchase02/04/1999
Rob Rees13/10/1998
mountaineagle06/02/1998
Chris Peart26/08/1997
GordonAdshead00/05/1996
fasgadh10/06/1995
IainT18/12/1993
eddieh11/05/1981
Alan Whatley12/08/1972
kanderson01/01/1970
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