Tor y Foel from Talybont-on-Usk

The walk starts from the car park by the canal in Talybont-on-Usk. It heads south along the valley side above the Caerfanell to join the Brinore Tramroad, a horse-worked line of 1815 that climbs steadily along the hillside above Talybont Reservoir; some of its stone sleepers survive. Where the tramroad meets the mountain road, a path strikes up the north-west ridge of Tor y Foel to the cairn on the summit, 551 m. The way down is by the north ridge, then east across the hillside by paths and a lane to the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. The towpath leads north-west for about 4 km back to Talybont.

It is 10.7 km with 437 m of ascent; allow about 3¾ hours. The grade is Moderate.

The climb from the road to the top is short and steep, on grass. The upper slopes are open hill, with sheep; the lower paths cross farmland. The towpath is flat, with limited headroom under the bridges.

Talybont has pubs, a shop and toilets at Henderson Hall. The 43 bus between Brecon and Abergavenny runs beside the canal.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.