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I'm trying to work out a route and looking at:
Olchon Valley - down
Cats back
Nant bwch
Vision push to the top from the other side or along the top?
The North West slopes, is there anything worth the climb back up?
Is there anything else that is worth a look or any pointers what order or advice would be most appreciated.
Where are you starting/finishing? If you're riding off the top down the stream valley (Olchon) that looks nice and techy. Are you planning to go back up the ridge to Black Hill? Big push if so, and can be horribly slippy after rain (but suspect it's atill Ok afterbthe dry summer). Along the top back towards Hay Bluff would be OK after a km or so of rocks. No idea where you mean after that.
For Hay Bluff/Cat's back (an option):
From the picnic site north of little black hill, head north on the bridle way that runs on the eastern side of the cat's back/black hill, all the way round to the car park on the northern side of hay bluff. Then take the road up as if going over Gospel pass, at the col take a sharp left and head up to the top of Hay's Bluff. Then take the track along the ridge the the top of black hill and keep to the ridge-line (cat's back) all the way back to the start (I wouldn't do the Cat's back ridgeline if the wind is up).
I've not done the Nant Bwch route, but if I was going to have a go I'd probably access it via a climb up the Grywne Fawr and then take the track across the top of the valley.
After typing this I realised you may be thinking of going up Nant Bwch to Lord hereford's knob and then crossing the col to approach hay bluff, never taken that route myself so can't offer worthwhile advice.
Perhaps DM Welsh farmer, it is his back yard.
Having re-read my post it didn't really make sense, I didn't put them in to order of I was planning, just if they were worth doing and best as a descent or just use as a climb. Or if there is any options that may be better than any others.
I was looking to link ups and downs of the valleys using the top between Lord Hereford knob Gospel pass and Hay Bluff, as it seems like a lot of wasted altitude going down and back up the North West / Hay on wye side but don't know how rideable the tops will be?
Parking where ever makes the most sense for the least wasted miles but would prefer to finish at the bottom.
Ok so I'm thinking:
Little black hill carpark
Hikeabike up to the top of black mountain south top
The Vision
Climb up gospel pass
Over lord herefords knob
Down Nant bwch
Around the bottom and back up gospel
Over Hay Bluff
Olchon Valley
Back to the carpark
Would cats back be more fun than any of them (up or down)?
Is The Vision worth the steep climb up?