The Skirrid is the smallest of the 3 in Abergavenny, but I think it may have the best views in every direction, and if you can get up there for a sunset, you will be able to see the sun drop right behind the sugar loaf opposite, it is an amazing experience.
The views from the top weather permitting will allow you to see Herefordshire and Malvern’s to the north, the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons to the west, Usk Valley and Somerset to the south and Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean to the east.
Abergavenny has 3 mountains which are all great walks, this one which is The Skirrid, The Blorenge & the Sugar Loaf, you can do all 3 which is the Abergavenny 3 Peaks, but today we’ll just do the one.
Getting There: Directions, GPX and App Link
The Hiking app I use to plan the walks and to also guide me around is the ‘Outdooractive App‘, which has a free a Pro and a Pro+ version, the Pro version will allow you to download the routes to your phone, and use them without using up your data.
The reason I mention it is that if you were to download a route, they are FREE and you can find this link to this route in my hike listings. You can then follow the arrows and voice on your mobile, as most of these walks are a bit tricky to explain.
The Skirrid fawr has its own National Trust Car Park, which can be found on here on Google Maps.
Heading from Abergavenny turn right onto ‘Grosevenor Road’ then you will join ‘Ross Road’ and then onto ‘Old Ross Road’. This will take you along a lane and the car park is on your left.
Navigation Aids:
Follow this route on the Outdooractive App, it is FREE, and it will guide you around safely.
Download my hand crafted *GPX file, and use it on your own guidance devices.
If you’re not sure what a GPX file is, I have put an explanation post together here that will hopefully explain it in plain words. It’s worth considering as well as mobile app navigation, as they will make your hikes better & safer.
Hike Map
Hike Profile
Distance: 3m / 5km
Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
Highest point: 1585ft / 480m
Difficulty: Moderate (steep short climbs), sometimes loose terrain through the woods.
Route conditions: Well-worn pathways most of the way around, good walking shoes are a must.
Hike Description & Pics
This route is available from my OutdoorActive account, it is FREE and will guide you all the way around, no getting lost. Once on the app, click ‘Navigate’ in the bottom bar, and from the walk’s start point it will guide you all the way around.
This is a great walk to introduce yourself to the Black Mountains, and to the 3 in Abergavenny. The car park has plenty of spaces, and it is pretty much a straight up and down walk, so the chances of getting lost are pretty slim.
From the car park, head towards the Tourist Information board at the one end, to the left if you are looking at the car park facing into it from the entrance. There is a path that leads to a gap in the hedge, and once there turn right and walk to the top of the path.
At the end of this path is a set of wooden double gates, with a gate to the left side. Go through the gate and this is where you pretty much start heading up. There are a few paths that head off to the left and right, but for this hike, just keep straight.
This section of the hike is pretty steep, if you haven’t done much hill walking, then this will get you working, but it’s pretty short and you are soon rounding the corner at the top of this bit and back into open space.
About half way you will come to another gate and again just keep walking on up, the path in the summer is pretty decent, but in the winter after heavy rain this can be very slippery.
The walk is very straight forward from here, you will see the path ahead, and be aware that the first rise you see in the distance isn’t the peak, there is a bit further to walk, and the trig point is at the end.
You will now be able to take your time and take in the views, starting with the view across to the Sugar Loaf.
As I mentioned a little bit earlier about the first ridge being the false one, here is a pic so you can see. Once at the top on the left, you have the perfect sitting area on some rocks facing the Sugar Loaf and Abergavenny.
This is my favourite place to sit and watch the sunset, as it comes down behind the mountains of the Bannau Brycheiniog.
Then it’s a nice walk onto the Trigg point, and the end point of this trail. You can continue the walk and go over the top and down the very steep back edge, but thats another route.
To return to the car, you head back exactly the way you came up, and you will be back at the car in no time. Here are a few pics so you can see how it looks on the way down, not forgetting to go through the middle gate about half way down, and then down to the double wooden gate before the path back to the car park.
That’s it, you’re all done, back at the car and hopefully the weather has been good, and you have had a great experience.
It is worth downloading this route onto your outdooractive app, it’ll re-assure you time wise and that you’re not heading in the wrong directions. There is so much space up there and lots of alternative paths you could accidently join.
Hope you enjoy this walk, and I’d love it if you could share this post either with the social media buttons that follow you down the screen on your left, or below in the footer. Also, comments are very welcome, I love meeting new people and talking and you never know we could meet up on one of our walks.
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