Trail Running > Routes > Brecon Beacons Routes > Mynydd Llangorse & Mynydd Troed
A rugged 15 km trail run over Mynydd Llangorse and Mynydd Troed, featuring high moors, steep climbs and fast descents.
Why run this trail?
Sandwiched between the western edge of the Black Mountains and the Central Beacons, the peaks of Mynydd Llangorse and Mynydd Troed form a natural bridge between two distinct areas of the national park.
This superb fell run tackles both of them in quick succession. It starts from a quiet col between Llangorse Lake and Waun Fach, dropping gently into Cwm Sorgwm – an ideal warm-up with fantastic valley views before the climbing begins.
An ascent of Mynydd Llangorse, followed by a moorland traverse of Pen Tir, opens up expansive views of the Black Mountains, Llangorse Lake and Allt yr Esgair and the high peaks of the Central Beacons beyond. The terrain here feels wild and exposed, with a refreshing lack of the engineered paths found on more popular trails.
After a fast descent of Cockit Hill, the final test awaits. Mynydd Troed (“foot mountain”) rises as a sharp, angular wedge of grass and high moorland. Its distinctive shape is recognisable from miles around and at a first pass, you’d be forgiven for classifying it as simply “a big hill”.
At 609 m, it may not sound like much, but running up the brutal south-western slope, complete with its false summit, will humble the bravest. The reward at the top is a wide, steep-sided ridge with unmatched views and a final, swooping descent to close out a memorable run.
Parking area to Cwm Sorgwm
The small parking area (SO 16070 28327) can be reached via the village of Llangorse or from the settlement of Waun Fach, just off the A479. There’s only space for two cars, so getting a spot is in the lap of the gods. Alternate parking can be found at Dinas Castle Inn at Pengenffordd (£5 via honesty box). You’d be tackling Mynydd Troed twice with that option.
This route sets out from the col heading southeast on a narrow bridleway through the gorse and bracken of Cwm Sorgwm. It can be muddy on this section as it’s a popular circuit for horse riders from the local outdoor centre.
The path gradually opens out into a wide, grassy bowl as it tracks the length of Mynydd Troed, with high definition views of the Black Mountains ahead. To the right, the ridge of Cockit Hill dominates overhead.
Cwm Sorgwm to Mynydd Llangorse Cairn
Keep to the right hand fork where the track splits and stay right where the track splits again to stay high and start climbing towards Mynydd Llangorse. The terrain changes dramatically here, with large swathes of charred bracken – the result of a wildfire in August 2025.
You’ll cross a stream and the path becomes a series of steep switchbacks that ascend the mountain, eventually opening out onto a broad slope of grass and heather. Follow the path to the large stone cairn at the top for views towards Cwmdu and the Usk Valley.
Mynydd Llangorse Cairn to Pen Tir
From the cairn, head southeast on the clear track across the moor towards Pen Tir. After about 1 km, take the (very!) faint singletrack on the left through the heather at an acute angle, heading north to reach a small tarn by an outcrop of rocks. Bear left here and you’ll soon pass the Pen Tir Ring Cairn – a Bronze Age burial monument.
Pen Tir to Mynydd Llangorse Trig
After 100 m, you’ll rejoin the main track back towards the stone cairn at Mynydd Llangorse. Pass to the left of the cairn and continue on the wide track as it curves round the head of Blaen-y-cwm, with views back across to the Pen Tir ridge.
After a kilometre, you’ll meet a wider path heading uphill. Turn hard right here to join it and continue for a further kilometre as the track climbs up to the trig point of Mynydd Llangorse (509 m).
In clear conditions, there’s great views of Pen y Fan and the Central Beacons from this spot. I just about caught fleeting glimpses of Llangorse Lake through a thick clag of grey cloud on my run, which was turning soggier by the minute.
Mynydd Llangorse Trig to the parking area
The true summit of Mynydd Llangorse (515 m) lies a further 600 m north of the trig point and is marked with a stone cairn. With my vision now reduced to a vortex of green grass, red mud, black heather and swirling grey cloud, I pushed on through driving rain for 1.5 km to reach the rocky outcrop of Cockit Hill.
Cockit Hill somehow seems like the deserved summit of Mynydd Llangorse, with its small sandstone crags framing the views of Llangorse Lake and the valley below.
The descent back down to the parking area at the col is fast and fun. The slope is wide, steep and grassy so you can let rip and mentally prepare for the harder section to come: the ascent of Mynydd Troed.
Parking area to Mynydd Troed
As tempting as it is to get back in your car at the col and crack that can of Dr Pepper, the Pièce de résistance is next up and you can’t really say you’ve done it until… well, you’ve done it.
Head straight across the lane and through the gate to join the path up to Mynydd Troed.
I’d compare the experience of climbing this hill to an unwanted exchange with a bar-room drunk: It begins innocuously enough with some manageable banter, but escalates quickly. Within a few minutes, you’re in a toe-to-toe slugfest and just staying upright is the best outcome you can hope for.
Thankfully, the pain is brief: a single kilometre and it’s all over, but with an average gradient of 25%, you’ll need a stiff drink to regain some dignity afterwards.
Once you’ve tackled the slope, there’s nothing complicated about finding the summit of Mynydd Troed. A clear path through the heather leads to a trig point at the top, exactly where it should be.
I could only assume that the fierce trouncing of the climb had departed me from my senses, as I found myself heading straight over the top and descending quickly down the northeastern slope of the mountain for about 100 m. Blaming it on the low cloud, I retraced each costly step and tested the theory: in the mountains no-one can hear you scream.
Mynydd Troed ridge
From the trig point, head south on the singletrack through heather on the wide, undulating ridge. The views down into the valley from the steep shoulders of the mountain are impressive: a patchwork of tiny fields laid out below in faint lines. The silhouette of the Dragon’s Back descent from Waun Fach was clearly visible across the valley on my run, even through thick cloud.
After about 1 km you’ll reach a point at which the ridge begins to drop towards the southern summit – Mynydd Troed Copa Deheuol (515 m). You have the option of extending the run here by descending in a southerly direction and traversing the eastern flank of Mynydd Troed before climbing it once more via the northeastern slope.
Mynydd Troed to parking area
There would definitely be no extended route for me today – With the cold and wet gnawing at my extremities I called it in, retracing my steps to the trig point and a final headlong descent back down to the col (for good, this time) and that can of Dr Pepper, for real!
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Disclaimer
All routes and GPX files are provided as a guide only. Conditions, rights of way, and landmarks may change. Always carry an up‑to‑date map and use your own judgement. See the Trail Run Disclaimer page for details.