1. Don't expect to park in the carpark. There is a popular circular route that starts at the Pont ar Daf carpark but unless you turn up super early, expect to park along the roadside with hundreds of other drivers. The National Trust is currently consulting on the possibility of expanding the carpark but I don't suppose it will happen quickly. 2. The route up from the Pont ar Daf carpark is nicknamed 'The Motorway' for good reason! I assumed it meant it was a well-trodden path on which you should expect to see other hikers. What I didn't expect was the long line of people in front and behind us. It was like the M25. At rush hour. And bear in mind that this was in the depths of winter, not during the peak of summer (although it was a bank holiday, to be fair). The path was icy and when people slipped or stopped for a rest, the line of hikers behind them literally had to stop and wait. We were in a walking traffic jam! This photo shows the line of hikers skirting around the side of Corn Du. 3. Use the toilets at the Garwnant Visitor Centre. The first stop for me before the start of any hike is the toilets. It's also an absolute must when you have children with you! There is a toilet block in the Pont ar Daf carpark but it was quite unpleasant. The toilets were usable - just about - but the Garwnant Visitor Centre is a 5 mins drive away and there are clean public toilets there during opening hours. There is also a nice cafe here if you want to stop off after your walk for a cup of tea or hot chocolate. 4. There is a great mobile and 3G signal at the top of Pen y Fan. Having worried about whether I would be able to use my phone for geocaching at the top of the mountain, I discovered that I had a good clear signal. That was in stark contrast to the bottom of the mountain where there was no signal whatsoever. 5. If you want your photo taken in front of the National Trust marker at the top of Pen y Fan, expect to queue. See point 2 about the traffic! On the upside, there are plenty of people who can take your photo for you!
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