Breacon Beacons & Black Mountains in April

Crickhowell is lovely, so if it’s walking distance, or taxi distance you have a great spot.

I would do BPW on day 3.
The legs will appreciate the uplift. The Gap although lovely with spectacular views is a gravel ride imo so perhaps save the best "riding" to dsy 3.

Farmers Arms can have variable opening times, main reason we haven't been in for ages.
Cafe over the road is good though, breakfasts, loads of choice for meals.

Whole valley is still private water supply rather than mains I think, so spring water - nice

Thanks. Any other day long routes that you'd recommend instead of 'The Gap'? Similar location (Central /East).
Cheers

Wouldn't say the descent off from the Gap is a gravel ride! Not for me anyway.

There's the 'classic' black mountains route you can start from Crickhowell (but I think it's better from bottom of the reservoir  (Mynydd Du) Car Park). Fantastic day out, bit of road, lots of climbing, some good descents and one long way back to the car park that has stunning views. If you want a GPX, drop me a msg and I'll send it over.

Gap can also be very busy in good weather (esp Roman road up to gap), you won't see so many on the route I'm suggesting!

I like the Gap and do it regularly, it’s a relatively chilled XC route, worth doing for the views and getting up high quickly. Do the Bwlch y Gleision route not the one on the Taff trail up to the road, and there a few bits to extend it, like Tor Y Foel, as it’s not a whole day out. At the gap/Bwlch ar y Fan you can push up to the diving board for a photo op. If you’re fit enough maybe do the Llangors loop in the afternoon too. Black mountains killer loop is the classic ride, a hard day out, and can be done either way round, depending on which hill you want to hike a bike or descend.

Just read your post again, staying at Cwmdu you can ride the Llangors loop out of the front door and also join a lot of the Black Mountains routes from Pengenffordd.

Just bear in mind that early April is still winter here in the Blacks/Beacons. We very often have a spell of sleet and snow down at lower altitudes in the first week of April. I have been out on the hill in that weather and can get very serious very fast. Be prepared. Cwmdu is a nice base. Thousands of oprions for great loops if you know where the tracks are (A clue, they are not on the maps!). Gap route. If you've not done it then go ahead, it is special in its' own way. If you have doine it a few times and want to try something more ambitious then there are lots of better options depending onm your riding/navigational abilities.