On foot in the Beacons
Walking & Hiking
From gentle valley paths to demanding ridge routes, there is always a new walk to discover here.
From gentle valley paths to demanding ridge routes, there is always a new walk to discover here.
The Brecon Beacons are full of great hiking trails. The terrain changes character completely across the park — from the rounded, open summits of the central Beacons to the narrow, wooded valleys of the south, and the sweeping remoteness of the Black Mountains to the east.
Whatever your pace, there is a route here that will feel exactly right. Many of the paths have been walked for centuries; you will share them with sheep, red kites, and on quieter weekday mornings, almost no one at all.
The park's walking trails are generally well-marked and well-maintained. Sturdy walking boots, a waterproof layer and a good map are always advisable — the weather can change quickly on the higher ground, and that is very much part of the experience.
The most popular route to South Wales' highest peak begins at the Pont ar Daf car park on the A470. It is a relatively straightforward climb — about 886 metres of altitude, with a clear path all the way to the top. On a fine day the views stretch to the Pembrokeshire coast in one direction and the Bristol Channel in the other.
This path has earned the nickname "the motorway" for good reason — it gets busy, especially in summer. If you would like more solitude, there are several alternative approaches from the north that are quieter and just as rewarding.
Park wardens run organised Pen y Fan sunset hikes throughout the year — a wonderful way to see the summit in a different light while learning more about the park.
There are countless routes beyond Pen y Fan. Here are four that offer something different — whether you want wilder terrain, better views or a gentler outing.
Not a mountain in the traditional sense, but a distinctive flat-topped hill above the market town of Crickhowell. The hike begins in the town centre — Crickhowell itself is worth a wander before or after — and rewards you with sweeping views across the Usk Valley. The flat summit is genuinely dramatic.
Drive up into the hills above the famous book town of Hay-on-Wye and hike Hay Bluff for 360° panoramas. Make it a circular route by returning via Twmpa — also, memorably, known as Lord Hereford's Knob. The ridge between the two summits is some of the finest easy walking in the whole park.
This ambitious circular in the western reaches of the park combines two neighbouring peaks and two glacial lakes in one outing. The views are dramatic and the terrain genuinely remote. Llyn y Fan Fach has its own mythology — a legend of a fairy bride and her physician sons who became the famous Physicians of Myddfai. One of the park's finest days out.
The route from the Neuadd Reservoir car park to the south is far quieter than the popular Pont ar Daf path and arguably more beautiful — it approaches through the magnificent glacial cwm on the mountain's southern face. Harder to find, harder to park, and considerably more rewarding as a result.