This route is probably the most popular walk in the Brecon Beacons, it's easy access making it an obvious choice for visitors to the area. A short but enjoyable route, it visits three summits, the first of which is Pen-y-Fan, the highest mountain in the range, and the highest mountain in southern Britain. The panorama from the summit, as would be expected, is as extensive as it is beautiful. On especially clear days. it is even possible to pick out the Somerset Hills and the coast of Devon. The summit carries an ancient burial cairn surmounted by a trig pillar.

The second peak of the route is Corn Du, and almost identical summit, which could be considered Pen y Fan's twin. The peak is mentiond by Geraldus Cambrensis (1188), but refers to it as Cadair Arthur "so called from the two peaks rising up in the form of a chair".

The third and final peak visited by the route is Y Gyrn, a flat, rounded, grassy hill which may be considered to be a bit of an anticlimax when compared to the previous two mountains. On the other hand, it does clock up your summit tally, and is on the way back to the start anyway.

Getting There

The route starts at car park on the far side of the forestry plantation from the Storey Arms (SN 983203), which is on the A470 in-between Brecon in the north and Merthyr Tudful in the south. If coming from the south i.e. if you’re coming along the M4, take Junction 32 (ST 142 816) near Cardiff and head north along the duel carriageway, the A470, to Merthyr Tudful. At Merthyr there is a roundabout which has four exits, take the second exit and stay on the A470, no longer a duel carriageway (SO 028 077), for around 10 miles to the car park which is located on the opposite side of the Storey Arms.

If coming from the north take the A438 from Hereford (SO 407 401) to the junction just after Bronllys (SO 144 350), and from here take the A470 to a roundabout junction (SO 067 278) with four exits. Take the second exit and drive west along the A40 to another roundabout junction (SO 032 284) and take the first exit south along the A470 to the Storey Arms car parks.

If you are parking in this area make sure you lock your car and hide all valuables. Sometimes thieves come up from Merthyr Tudful and other nearby large towns and prey on the easy pickings that are often left in the car park.

The Brecon Beacons – Pen y Fan (left) and Corn Du (right) (Photo by Nanuls)

Route Description

To the south of the car park toilet block take the path between the conifers, pass through the gate and cross the stream, (Nant Blaen Taf Fawr). Continue along the path, passing the National Trust plaque which commemorates the gift of the Brecon Beacons to the National Trust by the Eagle Star Insurance company in 1965. Cross the mountainside to the pass, Bwlch Duwynt, where the landscape to the east is revealed. Then head north-east, keeping on the level path. After about 600 metres you will arrive at a junction , continue forward to Pen-Y-Fan, the first summit. Alternatively, you could take the left hand path and visit Corn Du first. Return along the ridge to visit Corn Du's summit. Drop down north west and follow the path along the scarp edge. After about 500 metres, bear left at a fork in the path, pass the Tommy Jones Obelisk and continue down slope. Cross a junction to a fence, turn left and follow the fence to the third and final summit, Y Gyrn. Descend easily along a path to the Storey Arms and follow the road back to your starting point.

Essential Gear

Just a good pair of boots, waterproofs and some lunch. If walking in winter make sure you also carry an ice axe and crampons.

Maps

Open Space Web-Map builder Code

Navigation Maps

OS 1:25k Explorer Series OL 12 Brecon Beacons National Park / Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog

OS 1:50k Landranger Series 160 Brecon Beacons / Bannau Brycheiniog

Harvey Map Services Superwalker 1:25k Brecon Beacons: Brecon Beacons East

Harvey Map Map Services 1:40k Walkers Map: Brecon Beacons

Road Maps

OS Travel Map Tour 11 South & Mid Wales

Guidebooks

General
Official National Park Guide: Brecon Beacons by Roger Thomas and Harry Williams

Hillwalking
Cicerone Guide: The Mountains of England and Wales: Volume 1 Wales by John and Anne Nuttall
Cicerone Guide: Hillwalking in Wales Vol 1 by Peter
Cicerone Guide: Walking in the Brecon Beacons National Park by Andrew Davies and David Whittaker
Pathfinder Guide: Brecon Beacons and Glamorgan Walks by Brian Conduit and Neil Coates
Discovery Walking Guides: Walk The Brecon Beacons by Bob Greaves
The Automobile Assicuation: 50 Walks in Brecon Beacons
Jarrold Short Walks Guides: Brecon Beacons: Leisure Walks for All Ages by Tom Hutton
Walks with History Guide: Circular Walks in the Brecon Beacons National Park by Tom Hutton
Classic Walks in the Brecon Beacons National Park by Chris Barber

External Links

Pen y Fan (Photo by DERWYN)

Pen y Fan (Photo by thevalleywalker)

General

Brecon Beacons National Park
Council for National Parks
Association of National Park Authorities
Carmarthenshire County Council
Powys County Council
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Brecon Beacons Park Society
Brecon Beacons National Park Information
Welsh Tourist Board
Mid Wales Tourism Partnership
Powys Tourist Board
Countryside Council for Wales
British Geological Survey
The National Trust
CADW
Royal Commission on Ancient & Historical Monuments in Wales
British Mountaineering Council
The Climbers Club
South Wales Mountaineering Club

Weather

Mountain Weather Wales
Weather from the Met Office
Weather Channel UK

Travel

Welsh Public Transport Information
Uk Train Timetable

Accomodation

Youth Hostel Association in Wales

Maps and Guidebooks

Ordnance Survey
Harvey Map Services
Cicerone Guidebooks
Climbers Club Guidebooks

Welsh Language

Welsh Language Board
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg Welsh language pressure group
Yr Urdd (Welsh Youth Association)
Welsh-English / English-Welsh online translator
Welsh-English / English-Welsh Online Dictionary
Welsh-English / English-Welsh Online Lexicon

Images

"It [climbing] is a sport which combines admirable physical exercise with pleasures of a purely intellectual kind. It is a sport which makes us young again... It is a sport which brings us face to face with nature, and puts us in a quest for the unknown... It is a sport which enables us to throw off the cares and troubles of life.. It is a sport that from some mysterious case appeals mainly to the cultivated intellect. 'Arry and 'Arriet would never climb a hill... Above all, it is a sport that makes a man. It teaches boldness, prudence, co-operation, self control." --O.G. Jones