Extended Beacons Horseshoe

A challenging Brecon Beacons walk visiting the summits of Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn and Fan-y-Big. The route follows part of the Beacons Way and is actually an extended version of the brilliant Horseshoe Ridge Walk.

County - Powys

National Park - Brecon Beacons

Distance - 17.7 km (11.0 miles)

Elevation Gain - 838 m (2,749 ft)

Categorised Climbs - 1 x Cat.2

Difficulty - Hard (58/100)

Time - 5 ¾ hours

Route Preview

This challenging mountain walk takes you into the heart of the Brecon Beacons visiting the popular summits of Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn and Fan y Big. The route offers some spectacular views, excellent walking and follows a section of the Beacons Way long-distance path.

From the starting point you will head North towards the picturesque Neuadd Reservoir. From there the peaks of Pen y Fan and Cribyn are visible over to top of trees ling the northern edge of the reservoir. From the reservoir you will climb steeply from the valley floor to the top of the Craig Fan Ddu ridgeline. The ridgeline will lead you to the summit of Corn Du which offers the first chance during this walk to see the steep north facing escarpment of the twin peaks of Corn Du and Pen y Fan.

A short distance away is Pen y Fan, which at 886 metres is the highest point in South Wales and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Naturally, the summit provides an excellent viewpoint east along the escarpment to Cribyn and Fan y Big, the next two peaks you will climb.

After Fan y Big this route heads south along the escarpment edge following the Beacons Way long-distance path before looping back to the starting point along paved paths and roads through woodland areas.

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Points of Interest

Lower Neuadd Reservoir

A reservoir was constructed at Pentwyn between 1859 and 1863 by the Merthyr Board of Health. Serious leakage occurred due to the dam having been constructed over the major fault zone known as the Neath Disturbance. Partly because of the problems experienced at Pentwyn, Merthyr Tydfil Corporation constructed Lower Neuadd Reservoir in 1884. To facilitate its construction, a temporary railway line was constructed from Torpantau halt on the Brecon & Merthyr Junction railway. This route is now a bridleway followed by the Taff Trail.

Corn Du

Corn Du is a mountain immediately to the southwest of Pen y Fan and the second highest peak in South Wales at 873 m, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The summit itself is marked by a well structured Bronze Age cairn with a central burial cist like that on nearby Pen y Fan.

Elevation: 873 m (2,864 ft) Prominence: 28 m (92 ft)

Pen y Fan

Pen y Fan is the highest peak in south Wales, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park. At 886 metres above sea-level, it is also the highest British peak south of Cadair Idris in Snowdonia. The twin summits of Pen y Fan and Corn Du at 873 m were formerly referred to as Cadair Arthur or 'Arthur's Seat'.

Elevation: 886 m (2,907 ft) Prominence: 672 m (2,205 ft)

Cribyn

Cribyn is a mountain in the Brecon Beacons with an elevation of 2608 feet (or 795 metres) about 300 feet lower than the neighbouring peaks of Pen y Fan and Corn Du. It is a prominent peak in the long and impressive escarpment facing north and running roughly east–west of the central section of the Brecon Beacons.

Elevation: 795 m (2,608 ft) Prominence: 130 m (430 ft)

Fan y Bîg

Fan y Bîg is a subsidiary summit of Waun Rydd in the Brecon Beacons National Park, in southern Powys, Wales. It is often hiked as part of the Horseshoe Walk, a traverse of the four main peaks in the Brecon Beacons.

Elevation: 717 m (2,351 ft) Prominence: 29 m (94 ft)

Route Details

1

From the starting point in Neuadd Car Park walk north up the lane to the Filter House

2

At the filter house, follow the path to the left which heads west skirting along the southern bank of the Lower Neuadd Reservoir

3

Follow the steep path to the top of the Craig Fan Ddu ridge

4

Once you reach the top turn right and walk north along the ridgeline for 4 kilometres towards Corn Du

5

When the path is crossed by another path, continue straight to reach the summit of Corn Du

6

Take the path to the east which leads directly to the summit of Pen y Fan

7

Head Southeast from the top of Pen y Fan and follow the path which leads to Cribyn

8

After 750m the path splits into two. Take the left path to climb to the summit of Cribyn

9

From Cribyn head South along the trail which takes you down to Bwlch ar y Fan

10

Continue straight up the side of Fan y Big, the next summit along the escarpment and the last major climb of this walk

11

From Fan y Big head south along the escarpment edge following the Beacons Way long-distance path

12

After 800 metres a path joins the edge path from the right

13

The path gradually veers left and heads east

14

400 metres after the previous path junction, turn right onto a less distinct path

15

The path initially heads south but then heads east to reach an easterly facing escarpment and a much clearer path

16

Turn south along the edge following the Beacons Way over the eastern side of Craig y Fan Ddu

17

Continue down the path with the plantation on your left to reach the access track to a parking area on your left

18

Turn right down the car park access track and then walk right along the road

19

Stay on this road until you reach a junction with a small parking area

20

Turn right through the parking area and keep right when the track splits into two

21

Stay on the track until you reach the lane used for the outward route

22

Turn sharp left and the car park used at the start is a short way down this lane on your right

23

Congratulations! You have completed this walk

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Comparative Elevation Profile

Detailed Elevation Profile

Climb Details

Weather Forecast

Nearby Routes

The Great Waterfalls Walk

Distance - 15.0 km (9.2 miles)

Elevation Gain - 468 m (1,535 ft)

Categorised Climbs - 1 x Cat.3

Difficulty - Challenging (46/100)

Time - 4 ¾ hours