Highest Peaks of the Brecon Beacons

This challenging walk takes the less traveled route up Corn Du to visit Pen y Fan, the highest point in the Brecon Beacons National Park. This walk continues along the high ridgeline visiting the summits of Cribyn and Fan y Big before returning to the start along the western side of Cwm Cynwyn.

County - Powys

National Park - Brecon Beacons

Distance - 18.0 km (11.2 miles)

Elevation Gain - 998 m (3,274 ft)

Categorised Climbs - 1 x Cat.1

Difficulty - Hard (60/100)

Time - 6 hours

Route Preview

Although not technically the most challenging walk, the moderate length combined with some sharp inclines may prove challenging for some. At around 6 hours duration this route takes in four of the most prominent peaks of the Brecon Beacons. There are excellent views and great photo opportunities along the main ridge of the Beacons, and looking north over the Usk valley. This route begins and ends with sections along paved lanes and along well trodden paths once the elevation picks up so navigation should not prove too difficult. The summit of Pen y Fan and to a lesser extend Corn Du can get extremely busy on weekends so plan accordingly.

Click to View in Google Earth

Download kmz file

What's a kmz file and how do I use it?

Download kmz file for mobile

What's a kmz file and how do I use it?

Points of Interest

Llyn Cwm Llwch

Llyn Cwm Llwch is a small lake or pool in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, Wales. It is between 1 and 2 acres: much smaller than the two glacial lakes in the west of the Black Mountain (range): Llyn y Fan Fawr and Llyn y Fan Fach. It is of glacial origin, occupying a rock hollow beneath the peaks of Pen y Fan and Corn Du in the central Brecon Beacons. It is drained by the Nant Cwm Llwch which empties into the Afon Tarell, which itself enters the River Usk at Brecon.

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 marked starting point cross the cattle grid and turn left along the unnamed lane

2

After crossing the bridge over the Nant Cwm Llwch river take a left and head south into Cwm Llwch

3

Continue on the west side of the river, initially on road then pathway, skirting closely around to the right of Cwm-Llwch farm

4

The route now climbs steeply up the Cwm Llwch valley, with Pen y Fan and Corn Du starting to come into view

5

After crossing a stile onto National Trust land the route continues to the right of a small lake and up to the ridgeline

6

Continue past the “Lost Lad” stone, in memory of Little Tommy Jones (a young miner's son who perished on the Brecon Beacons in the summer of 1900, devastating an entire community) and on to the summit of Corn Du

7

Weather permitting you will have terrific views of the highest peaks of the Brecon Beacons and only a short distance to cover to the flattened summit of Pen y Fan, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons and Southern Britain at 886m

8

Continue East along the ridgeline to get the best views of Pen y Fan and to enjoy the less busy tops of Cribyn (795 metres) and Fan y Big (716 metres).

9

From the top of Fan y Big backtrack to the saddle between Fan y Big and Cribyn and take the track to the right, descending north along the side of Cwm Cynwyn