Planning your summer hiking trips across the UK? You need to squeeze in a trip or staycation to Pen Y Fan in Brecon Beacons, Wales, for a weekend of amazing hiking, beautiful countryside views and easy access to several mountains. Brecon Beacons needs to be on your list! Not only do you have Pen Y Fan, but several other incredible hikes and trails, plus Snowdonia is not far away giving you the opportunity to hike Mount Snowdon as well.
I've spent a lot of time exploring Wales and it's one of my favourite places ever for trips in the camper van – with empty beaches even during peak summer season and during school holidays. I've previously taken trips along the Pembrokeshire Coast, Cardiff & Swansea Bay, and Snowdonia – each was absolutely incredible. So, next on my list was a trip to Brecon Beacons which has come highly recommended for great hikes in the UK and of course, the Pen Y Fan climb. If you're considering a trip to Pen Y Fan, keep reading for my hiking guide to visiting Brecon Beacons and taking on this mountain climb.
Before your hiking trip – don't forget to get kitted out with hiking gear. Check out my hiking shopping list – with the best hiking boots, jackets and leggings. If you're interested in hiking guides, don't forget to check out my other favourite hiking destinations:
- Hiking Guide: Mam Tor in the Peak District
- Tenerife Hiking Guide – The Best National Parks
- Pico Island – The Hidden Gem of the Azores
- 22 of Victoria’s National Parks & Best Hikes
I'll be adding lots more hiking guides, so keep an eye on my adventure travel articles for the latest guides & content.
Your Pen Y Fan Hiking Guide:
- What and where is Pen Y Fan?
- 6 things to know before hiking Pen Y Fan in Brecon Beacons, Wales
- Hiking Pen Y Fan Guide
- How long does it take to walk up Pen y Fan Wales?
- Where to start walk up Pen y Fan?
- Solo Hiking at Pen Y Fan
- 4 Best Routes for Hiking Pen Y Fan, Wales
- Where to stay in Brecon Beacons
- Hiring a Car in Wales
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What and where is Pen Y Fan?
Pen Y Fan is the highest peak in South Wales at 886m above sea level (2,907 feet). It's a popular hiking spot with visitors and locals alike, and is one of a series of flat-topped mountains located at the heart of Brecon Beacons National Park. The mountain is close to the town of Brecon and is an iconic spot for hikers – many who take on the popular Welsh Three Peaks Challenge. Those who do take on the hike are rewarded with panoramic views from the top of the mountain.
6 things to know before hiking Pen Y Fan in Brecon Beacons, Wales
If you're planning to take on the Pen Y Fan hike, it's worth knowing a few things ahead of your visit to ensure you get the most from your visit. Here's 6 things to know before hiking Pen Y Fan:
- The weather is unpredictable in Wales – plan your visit to allow two days for the Pen Y Fan climb, that way if the weather is bad, you can bump your hike to the better day. That's exactly what we had to do after our first hike was rained off but as you can see, it was worth the wait for glorious sunshine and spectacular views.
- Start your hike early – the path gets very busy and while we started hiking at 8am when it was quite peaceful, there were a lot of people just starting in the midday sun as we made our way back down.
- Everywhere in Brecon Beacons seems to take around a 45 minute drive due to the winding country roads if you have a camper van, be sure to check on Google Maps before you drive to try and avoid the tinier winding roads which can be a bit chaotic in a larger vehicle.
- Make sure you wear warm layers – on the way up Pen Y Fan I hiked in a vest top and was roasting, but even on a sunny day the wind was very brisk and I needed a thermal jacket and woolly hat at the top!
- If you don't want to pay to park at the official car park, lots of drivers park along the roadsides just outside the car park to avoid the fees and didn't seem to face any issues.
- Take all your snacks, picnic & water with you – there's nowhere to buy anything at the car park except for an ice cream van that sometimes arrives a bit later on.
Before you start the hike – you can also check out the current weather and trail situation on the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park website, or their Twitter feed @BannauB. I also recommend packing sunscreen and lots of water.
Hiking Pen Y Fan Guide
How long does it take to walk up Pen Y Fan in Wales?
There are several routes you can take and lots of ways to extend the Pen Y Fan hike in Wales if you're looking for a more challenging route. If you're just planning to summit Pen Y Fan and then climb back down, you'll want to allow around 3-4 for the hike which will allow time to stop for breaks or to enjoy breakfast/lunch at the top. The hike from the car park to the summit and back is around 7.1km near Brecon, Powys.
Starting point for Hiking Pen Y Fan
The most popular place to start the Pen Y Fan hike is the traditional route from the Storey Arms Outdoor Centre, dubbed “the Motorway” is very doable and is usually very busy. There's are two main car parks, Pont-ar-Daf and Cwm Gwdi, which are both owned by the National Trust and have parking charges 24 hours a day. Pont-ar-Daf, 8 miles south of Brecon on the A470, is where I parked and started the hike, it's a much bigger car park than Cwm Gwdi so I recommend parking here (especially with larger vehicles such as camper vans).
Solo Hiking at Pen Y Fan
Yes, you can climb Pen Y Fan by yourself, I actually think it's a great hike to do solo. I spotted lots of people who were choosing to hike alone or even to job up and down the mountain. It's such a great way to explore and enjoy a great hike but on a well marked trail that is full of other like-minded hikers. The traditional route from the Storey Arms Outdoor Centre, dubbed “the Motorway” is always busy so there will be plenty of people around and someone is always happy to take a summit photo for you.
I love solo hiking but I know many travellers can be nervous to take on a hike by themselves – here's a few things you can do to feel more comfortable on the trails:
- Always tell someone where you will be hiking and check in with them before and after the hike
- Make sure you have a working phone so you can call for help if you need it
- Know the trail before you hike – either have it marked on Google Maps or use All Trails to avoid getting lost
- No-one to chat to? Either say hi to other hikers or you could listen to a podcast or music
- Always be aware of your surroundings – if anything or anyone makes you feel uncomfortable – leave immediately.
Read these articles before travelling or hiking solo:
- Solo Hiking – Staying Safe & Planning Your First Hike
- How to Safely Solo Travel as a Woman – a Solo Travel Expert
4 Best Routes for Hiking Pen Y Fan, Wales
There are several routes you can take to reach the summit of Pen Y Fan in Brecon Beacons National Park and extend your hike to join other nearby trails. Here are the best four routes to reach the top of Pen Y fan in Wales:
The "Motorway" – Easy Hike from the Storey Arms or Pont ar Daf
- Length: 4 miles/6.5km
- Time: Around 3-4 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
The most popular and the busiest route – hence why the regulars affectionately call it "the motorway". This route is fabulous and I loved hiking it – but I definitely recommend starting early to avoid the busiest times of day. We started hiking at 8am and it was perfect, by the time we headed back down it was super busy with hikers just starting the walk. This 4 mile circular walk starts from the Storey Arms Outdoor Centre or the nearby Pont ar Daf car park at around 440m. The climb to Pen y Fan’s 886m peak takes hikers through wild, open, moorland with breathtaking views and even wild ponies frolicking on the rolling hills. This route is perfect for children and there were lots of families with young children taking on the route.
The Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn and Taf Fechan Circular – Hard Route
- Length: 11 miles/18.5km
- Time: Around 7-8 hours
- Difficulty: Hard
If you fancy more of a challenge, you can't go wrong with an 11mile route that takes in some of the most spectacular peaks and ridges in Mid-Wales. Starting from the Storey Arms, you can also take in Corn Du (873m) and Cribyn (795m) as you traverse the central Beacons. This route takes around 8 hours and is far more challenging, but dedicated hikers will reap the rewards with endless views across Brecon Beacons National Park, and a chance to take a lesser-trodden route.
The Cwm Llwch walk from Cwm Gwdi – Peaceful Route
- Length: 7.5 miles/12km
- Time: Around 5 hours
- Difficulty: Hard
Craving peace as you hike through the wilds of Brecon Beacons National Park in Mid-Wales? You could try the much quieter Cwm Llwch walk from Cwm Gwdi which is a challenging 7.5 mile climb starting north of Pen y Fan. Hikers begin their trek from Cwm Gwdi car park (310m) before following an ancient track up to Cefn Cwm Llwch ridge and Pen y Fan (886m), with stunning views east over the River Nant Sere and west over Llyn Cwm Llwch. Apparently if you stand at the top of Pen Y Fan and look north-west, you can see all the way to Eryri (Snowdonia).
Horseshoe Ridge – The Tough Route
- Length: 10 miles/16km
- Time: Around 5-6 hours
- Difficulty: Hard
Last but not least – for those who want to push themselves and experience a blinder of a hike – check out the tough 10 mile circuit from the Taf Fechan Forest up to Corn Du (873m), Pen y Fan (886m), Cribyn (795m) and Fan y Big (719m), the one with the diving board rock, returning via the eastern Neuadd Valley. Expect impressive views across spectacular valleys as red kites soar overhead, and of course, far less crowds.
Where to stay in Brecon Beacons
The Ancient Briton
- This gorgeous little gastro-pub is located in the heart of Brecon Beacons and just a short drive from Pen Y Fan and lots of other attractions. There are rooms in the pub which are comfortable and well-priced with mountain views.
- The food at this traditional pub is phenomenal – we had a Sunday Roast here and it was mouth-wateringly good, with amazing service. Apparently the breakfast is exceptional!
- I also really rated that they had space for camper vans to park up at the back of the pub, and a great outdoor area for sitting in the sunshine with an amazing food truck out the front.
- Rooms start from £75 per night.
The Cawdor Boutique Hotel
- A beautiful and spacious accommodation in the centre of Llandeilo just 750yds from the train station
- This Georgian property is a 4-star boutique hotel mixing antique and modern styles
- An amazing breakfast and lots of choice for rooms including family rooms or those suitable for groups of travellers.
If you're exploring beyond just Pen Y Fan, check out my insider's guide to Hay-On-Wye – the World's First Book Town.
Hiring a Car in Wales
If you're visiting from another part of the UK or another country and would like to visit Brecon Beacons National Park, I recommend hiring a car in Wales. Brecon Beacons is a very rural area and many places you will want to visit and explore are a 30-45 minute drive apart. It will make it much easier for you to explore using a car – I visited in my camper van which was amazing – if you are interested in hiring a camper van I really recommend it when visiting Wales – it's my favourite way to explore the Welsh countryside. >> Hiring a car in Wales starts from just $31 a day from Cardiff.
