A guidebook to 45 circular walks in Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) National Park. From straightforward, low-level walks to long mountainous routes with strenuous ascents there’s something for walkers of all levels of fitness and experience.

The walks range in length from 4–24km (3–15 miles) and cover Mynydd Du, Fforest Fawr and The Black Mountains.

• 1:50,000 OS maps included for each walk
• GPX files available to download
• All walks have been assigned a difficulty grade allowing easy walk selection
• Easy access from Llandovery, Abergavenny and Hay-on-Wye
• Highlights include an ascent of Pen y Fan

Overview map

Map key

Introduction

Geology of the Brecon Beacons

Changing woodland

Human impact

Birdlife

Getting to and staying in the national park

A solitary guided walk?

Using this guide

1 North-eastern valleys and ridges

Walk 1 Corn Du and Pen y Fan via Cwm Llwch

Walk 2 Pen y Fan via Cwm Sere

Walk 3 Cribyn via Cwm Sere

Walk 4 Cwm Sere ridge ascending Cribyn and Pen y Fan

Walk 5 Cribyn via Cwm Cynwyn

Walk 6 Fan y Bîg via Cwm Cynwyn

Walk 7 Cwm Cynwyn ridge ascending Fan y Bîg and Cribyn

Walk 8 Fan y Bîg via Cwm Oergwm

Walk 9 Cwm Oergwm and Gist Wen

Walk 10 Cwm Oergwm ridge ascending Fan y Bîg

Walk 11 Cwm Oergwm Valley

2 Eastern valleys and ridges

Walk 12 Bryn

Walk 13 Cwm Tarthwynni circuit

Walk 14 Blaen-y-glyn and Allt Forgan

Walk 15 Blaen-y-glyn and Craig y Fan Ddu

Walk 16 Torpantau circuit

3 South-western valleys and ridges

Walk 17 Neuadd Horseshoe: Corn Du, Pen y Fan and Cribyn

Walk 18 Cwm Llysiog and Waun Wen

Walk 19 Corn Du and Pen y Fan via Cwm Crew

Walk 20 Corn Du and Pen y Fan from Pont ar Daf

4 Fforest Fawr

Walk 21 Craig Cerrig-gleisiad

Walk 22 Fan Fawr

Walk 23 Craig Cwm-du and Fan Frynych

Walk 24 Fan Frynych, Fan Dringarth and Fan Llia

Walk 25 Fan Gyhirych and Fan Nedd

5 Waterfall Country

Walk 26 Elidir Trail: Sgwd Gwladus and Sgwd Ddwli waterfalls

Walk 27 Waterfall walk

Walk 28 Sgwd yr Eira

Walk 29 Ystradfellte Falls

Walk 30 Afon Nedd and Afon Mellte

6 The Black Mountain (Mynydd Du)

Walk 31 Carmarthen Fans and glacial cwms

Walk 32 Tair Carn Isaf via Cwm Pedol

Walk 33 Sinc Giedd and Carmarthen Fans

Walk 34 Afon Twrch

Walk 35 Henrhyd Falls and River Tawe

Walk 36 Garreg Las via Cwm Sawdde

Walk 37 Cribarth

Walk 38 Carmarthen Fans via Cwm Giedd

Walk 39 Carreg Cennen

7 The Black Mountains (Y Mynyddoedd Duon)

Walk 40 Pen Cerrig-calch and Table Mountain

Walk 41 Craig y Cilau

Walk 42 Crug Mawr and Sugar Loaf

Walk 43 Llanthony Priory, Offa’s Dyke and Bal Mawr

Walk 44 Lord Hereford’s Knob

Walk 45 Castell Dinas and Waun Fach

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Routes by interest

Appendix C Brief Welsh–English glossary

Appendix D Useful contacts

Seasons

The Brecon Beacons has something special to offer in all seasons from the high summits covered in snow to the autumn colours of the wooded valleys.

Centres

The towns of Llandovery, Brecon, Crickhowell, Abergavenny and Hay-on-Wye provide excellent bases from which to explore the national park.

Difficulty

The 45 routes cater for all abilities and weather conditions. Low-level valley routes are alternatives to the high peaks and ridges of the central Brecon Beacons. The Waterfall Country offers good options in poor weather and there are a variety of different length walks.

Must See

Mynydd Du, Fforest Fawr, Brecon Beacons, the Black Mountains and Waterfall Country; Pen y Fan; Sgwd Gwladus waterfall (White Lady Falls); Llanthony Priory; fascinating geological features; historical sites; industrial heritage; plants and wildlife

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