Discover the rugged beauty of the Brecon Beacons National Park, where sweeping valleys, dramatic ridges, cascading waterfalls and open mountain summits await. From classic Pen y Fan ridges to dramatic Waterfall Country, Fforest Fawr's glacial valleys and the wild Black Mountains, Walking in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) offers walkers of all abilities the opportunity to explore this national park at their own leisure. 

This guidebook transforms Brecon Beacons walking into a straightforward process, presenting 45 circular routes from 4 - 24km (3 - 15 miles), catering to all abilities—from straightforward low-level valley walks perfect for beginners and poor weather to strenuous mountain ridge days for experienced hikers.

• Every walk includes step-by-step descriptions and 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey mapping so you always know what lies ahead on the trail, whether you’re tackling upland ridges or wooded gorges
• Routes are logically organised across seven key areas—North-eastern valleys & ridges, Eastern valleys, South-western ridges, Fforest Fawr, Waterfall Country, Mynydd Du and the Black Mountains—with easy access from main centres including Brecon, Crickhowell, Abergavenny, Hay-on-Wye and Llandovery
• Each walk has been assigned a difficulty grade in a handy route summary table to help you select the right route for you with confidence 
• Practical essentials are woven throughout, with clear guidance on logistics such as parking and a glossary to help you understand the Welsh terminology specific to outdoor adventuring 
• Downloadable GPX files are available to download for use on GPS devices and smartphones 

The Brecon Beacons reveal something new on every path, from roaring waterfalls to tranquil rivers and panoramic ridges. With this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook in hand, you can wander landscapes fully prepared, experiencing both the beauty and the history of the national park, making each day’s walk a rewarding experience for every hiker. 

Walking in the Brecon Beacons – Quick Facts

Guide name: Walking in the Brecon Beacons – 45 Circular Walks  
Location: Brecon Beacons National Park / Bannau Brycheiniog, Wales, UK  
Total routes: 45 circular day walks  
Distance range: ~4–24 km (3–15 miles) per walk  
Typical duration: ~2–8+ hours depending on walk length  
Walk type: Varied circular trails from low‑level valleys to mountain ridges  
Difficulty: Graded for ability; from easy valley walks to strenuous mountain days  
Terrain: Valleys, ridges, waterfalls, wooded gorges and upland summits  
Navigation: Step‑by‑step descriptions, 1:50 000 OS mapping & GPX downloads included  
Highlights: Pen y Fan, Mynydd Du, Fforest Fawr, Black Mountains & Waterfall Country

Author Highlight

"Mynydd Du has some of the remotest upland wilderness in England and Wales. This is the area to choose when you really want to get away from it all. In contrast, Fforest Fawr, a former royal hunting ground, has both upland walks and deeply incised river gorges and waterfalls to rival any in the UK. The Brecon Beacons are the highest summits in the park, with Pen y Fan falling just short of the 3000ft threshold. Finally, the Black Mountains, on the English border, have a softer feel to them, without the coarse and rugged Welshness of Mynydd Du."

- Andy Davies, one of the authors of Walking in the Brecon Beacons

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 Big via Cwm Cynwyn

Walk 7 Cwm Cynwyn ridge ascending Fan y Big and Cribyn

Walk 8 Fan y Big via Cwm Oergwm

Walk 9 Cwm Oergwm and Gist Wen

Walk 10 Cwm Oergwm ridge ascending Fan y Big

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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