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Are you keen on walking to the highest point in South Wales, aka Cymru? Take a look at my helpful guide to walking Pen y Fan in Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog)! You can find my top tips on where to park for Pen y Fan, which route to take (with a linked Pen y Fan map!), what time you should start your hike, what to pack along and more.

Your Guide to Walking Pen y Fan in South Wales (Cymru) | The Wanderful Me

There’s a reason Pen y Fan is one of the most popular (if not the most popular) walks in South Wales! When the weather is ideal, Pen y Fan hikers are treated with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, from rolling green hills and heart-stopping cliffs to rivers cutting through the valleys, cascading waterfalls, sheep and horses dotting the green landscapes, and adorable Welsh cottages nestled between the trees.

Not to mention, you’re also offered several easy routes to follow, ample parking options, and even food and drink caravans parked alongside the road, which makes for walking Pen y Fan an awesome experience.

To help you plan the best possible walk up Pen y Fan, take a look at my guide below. You can find helpful information on where to park, which route to take (including a Pen y Fan route map), how long the walk is, what you should bring with you, the toilet situation at Pen y Fan (very important!), and answers to other frequently asked questions.

The Best Pen y Fan Walking Route

First thing first: let’s talk about which route you should take up Pen y Fan. Personally, my husband and I took the Pen y Fan + Corn Du circular route from the Storey Arms Outdoor Education Center.

It’s ~4.5 miles (7.4 km), has an elevation gain of 1,762 ft (537 m), and takes around 2-3.5 hours to complete, depending on your fitness level and how often you stop.

I think this is the best route up Pen y Fan. The path is:

✓ Very well marked
✓ A steady incline to the top
✓ Beautiful with 360° views
✓ A loop (my favorite type of hike)

You can either go clockwise or counter clockwise but I recommend going the latter (counter clockwise). We found that though the walk was popular on a beautiful Saturday morning, there were far more people going clockwise, leaving us with a relatively empty trail.

That said, it’s important to note that going counter clockwise on this route means going up the steeper bit at the beginning. I think that’s why most people went clockwise, as it’s a bit flatter at the start when going that direction!

Check out the full circular route on AllTrails here.

There are a few other route options if you want to go for a more difficult walk. Take a look at the Pen y Fan Horseshoe route from Taf Fechan Forest (14.8 km), the Cwm Llwch Horseshoe route from Heol-Fanog (11.1 km), or the Fan y Bîg, Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du route (20.1 km).

Photos of Walking Pen y Fan

To help you get a better idea of what the Pen y Fan and Corn Du circular route is like, take a look at my photos below. As mentioned above, we went counter clockwise to avoid the majority of other hikers.

FAQs About Walking Pen y Fan

Questions about walking Pen y Fan? I’ll try to answer them here! Below, you’ll find info on the toilet situation, Pen y Fan packing essentials, parking, safety tips, and more.

How hard is it to walk up Pen y Fan?

Depends on the route you take! Both the out-and-back trail from Pont ar Daf car park and the circular trail from the Storey Arms could be considered easy. I saw many kids (even little kiddos) walking it with zero difficulty.

That said, the incline could still be tough for some! I recommend taking frequent breaks to admire the views if you’re finding it tough to ascent. Just ensure you step off to the side of the trail to allow other walkers to pass by.

How long does Pen y Fan take?

This depends on which route you walk up Pen y Fan. If you walk the out-and-back route from Pont ar Daf car park, it will likely take around 2.5 hours, subject to your individual fitness level. If you go the Pen y Fan and Corn Du circular route from the Storey Arms, expect the walk to take around 2.5-3.5 hours.

What time should you start walking Pen y Fan?

I recommend starting earlier in the morning to avoid the crowds. Ideally, sometime before 9 AM. That said, we started our hike around 9:30ish. While there were plenty of cars in the car park, it was nowhere near full. The route was also pretty empty, which was great.

Where should I park to walk Pen y Fan?

If you walk the out-and-back Pen Y Fan route or the Pen y Fan + Corn Du circular route, you have three parking options:

  1. Pont ar Daf Car Park (paid parking)
  2. Storey Arms Car Park (free parking but gets full first)
  3. Free parking off the side of the A470 (just down the road from Storey Arms)

We parked at the 3rd option and there were hardly any cars at 9:30 AM.

Does Pen y Fan have toilets?

Yes! If you start your hike at the Storey Arms or Pont ar Daf car park, you can find free, public toilets in the Pont ar Daf car park.

Note that there is NO public water fountains at Pen y Fan though, so unless you want to fill up your water bottle in the sink, I recommend you fill it before you leave home.

Is hiking Pen y Fan harder than Snowdon?

Definitely not. Pen y Fan is a relatively easy hike — even small kiddos can effortlessly get up to the top. While hiking Wyddfa in Eryri National Park (aka Snowdon in Snowdonia National Park) isn’t necessarily that hard, depending on which route you take up, Pen y Fan is a much shorter hike and has a much lower elevation.

Is hiking Pen y Fan safe?

I’m not going to lie — there have been a few deaths associated with Pen y Fan. However, the hike itself is can be very safe, offering minimal drops, steady elevation, and plenty of space to walk.

That said, when you get to the top of Pen y Fan (and Corn Du, if you also summit that peak), there are sheer cliff drops that you need to stay safely back from. Falling from one of these cliffs could result in major injury or even death.

Additionally, if you take the Pen y Fan and Corn Du circular route, going down from Corn Du is pretty steep. I found the small stoney path to be quite slippery, even if they were only slightly wet from rain the night before.

Lastly, always check the weather before you go. Weather can change suddenly in the mountains, going from clear, blue skies to dense clouds and rain that impact visibility and traction.

Have any safety tips for walking Pen y Fan?

Prioritizing your safety is essential on any hike, especially Pen y Fan, where sheer cliff drops and ever-changing weather can pose serious risks. My must-know safety tips for walking Pen y Fan include:

  1. Check the weather – Conditions can change quickly, so dress in layers and bring waterproofs.
  2. Wear proper footwear – Sturdy, well-gripped hiking boots are essential for uneven terrain. I saw SO many people wearing flimsy trainers, which won’t do you any favors on Pen y Fan’s sometimes slippery paths.
  3. Stay on marked paths – Avoid straying near cliff edges or taking shortcuts.

What should I pack for walking Pen y Fan?

My essentials are a filtering water bottle (I personally use GRAYL GeoPress — it’s amazing), snacks, a first aid kit, and a fully charged phone.

Additionally, me or Dan (aka the wanderful husband) always download offline maps on both Apple Maps and Google Maps. This ensures one or both of us at any given time have access to a map for directions.

For gear, I wear my:

Salomon hiking boots
Columbia Arcadia rain jacket
prAna long sleeve crew
prAna Halle pants

Is Pen y Fan dog friendly?

YES! I saw lots of doggos, young and old. It was great. Just make sure to keep your dog on a leash/lead for safety purposes. (There’s also plenty of sheep in the area.)

What time of the year should I walk Pen y Fan?

With the right weather and gear, you could walk up Pen y Fan really any time of the year. While there might be snow on top of Pen y Fan, which could pose some risks, just make sure you wear proper hiking boots, the right jacket, some gloves, and maybe even clamps if needed.

Personally, we walked Pen y Fan mid-October and it was lovely! The weather was ideal — not too cold, not too warm — and the autumn colors were popping. Plus, there weren’t as many people compared to the summer months, which was perfect. Highly recommend!

Is walking Pen y Fan worth it?

Definitely. The views are beautiful and the hike is pretty straightforward. Walking Pen y Fan was especially pretty in autumn, when the landscape was lit up with yellows, oranges, reds, and greens.

Hope you enjoyed this guide to walking Pen y Fan! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out or put them in the comments below. Happy hiking!

Sophie xx


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Love this guide to walking Pen y Fan? Pin it!

Are you keen on walking to the highest point in South Wales, aka Cymru? Take a look at my helpful guide to walking Pen y Fan in Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog)! You can find my top tips on where to park for Pen y Fan, which route to take (with a linked Pen y Fan map!), what time you should start your hike, what to pack along and more.
Are you keen on walking to the highest point in South Wales, aka Cymru? Take a look at my helpful guide to walking Pen y Fan in Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog)! You can find my top tips on where to park for Pen y Fan, which route to take (with a linked Pen y Fan map!), what time you should start your hike, what to pack along and more.

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