Brecon Beacons

For more information, visit the Central Brecon Beacons page.

Pen y Fan 886m SO 0121 2158 c671m The highest summit in the Beacons, distinctively shaped and recognisable thoughout the whole area. The north-east face is the highest and most dramatic in the Beacons, but is perhaps marred by the lack of a lake at it's base. Pen y Fan's worst feature is the number of visitors it attracts and the wide path, "the motorway" that they have created. Relatively speaking, this is the third highest summit in Wales.

Corn Du 873m SO 0071 2132 28m Very similar in shape and height, this summit is Pen y Fan's twin. Rather than treating them as separate summits, it's more appropriate to think of them a single twin-peaked summit, as they were in the past. In 1188, Gerald referred to it as Cadair Arthur, "so called from the two peaks rising up in the form of a chair". Later sources give the name as "the Van" or Bannau Brycheiniog, "alluding to its two peaks".

Cribyn 795m SO 0239 2131 130m A prominent summit with a steep climb from the north-east. An interesting path traverses it's north-west face and provides an excellent viewpoint for Pen y Fan. In spite of being overshadowed by it's higher neighbours, Cribyn is an enjoyable summit in it's own right and makes for a satisfying triple summit traverse with Pen y Fan and Corn Du.

Waun Rydd 769m SO 0620 2063 170m A flat featureless moorland fringed by steep slopes and cliffs. This summit marks the eastern end of the "breaking wave" Beacons escarpment. Although the approaches are interesting, the summit itself is not. However, it does make an excellent viewpoint for the Beacons to the west and the Black Mountains to the east.

Gwaun Cerrig Llwydion 754m SO 0549 2035 c20m Barely noticeable as a summit, and possessing no name of it's own (instead taking the name of the moorland to the south-west), this is nothing more than a high point on the flat ridge stretching between Fan y Big and Waun Rydd. Nevertheless, the ridge in question makes for an excellent walk along the crest of steep cliffs with fine views.

Fan y Big 719m SO 0365 2066 30m Easily overlooked in the shadow of it's higher neighbours, and often bypassed by walkers, it's not terribly obvious that this is actually a summit, occuring as is it does at the western end of a virtually flat ridge. Although not particularly impressive in itself, it does offer good views of Cribyn to the north-west and Craig Cwareli to the south-east.

Allt Lwyd 654m SO 0786 1891 28m A rounded grassy hill extending south-east of the main Beacons range and fringed by ugly forestry. This nondescript hill barely rises sufficently from the adjacent ridge to deserve separate summit status. Although unworthy of a detour, it does at least provide good views of the surrounding hills.

Y Gyrn 619m SN 9889 2159 c24m The most tedious and pointless summit in the whole area. No redeeming features whatsoever - flat, rounded, grassy and boring. A minor plus point is that it's easily accessible from Storey Arms enroute to Corn Du.

Cefn yr Ystrad 617m SO 0869 1373 178m A large featureless moorland with occasional scattered rocky areas, disfigured by extensive quarry workings on it's northern side. There are a number of cairns at the summit. Although there's nothing of any real interest to be found here, it's isolated position away from the main summits does provide a pleasant degree of solitude.