Walk this route yourself in 3D!
The Video is a 3D walk through of this route; it will give you a unique sense of having walked through the route before you start.
I have created 3D Videos of my adventures and have shared them with the OutdoorActive community as well as my walking community.
The 4 Waterfalls Walk (further information) in the Bannau Brycheiniog is one of the best walks you can do, and although quite a tough day, it is definitely a family day, and you even get to walk under a waterfall, but just as a warning, it’s a tricky little walk to get to that waterfall which is called ‘Sgwd Yr Eira’, and behind it, it is very slippery, but so worth it!
I prefer to park at Gwaun Hepste car park, it’s easier to get too, and bigger than the others, and it’s payment by card only, the details are below. Peak season all the car parks will get very busy, so get there early.
Getting There: Directions, GPX and App Link
The Hiking App I use is ‘OutdoorActive‘ which has a free and Pro version, the Pro version will allow you to download the routes to your phone and use them without using up your data. The reason I mention it is that if you were to download it, below is the link to this route in my hike list on that app, you can follow the arrows and voice on that. I think it is best that you do get the app, as most of these walks are a bit tricky to explain.
- We get there by heading along the A470 to Merthyr Tydfil, then taking the A465 to Hirwaun, before turning off onto the A4059 heading towards Ystradfellte.
- The start point is at Gwaun Hepste car park, address – ‘RF24+JH, Ystradfellte, Aberdare CF44 9JF’.
- The sign will creep up on you, and at that sign you will need to turn off the road.
Navigation Aids:
- Follow this route on the Outdooractive App, it is FREE, and it will guide you around safely.
- Download my hand crafted *GPX file, and use it on your own guidance devices.
- * If you’re not sure what a GPX file is, I have put this post together that will hopefully explain it in plain words. It’s worth considering as well as mobile app navigation, as they will make your hikes better & safer.
Hike Map
Hike Profile
- Distance: 6m / 10km
- Duration: 3-4 hours
- Highest point: 1070ft / 326m
- Difficulty: Slippery steep short climbs, loose terrain, rock scrambling and lots of water.
- Route conditions: Well-worn pathways all the way around, good walking shoes are a must.
Hike Description & Pics
The start point for the 4 Waterfalls Walk is at ‘Gwaun Hepste car park‘, there is limited car parking, and it does get busy, and you will need to pay for your parking by card. From here set off past the tourist information board, down the dirt road through the conifer plantation, and this will be your way back up to the car. It’s a beautiful start to the walk, but quite a steep walk back, as you will see.
The first sign you will come to, will point you in the direction of the ‘Four Falls Trail’, follow it down, until you once again come to a cross roads. At the cross road, take the left path, with the sign pointing to ‘Sgwd yr Eira, 20 mins’. You will return to this point, after the last waterfall.
Once you have turned left onto the path, remember that it will take you approximately 20 mins, it has a strange feeling of making you feel you are going the wrong way, but I assure you, you are going the right way, and eventually you will come to a sign pointing down to the right, the sign will say ‘Sgwd yr Eira’.
Sgwd yr Eira
Sgwd yr Eira Waterfall – 4 Waterfalls Walk in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) 👇
Sgwd Yr Eira meaning (Fall of Snow) is reached by walking down the path until you reach the rocky bottom. The path is very slippery in places, especially on the well-worn stones, but take your time and it will be fine. To walk behind the waterfall, you will need to make your way over the rocks on the left, then the path behind the waterfall appears where the sandstone has worn away, in wet season the flow can be very strong.
From Sgwd Yr Eira, return back up the path to the main path and head to the left.
Once you are back at the top, there are some picnic tables if you fancied a break, but you head left and make your way to the next waterfall. All the waterfalls are sign posted, just follow the path down to them. Next waterfall is…
Sgwd y Pannwr and Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn
Sgwd y Pannwr (Fall of the Woollen Washer) and Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn (Fall of the Lower White Meadow) are at the bottom of the next footpath. This is the longest descent and you will need to return to the main path after visiting these waterfalls, like the waterfall before.
Erosion has created a step-like formation in the rocks at the top of Sgwd y Pannwr and two beautiful oak trees stand proud above it. Keep walking up stream to see the others, and then at the end turn around and head back.
Sgwd Uchaf Clun-Gwyn
Having walked back up from the previous waterfall, you again carry on to the left, and follow the signs for Sgwd Uchaf Clyn-Gwyn (Fall of the White Meadow), this is the easiest to get to and has a viewpoint that looks down on to the falls’ impressive drop from above. Again, you walk down to it, and then once done walk back to the top.
You have just completed one way of doing the 4 waterfalls walk, just follow the signs for ‘Gwaun Hepste’ car park, which isn’t far from where you are, and then the long walk back up the hill through the plantation to finish off.
That’s it, you’re all done, back at the car and hopefully the weather has been good, and you have had a great experience.
It is worth downloading this route onto the Outdooractive app, it’ll re-assure you time wise and that you’re not heading in the wrong directions. There is so much space up there and lots of alternative paths you could accidently join.
Hope you enjoy this walk, and I’d love it if you could share this post either with the social media buttons that follow you down the screen on your left, or below in the footer. Also, comments are very welcome, I love meeting new people and talking, and you never know we could meet up on one of our walks.
Fundraising for CALM, they do save lives!
Do you want to join me in making a difference? I’m raising money in aid of Campaign Against Living Miserably and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause which means so much to me.
More information about Campaign Against Living Miserably: Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide. Every week 125 people in the UK take their own lives. And 75% of all UK suicides are male.
CALM exists to change this. Join the campaign to take a stand against suicide.
Please donate an amount you can afford, everything helps these human beings.
I have raised £572 so far, and I will keep trying to raise more.