The best walks in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). Hiking for all levels and abilities.

Experience the beauty of hiking in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), where lush landscapes and rugged terrain converge to create a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Nestled in the heart of Wales, the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) offer a variety of trails catering to all levels of hikers. Make your way through ancient woodlands, ascend iconic peaks like Pen y Fan, and take in panoramic vistas of rolling hills and majestic valleys.

Immerse yourself in the rich biodiversity of this National Park, where brooks and waterfalls add a symphony to your trek. Whether you’re a seasoned trekker seeking a challenging climb or a casual walker desiring a leisurely stroll, the Brecon Beacons beckon with its diverse and captivating trails, promising a hiking adventure like no other. Lace up your boots and explore the natural wonders that await in this UNESCO-recognized destination.

• 
  Places to Stay in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog): Best Hotels, Cosy B&Bs & Cabins for Hiking, Walking, Paddleboarding & Biking
  Planning a trip to the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) and not sure where to base yourself? You’re not alone. The park is bigger than people think, the roads are slower than the sat nav suggests,… Read more: Places to Stay in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog): Best Hotels, Cosy B&Bs & Cabins for Hiking, Walking, Paddleboarding & Biking
• 
  Talgarth, Pwll-y-Wrach Waterfall, Rhos Fach & Talgarth Mill Circular Walk – Black Mountains, Bannau Brycheiniog
  This 7-mile circular starts in the town of Talgarth and managed to feel like a proper little adventure without ever being a big “mountain day”. You head out of town to Pwll-y-Wrach, a woodland waterfall wrapped in folklore and local history, then climb steadily up onto quieter lanes and open farmland with the Black Mountains and Y Grib sitting proudly above.
• 
  Gospel Pass, Twmpa (Lord Hereford’s Knob), Capel-y-ffin & Offa’s Dyke to Hay Bluff Circular Walk – Black Mountains, Bannau Brycheiniog
  This 10-mile circular from Gospel Pass strings together some of the best bits of the Black Mountains in one hit. You start high on Wales’ highest road pass, climb up to Twmpa (Lord Hereford’s Knob), then drop into a wild, glaciated-feeling valley where the Nant Bwch stream runs away below you. From there you wander right down to the tiny Church of St Mary the Virgin in Capel-y-ffin, before a steep zig-zag haul puts you back on the tops at Black Mountain South Top.
• 
  Pontsticill Reservoir (Taf Fechan) 5 Mile Circular Walk – Bannau Brycheiniog National Park near Merthyr
  This one’s a cracking 5-mile loop around Pontsticill Reservoir (Taf Fechan). You start from a small car park on the west side, nip across the dam straight away, and follow the lakeside path around to the bell-mouth spillway at the northern dam.
• 
  Waun Fach Circular – 16 km Ridge Walk from Mynydd Du Car Park, via Chwarel y Fan, Rhos Dirion and Pen y Manllwyn.
  This classic high ridge walk (approx. 16 km / 10 miles) explores the eastern escarpment of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. Starting from Blaen-y-Cwm, it climbs steeply to the airy summit of Chwarel y Fan, the eastern most 2000-footer in Wales, and follows the remote Cambrian Way over Rhos Dirion, Pen y Manllwyn and the eroded dome of Waun Fach, the highest peak in the Black Mountains.
• 
  Pen y Fan & Corn Du Circular Walk – 8km Brecon Beacons Hike from Pont ar Daf National Trust Car Park. Highest Points in South Wales.
  The Pen y Fan Circular is one of the most popular hikes in the Brecon Beacons. This 8km loop from Pont ar Daf offers wide-open views, a steady climb to the highest point in South Wales, and a memorable ridge walk that’s great for all levels of walkers.
• 
  Llanthony Priory circular up to Hatterall ridge via Black Mountain South Top, along Offa’s Dyke path on the Wales, England border.
  LLanthony Priory is a partly ruined former Augustinian Priory, in the secluded Vale of Ewyas, a steep-sided once-glaciated valley within the Black Mountains area of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Monmouthshire. Above the priory sits ‘Hatterall Hill & Ridge’ on the border of England & Wales, which this route takes you on, before making your way down close to Black Mountain South Top, and returning to the priory, for a great welcome at the cafe/bar.
• 
  Hay Bluff & Lord Herefords Knob (Twmpa) Circular Walk, near Hay on Wye on the Welsh, English border.
  Llyn y Fan Fach, Picws Du, and Llyn y Fan Fawr Circular Walk in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park is a stunning walk through some of South Wales’ most dramatic landscapes. This 9-mile route takes you past glacial lakes and along rugged ridgelines, offering breathtaking views and an unforgettable connection to the natural beauty of the region.
• 
  Llyn y Fan Fach, Fan Brycheiniog and Llyn y Fan Fawr Circular Walk, where folklore connects to the legend of ‘The Lady of the Lake’.
  Llyn y Fan Fach, Picws Du, and Llyn y Fan Fawr Circular Walk in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park is a stunning walk through some of South Wales’ most dramatic landscapes. This 9-mile route takes you past glacial lakes and along rugged ridgelines, offering breathtaking views and an unforgettable connection to the natural beauty of the region.
• 
  Blorenge easy hike from Pen-ffordd-goch (Keepers Pond). Flat walk to the Trigg and Blorenge edge and back, via Fox Hunter car park.
  The Blorenge is an iconic mountain in the Black Mountains, and this easy walk is a 4 mile there and back walk without hardly any steep parts, in fact it is practically flat, but you get to see exactly the same views as those doing it the hard way.
• 
  The Skirrid (Ysgyryd Fawr) Circular Walk in the Black Mountains, Abergavenny
  The Skirrid is the smallest of the 3 in Abergavenny, but I think it may have the best views in every direction, and if you can get up there for a sunset, you will be able to see the sun drop right behind the sugar loaf opposite, it is an amazing experience.
• 
  4 Waterfalls Walk from Gwaun Hepste Car Park – Four Waterfalls Guide Brecon Beacons National Park
  The Four Waterfalls Walk 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.
• 
  Sugar Loaf, Abergavenny – Up St Mary’s Vale Wood, Down Deri Allt Valley
  This is the very first mountain I hiked up, and for a long time it was the only one I did every Sunday morning, and gradually I built up the confidence and the kit to go explore other places, but this mountain is a classic, and it has fantastic views, and the good thing is, it has easier & harder routes up and you can add it into other routes just as easily.
• 
  Blaen-Y-Glyn Waterfalls Circular Walk, Wellington Bomber Memorial & Fan-Y-Big Diving Board
  The Brecon Beacons Blan-y-Glyn Waterfalls has many circular walks you can follow, and this is right up there with one of the best, and is also I’d say in the difficult range, especially if you are doing this in winter. This loop takes in a large number of waterfalls at the start and at the end, a World War 2 Canadian Wellington Bomber memorial, the diving board at Fan-Y-Big then glacial ridge walks most of the way around, it’s a challenging walk, but so rewarding and beautiful.
• 
  Blorenge Circular Walk, from Llanfoist nr. Abergavenny – via the Punchbowl & Keepers Pond
  The Blorenge is one of three mountains that surround the town of Abergavenny, the other two which you can see from the top are the Sugar Loaf and the Skirrid. These are a part of the Black Mountains at the foot of the Brecon Beacons and at the bottom of the Blorenge is the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, which you will walk under as you start this walk.
• 
  Beat The Beacons (BEAT) 2023 – 22 Mile Endurance Route – Highest points in the Brecon Beacons
  Beat The Beacons starts and finishes at Henderson Hall in Talybont-on-Usk takes place in the Brecon Beacons. There are 3 routes available, 22 miles, 15 miles, and 10 miles. The 22-mile Endurance route visits the highest points in the Brecon Beacons. The 15-mile Adventure route follows a similar path to the 22-mile route, but avoids the highest points. The 10-mile Taster route is a walk on lower elevation footpaths, designed for lesser experienced walkers, families, and children.
• 
  Crickhowell, Llangattock Escarpment circular up to Craig Y Cilau & visit Eglwys Faen or Church Cave
  Crickhowell and Llangattock have a large number of hiking and walking routes in and around the villages and mountains, and this once again starts in the Crickhowell Secondary school car park, which is always available to park in as I mostly head out on Sundays, so when visiting Crickhowell, be sure to try that School car park first.
• 
  Talgarth Walking Festival – The Three Pens of Crickhowell Circular: Pen Gloch-y-pibwr, Pen Allt-mawr & Pen Cerrig-calch
  The 2023 Talgarth Walking Festival, the 9th event, took place between Friday April 28th and Monday May 1st. This year they had 26 walks which covers all tastes and abilities, and we choose one on the Sunday which was called ‘The Three Pens of Crickhowell’. The three Pens being ‘Pen Gloch-y-pibwr’ (675m), ‘Pen Allt-mawr’ (720m) & ‘Pen Cerrig-calch’ (711m).
• 
  The South Wales Three Peaks Trial Challenge 2023 – In Partnership with Outdooractive
  The South Wales Three Peaks Trial is an organised challenge walk arranged each year in March by the Cardiff Outdoor Group. Since 2010 Longtown Mountain Rescue Team provide support with marshalls on all the mountain top checkpoints.
• 
  Horseshoe Ridge Walk Circular – Brecon Beacons – Fan-Y-Big, Cribyn, Pen-Y-Fan & Corn-Du from Neuadd Car Park.
  The best place to start for the Horseshoe Ridge Walk is in my opinion the Neuadd Car Par, it has the same postcode as the others, but if you’re using Google Maps to drive there, then use Neuadd Car Park Brecon Beacons
• 
  Dragons Back & Waun Fach Circular – Pengenffordd, Black Mountains in the Bannau Brycheiniog
  The Dragons Back as you can imagine is named because you have a collection of up and down mounds that resemble the back of a sleeping dragon, as you walk up to the ‘Waun Fach’ (Small Moor) peak. This peak is the highest mountain in the ‘Black Mountains’ and the second highest peak in Southern Britain at 811m, after Pen Y Fan, which isn’t too far away.
• 
  Sugar Loaf Circular, Abergavenny – Classic, Easier, Shorter Route
  This is the very first mountain I hiked up, and for a long time it was the only one I did every Sunday morning, and gradually I built up the confidence and the kit to go explore other places, but this mountain is a classic, and it has fantastic views, and the good thing is, it has easier & harder routes up and you can add it into other routes just as easily.
• 
  Crickhowell to Sugar Loaf Circular Walk, Abergavenny, Black Mountains
  It’s amazing how many of our walks have started in Crickhowell, and they are all different, and this is another special one as on the way you pass by some of the most beautiful Welsh cottages I have ever seen, and the lush green fields and woods as you head to the Sugar Loaf in Abergavenny, makes this really special.
• 
  Table Mountain Crickhowell, Pen Cerrig Calch (Peak), Glanusk Estate, Llangattock – Circular
  All of my walking guides and adventures are free to read, and always will be. To help keep them coming, I’ve partnered with a few carefully chosen affiliate sites — including Booking.com, GetYourGuide, and Skyscanner.… Read more: Table Mountain Crickhowell, Pen Cerrig Calch (Peak), Glanusk Estate, Llangattock – Circular
• 
  Pen Y Fan Sunset Walk in June – Organised by Mike Croft at Undy & Redwick Roadrunners
  All of my walking guides and adventures are free to read, and always will be. To help keep them coming, I’ve partnered with a few carefully chosen affiliate sites — including Booking.com, GetYourGuide, and Skyscanner.… Read more: Pen Y Fan Sunset Walk in June – Organised by Mike Croft at Undy & Redwick Roadrunners
• 
  Abergavenny 3 Peaks 43km Challenge for charity – Campaign Against Living Miserably
  The ‘Abergavenny 3 Peaks’ are a group of stunning mountains, which includes the Blorenge, the Sugar Loaf and the Skirrid, all in close proximity to the town centre, which makes it a brilliant 3 peak… Read more: Abergavenny 3 Peaks 43km Challenge for charity – Campaign Against Living Miserably