Region: Pen Y Fan, Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales
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The Pen y Fan and Corn Du Circular Walk is one of the essential mountain routes in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, climbing from Pont ar Daf to the two highest summits in southern Britain before returning by a quieter path towards Storey Arms. At approximately eight kilometres, it is manageable as a half-day walk but still delivers a genuine mountain experience.
The well-established ascent rises steadily from the wooded Tarell Valley onto open hillside, where the views expand with every step. Pen y Fan reaches 886 metres and forms the highest point in southern Britain, while neighbouring Corn Du stands at 873 metres and offers an equally impressive outlook across the central Beacons.
Although this is often described as an introductory mountain walk, it should not be underestimated. The route involves a sustained climb, steep stone-pitched sections, uneven ground and exposed summits where wind, cloud and temperature can change quickly. In poor weather, the broad landscape can become difficult to navigate despite the popularity of the main path.
This circuit is an excellent first experience of the central Bannau Brycheiniog mountains. Walkers ready for a longer and more demanding challenge can progress to the Brecon Beacons Horseshoe Ridge Walk, which links Corn Du and Pen y Fan with Cribyn and Fan y Big. For a lower-level alternative, the Blaen y Glyn waterfalls circular walk provides woodland, cascades and mountain scenery without climbing to the main summits.
The route also works well alongside your Sugar Loaf circular walk and Waterfall Country walks, giving visitors a choice between an iconic summit, a standalone mountain and one of the national park’s best-known waterfall landscapes.
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Getting There: Directions, GPX and App Link
- Start point: Pont ar Daf Car Park (postcode: LD3 8NL)
- Google Maps: Pont ar Daf Car Park
- GPX: Download the GPX file here for use on your GPS device or watch
- You can also view and follow this route on my Outdooractive and Komoot
- Avoid the early start – find accommodation near Brecon
Hike Profile
- Distance: 5 miles / 8 km (circular)
- Duration: 3 – 4 hours
- Highest point: 886m / 2,907ft (Pen y Fan summit)
- Difficulty: Moderate – good paths but with a consistent climb
- Route conditions: Stone and gravel mountain paths, some grassy ridges — boots recommended
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Hike Description
The Pen y Fan and Corn Du circular walk begins at Pont ar Daf car park beside the A470, approximately eight miles south of Brecon, and I’d say nearly the same mileage the other way from Merthyr. This is the most popular starting point for climbing Pen y Fan, and the car park can fill very early during weekends, school holidays and good weather, but don’t let that put you off, people are coming and going all the time, and you will get a space.
If the car park is full, don’t park on the road outside where your car is part on the road, people do park on the soft verge, but make sure the whole car is off the road itself, otherwise you might find a ticket on your car when you get back, or even worse if you have parked very badly.
But that’s all behind you now, so from the car park, you will see the stream of people heading up and down the ‘motorway’ as the locals call it, you just pass through the gate at the back of the main car park and cross the wooden footbridge over the River Tarell. The wooded surroundings on the one side and sound of the water provide a gentle beginning before the route emerges onto the open mountainside.
Once across the bridge, follow the broad stone and gravel path uphill. The route climbs steadily from the start, but the gradient is generally consistent rather than abruptly steep.
The National Trust has carried out extensive footpath work throughout the central Beacons, including stone pitching, drainage channels and culverts designed to reduce erosion. These repaired paths are extremely durable, but the stone can become slippery in heavy rain, frost or ice. Also the stones can stick out of the ground at different angles, they are there to help erosion, but they wont help you if you are pushing something, or if you are a bit unsteady on your feet, so please be careful at these sections.
As height is gained, look back towards the A470 and the Upper Tarell Valley. The road gradually disappears below, while the wooded slopes of Coed Carno and the surrounding valleys become more prominent.
The route continues across open moorland with few obvious landmarks, but there is no doubt which direction to head on, it’s simply a straight path all the way to the top. You will sometimes see sheep here, so dogs should be kept on a short lead and under close control, and it’s a good idea anyway to keep them on a lead, as there are usually a lot of people and I have seen little trips and falls where dogs have got in the way.
The path rises towards Bwlch Duwynt, the broad saddle below Corn Du. Its Welsh name is commonly translated as the “Windy Pass”, which is appropriate because this exposed point often experiences significantly stronger wind than the sheltered car park, and it’s this reason why you should always take a bag and put a couple of layers in there, the weather can be a lot different from the car park, even on sunny days.
At the upper junction, you will see the route split in 3 ways, keep going forward and that will take you to Pen y Fan rather than heading left and climbing up onto Corn Du, and don’t go right here as you will then be heading along the ridge-line which is walked when doing the famous Horseshoe Ridge Walk.
Follow the established path forward keeping Corn Du above and to your left. You will return to Corn Du whilst heading back down.
This section gives the first dramatic view into the steep northern cwms. The ground falls sharply away beyond the main path, so keep well back from the edges, particularly in mist, snow or strong crosswinds, which as I said earlier, is common up here.
The path soon reaches the saddle between Corn Du and Pen y Fan. From here, the final climb to Pen y Fan is short but noticeably steeper, following stone-pitched steps towards the Pen y Fan summit.
Pen y Fan reaches 886 metres and is the highest mountain in southern Britain. It is one of the most recognisable summits in Wales and attracts very large numbers of walkers throughout the year.
The summit is marked by a raised stone cairn and a flat-topped Bronze Age burial monument. The name Pen y Fan is generally translated as “top of the peak” or “summit of the beacon”.
On clear days, the views extend across south and mid-Wales, towards the Black Mountains, the Cambrian Mountains, the Gower Peninsula and the Severn Estuary. Particularly clear conditions may reveal parts of Gloucestershire, Somerset and the mountains of mid-Wales.
The summit is an obvious place to stop for photographs, but expect it to be busy. Even when conditions seem calm lower down, the summit can be cold and exposed, so put on an additional layer before becoming chilled.
In the pic above we are sat right on the edge of the steep northern and eastern ridge. The cliffs above Cwm Sere and Cwm Llwch are serious, and their scale can be difficult to judge in low cloud, and I will honestly say that as I am sat there it is a little bit scary, I’m not good with heights, but as long as you are not silly, you are perfectly safe.
From Pen y Fan, retrace your steps back along the ridge towards Corn Du. The connecting path is short and usually obvious, but the landscape can become confusing when cloud removes the surrounding visual references. This is why it’s always a good idea to use GPX with tech, such as on your phone or a watch, the white out up here is serious and you can get lost even though in good weather you wouldn’t imagine it.
Corn Du reaches 873 metres, making it the second-highest summit in southern Britain. Although slightly lower than Pen y Fan, its more pronounced cliff edge and position above Cwm Llwch make it one of the most impressive viewpoints on the route.
From the summit, look north-west towards Llyn Cwm Llwch. The lake sits in a dramatic glacial hollow beneath the peaks and is regarded as the best-preserved glacial lake in South Wales. I have a walk on this website which will allow you to pass that lake in a loop but starting in a far different place to create a loop, the walk is commonly known as the Cwm Llwch Horseshoe Walk.
The summit area of Corn Du contains steep drops on several sides. Stay on the recognised walking line and avoid approaching the edges during strong wind, mist or winter conditions.
Leave Corn Du by following the descending path towards the west and south-west. This section is steeper and rougher than the main tourist ascent from Pont ar Daf.
The route initially follows stone pitching and a wall or boundary line downhill. Loose rock, wet stones and uneven steps require care, especially when descending with tired legs.
As you lose height, the main Pont ar Daf path separates from your route. Continue on the alternative descent towards Storey Arms rather than returning directly by the outward path.
This quieter section provides a different perspective across the southern slopes of Corn Du and Pen y Fan. The number of walkers often decreases once you leave the main summit path.
Follow the broad mountain path as it descends towards the A470 and the Storey Arms area. Despite the name, the Storey Arms building is not currently a public inn; the name is commonly used for the outdoor education centre, bus stop and parking area beside the road.
A snack van is often present around the Storey Arms or Pont ar Daf area, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed facility. Opening and attendance depend on the day, weather and season.
On reaching the lower ground near Storey Arms, locate the Taff Trail running beside the A470. Take care when approaching the roadside, as traffic can be fast and visibility may be limited.
Join the Taff Trail and follow it south towards Pont ar Daf. This final section runs approximately parallel with the road and avoids the need to walk directly along the carriageway.
The main ascent is well constructed and easy to identify in clear conditions, but this remains a mountain route. Strong wind, low cloud, heavy rain, snow and ice can quickly transform an apparently straightforward walk into a much more serious outing.
Pen y Fan is especially prone to rapid changes in visibility. A bright start at Pont ar Daf does not guarantee clear weather on the summit, and cloud can arrive quickly across the plateau.
Carry a waterproof jacket, warm layers, food, water, a charged phone and downloaded maps. A paper map and compass are strongly recommended, particularly when cloud, winter weather or darkness is possible.
Supportive walking shoes may be adequate during prolonged dry summer conditions, but boots with good grip are the safer choice for wet, cold or winter weather.
Despite its popularity, Pen y Fan remains a powerful mountain landscape. The combination of the Tarell Valley, Corn Du’s glacial cliffs and the broad summit of Pen y Fan makes this one of the defining walks of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
Completing the circuit via Storey Arms adds more variety than simply returning down the outward path. It turns the standard summit climb into a genuine circular route and gives walkers a quieter descent before the easy return along the Taff Trail.
This route is a Brecon Beacons classic – short enough for a half-day hike but packed with brilliant views and satisfying climbs.
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.
Pen Y Fan Walk FAQs
Is the Pen y Fan and Corn Du circular walk signposted?
Can I bring my dog on the Pen y Fan walk?
Is the Pen y Fan circular walk suitable for beginners?
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Is the Pen y Fan route suitable for children?
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What are the main Pen y Fan safety considerations?
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