Pen y Fan
886m (2907ft)
The Brecon Beacons Area, The Brecon Beacons, Powys, Wales
Pen y Fan is the highest point in The Brecon Beacons National Park and the highest point in the county of Powys.
The summit of Pen y Fan is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point.
You can find Pen y Fan & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Pen y Fan and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Pen y Fan and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 4ml (6.25km) |
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| Ascent: | 1,736ft (487m) |
| Time: | 3.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Pont Ar Daf Car Park - Blaen Taf Fawr - Bwlch Duwynt - Pen y Fan - Craig Cwm Llwch - Corn Du - Pen y Fan - Bwlch Duwynt - Craig Gwaun Taf (Bwlch Duwynt) - Blaen Taf Fawr - Pont Ar Daf Car Park
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 5ml (8km) |
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| Ascent: | 1,736ft (529m) |
| Time: | 3.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
The Storey Arms Outdoor Centre - Y Gyrn - Tommy Jones Obelisk - Craig Cwm Llwch - Corn Du - Pen y Fan - (Penyfan) - Bwlch Duwynt - Craig Gwaun Taf (Bwlch Duwynt) - Blaen Taf Fawr - The Storey Arms Outdoor Centre
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 5.25ml (8.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 1,736ft (529m) |
| Time: | 3.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
The Storey Arms Outdoor Centre - Y Gyrn - Tommy Jones Obelisk - Craig Cwm Llwch - Corn Du - Pen y Fan - (Penyfan) - Bwlch Duwynt - Craig Gwaun Taf (Bwlch Duwynt) - Blaen Taf Fawr - The Storey Arms Outdoor Centre
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7ml (11km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,288ft (697m) |
| Time: | 5 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Nant Cwm Llwch - Brecon - Llyn Cwm Llwch - Tommy Jones Obelisk - Craig Cwm Llwch - Corn Du - Pen y Fan - (Penyfan) - Cefn Cwm Llwch - Heolfanog - Cil-rhew - Pont Rhydybetws - Nant Cwm Llwch
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8ml (12km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,629ft (801m) |
| Time: | 5½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Nant Gwdi - Cefn Cwm Llwch - Pen y Fan - Corn Du - Pen y Fan - (Penyfan) - Craig Cwm Sere - Cribyn - Bryn-teg - Pant - Plas-y-gaer - Nant Gwdi
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.5ml (13.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,402ft (732m) |
| Time: | 5½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Lower Neuadd Reservoir - Bwlch ar y Fan - Cribyn - Pen y Fan - (Penyfan) - Corn Du - Bwlch Duwynt - Craig Gwaun Taf (Bwlch Duwynt) - Graig Fan Ddu - Lower Neuadd Reservoir
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10ml (16km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,850ft (869m) |
| Time: | 6½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Lower Neuadd Reservoir - Bwlch ar y Fan - Fan y Big - Cribyn - Pen y Fan - (Penyfan) - Corn Du - Bwlch Duwynt - Craig Gwaun Taf (Bwlch Duwynt) - Graig Fan Ddu - Twyn Mwyalchod - Lower Neuadd Reservoir
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10.5ml (17km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,256ft (992m) |
| Time: | 7.25hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Nant Cwm Llwch - Brecon - Llyn Cwm Llwch - Tommy Jones Obelisk - Craig Cwm Llwch - Corn Du - Pen y Fan - (Penyfan) - Craig Cwm Sere - Cribyn - Craig Cwm Cynwyn - Fan y Big - Bailea - Afon Cynrig - Pant - Plas-y-gaer - Nant Gwdi - Heolfanog - Cil-rhew - Pont Rhydybetws - Nant Cwm Llwch
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Pen y Fan
Nikola Jenkins walked up Pen y Fan on March 22nd, 2025 [from/via/route] Storey Arms [with] April Bryant [weather] Very misty, poor visibility
Melfyn Parry climbed Pen y Fan on September 4th, 2024 [from/via/route] Started walk from car park in the Tar Fechan forest, SO 036170. Tarmac road taken up to Lower Neuadd reservoir, which is now disused, crossed a footbridge & climbed up the grassy slope to reach the ridge at a cairn SO 019182, turned right & followed easy path for about 2 miles to reach the summit of Craig Gwaun Taf. From here it is an easy walk to the top of Corn Du & then Pen y Fan (about 25mins to gain the two tops). From Pen y Fan dropped down steep path to meet Beacons Way & then steep ascent to the top of Cribyn. Turned right & followed ridge, along Cambrian Way to Bwlch ar y Fan before another steep path up to Fan y Big. From here continue along ridge to the junction of the path back to Bwlch y Fan along Craig Cwmoergwm. From this junction I dropped down the grassy slope to the Roman Road at SO 034196 & followed the path back to the car park. [with] On my own [weather] Cool breeze with sunny spells & dry. Excellent visibility. - A really nice walk, would definitely do this one again. Stunning views.
Hazel Gilbert bagged Pen y Fan on February 13th, 2002 [with] Lawrence [weather] snowed
Donovan Suddell hiked Pen y Fan on June 7th, 2024 [from/via/route] Nant Gwdi [with] wife [weather] Sunny Day, a bit blustery at times
Daniel Moran summited Pen y Fan on March 5th, 2019 [from/via/route] Night walk [with] Chel and frankie [weather] Clear night sky - Date not right
Esther Nagle conquered Pen y Fan on July 10th, 2019 [from/via/route] Neuadd car park [with] Suzanne and Joe Wise - I've walked it many other times, but this is one I've got a definite date record for
Erin Ryan scaled Pen y Fan on August 31st, 2021 [weather] Cloudy on top
Mark Davidson walked up Pen y Fan on October 21st, 2004 [from/via/route] Walk po127 Fan y Big, Cribyn, Pen y Fan & Corn Du from Neuadd Reservoir [with] Theresa [weather] Rain & Mist!
Rich Jenkins climbed Pen y Fan on December 29th, 2021 [from/via/route] Pontsticill reservoir [weather] Low cloud around peak height. Windy on top. - Wet underfoot & water running off slopes.
Joanne Smith bagged Pen y Fan on November 28th, 2021 [from/via/route] Walked from Neuadd car park along the Horseshoe Trail (counter clockwise) [with] a companion and my dog. [weather] Began cold & sunny, -2 by the time we reached the top & cloud had covered the peak. Once we came back down to Corn Du, we were in the clear again & the sun was still shining. - We felt doing the loop counter-clockwise worked out well for us.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Pen y Fan
Corn Du and the Brecon Beacons from the summit of Pen y Fan just after sunset
Me striding out across Craig Cwmoergwm with Corn Du (centre - distance), Pen y Fan, Cribyn amd Fan y Big (far right).
The cairn on the summit of Waun Rydd with Corn Du and Pen y Fan in the distance
Pen y Fan (far left) and Corn Du with Llyn Cwm Llwch tarn below from near the Tommy Jones Obelisk
Mick and Rob, friends of 40 years make it to the top of a windswept Pen Y Fan
. . . see all 109 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Pen y Fan
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