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
Melfyn Parry walked up 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 climbed Pen y Fan on February 13th, 2002 [with] Lawrence [weather] snowed
Donovan Suddell bagged Pen y Fan on June 7th, 2024 [from/via/route] Nant Gwdi [with] wife [weather] Sunny Day, a bit blustery at times
Daniel Moran hiked 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 summited 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 conquered Pen y Fan on August 31st, 2021 [weather] Cloudy on top
Mark Davidson scaled 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 walked up 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 climbed 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.
Darren Peake bagged Pen y Fan on October 25th, 2015 [from/via/route] Pont ar Daf up & Story Arms route down. [with] Family [weather] overcast. Rain on way up & drizzle on way down. - Very busy day for the welsh classic.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Pen y Fan
A very cold day but my boyfriend and I finally made it to the top of Pen y Fan summit
Corn Du and the Brecon Beacons from the summit of Pen y Fan just after sunset
Me (70) and Carole (65) on Pen y Fan 2 days after our 45th Wedding Anniversary
Waun Rydd summit cairn with Corn Du and Pen y Fan (The Brecon Beacons) in the background
Corn Du and Pen y Fan (centre left) and Cribyn (centre) from Neuadd Reservoir
Mick and Rob, friends of 40 years make it to the top of a windswept Pen Y Fan
The cairn on the summit of Waun Rydd with Corn Du and Pen y Fan in the distance
Corn Du and the Brecon Beacons from the summit of Pen y Fan just after sunset
Pen y Fan (far left) and Corn Du with Llyn Cwm Llwch tarn below from near the Tommy Jones Obelisk
Craig Cwm Cynwyn, Cribyn, Craig Cwm Sere, Pen y Fan and Corn Du from Fan y Big
Me striding out across Craig Cwmoergwm with Corn Du (centre - distance), Pen y Fan, Cribyn amd Fan y Big (far right).
. . . see just 20 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Pen y Fan
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