Getting there
- Flights to Cardiff (CWL) 55 km from the start
Treks / United Kingdom (Wales)
Pen y Fan
United Kingdom (Wales) · Nearest city: Cardiff (also Bristol)
TypeDay hike
Days1
Distance≈ 7 km
Climbing≈ 450 m
Highest point886 m
The highest peak in southern Britain, in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). A short, popular walk with a big view.
Fitness
Easy
Best seasonAll year
High pointPen y Fan
Watch out: Very busy at weekends and windy on top. Winter snow makes it a different mountain.
Why people choose it
It's the easiest big mountain view in southern Britain, reached in an hour or two from the road.
What makes it different
- Short walk to a big view
- Flat-topped summit with steep escarpments
- Close to Cardiff and Bristol
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
EU 'roam like at home' doesn't apply in United Kingdom, and many plans charge extra there. A Europe data eSIM covers United Kingdom too.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Wild camping in Wales needs the landowner's permission. In practice, discreet one-night camps high in the hills are often tolerated; campsites are the safe choice.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Trail from OpenStreetMap (6.9 km) Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. The trail line is the OpenStreetMap hiking route and may differ from the variant you choose. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Storey Arms → Pen y Fan
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- No bookings are needed for most people. Choose a day with a good forecast.
- Best time to go: All year.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Cardiff.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early and set a turnaround time. Be back down before the weather turns or daylight fades.
- Carry water, food, a warm layer and a rain jacket even on a sunny day.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: All year
April to May
Spring
Often the driest time of year, with long days and fresh green hills. Can still be cold and windy on the tops.
Bring
- Warm layer and hat
- Waterproof jacket
- Gloves for high ground
June to August
Summer
Longest days and warmest weather, but also rain showers, busier trails and, in Scotland, midges.
Bring
- Midge head net and repellent in Scotland
- Waterproofs, always
- Book accommodation early
September to October
Autumn
Fewer people and beautiful colours, but wetter, windier weather and shorter days.
Bring
- Full waterproofs, jacket and trousers
- Headlamp
- Waterproof boots
Be ready for
Strong wind
Exposed ridges and summits can be very windy and cold. A windproof layer and hat are worth carrying even on warm days.
What you'll see
6 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Pen y Fan
Photo credits: Pen y Fan from Cribyn by Dave.Dunford at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; View along Cefn Cwm Llwch from Pen y Fan - geograph.org.uk by Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Pen Y Fan by Mark Grafton miradax, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Blaen Taf Fawr - geograph.org.uk by Chris Andrews, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Footbridge over Blaen Taf Fawr - geograph.org.uk by John H Darch, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Cribyn from Pen y Fan - geograph.org.uk by Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
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