Fan y Big
716m (2351ft)
The Brecon Beacons Area, The Brecon Beacons, Powys, Wales
Fan y Big was removed from the list of Welsh Hewitts (Welsh Mountains) due to insufficient prominence - August, 2018
Tap/mouse over a coloured circle (1-3 easy walks, 4-6 moderate walks, 7-9 hard walks) and click to select.
Fan y Big means 'Beacon of the Beak' in Welsh and is pronounced 'van-uh-beeg' (disappointingly for some).
The summit of Fan y Big is marked by a stone slab resembling a diving board.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.25ml (13km) |
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| Ascent: | 1,942ft (592m) |
| Time: | 5 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Blaen y Glyn - Craig y Fan Ddu - Gwaun Cerrig Llwydion (Bwlch y Ddwyallt) - Craig Cwareli - Craig Cwmoergwm - Fan y Big - Bwlch ar y Fan - Roman Road - The Taff Trail - Blaen y Glyn
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.5ml (13.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,539ft (774m) |
| Time: | 5.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Pont y Caniedydd - Afon Cynrig - Bailea - Cwm Cynwyn Farm - Bryn Teg - Cribyn - Bwlch ar y Fan - Fan y Big - Cefn Cyff - Nant Cynrig - Cwmcynwyn - Pont y Caniedydd
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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
See Fan y Big and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
The Brecon Beacons Area of Bannau Brycheiniog (The Brecon Beacons National Park)
Less data - quicker to download
The Whole of Bannau Brycheiniog (The Brecon Beacons National Park)
More data - might take a little longer to download
See Fan y Big and the surrounding tops on our downloadable Peak Bagging Map in PDF format:
NB: Whether you print off a copy or download it to your phone, this PDF Peak Baggers' Map might prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal.
You can find Fan y Big & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps:
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (pink/magenta covers):
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Fan y Big
Melfyn Parry walked up Fan y Big 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.
Sion Britton climbed Fan y Big on December 12th, 2020 [from/via/route] Fan y Big o Blaen y Glyn Uchaf. [with] Rhiannon [weather] Showers & Cool.
Marcelle Allman bagged Fan y Big on October 27th, 2019 [from/via/route] The Horseshoe walk
Andy Buxton hiked Fan y Big during May, 2011 [from/via/route] From Neuadd reservoir
Kimberley Gratton summited Fan y Big on July 22nd, 2019 [from/via/route] Horseshoe Trail - Mountain Mist
Mary Norris has conquered Fan y Big [from/via/route] Walk po131, starting from Blaen y Glyn carpark. [with] Sue Davies and Betsie! [weather] Dry, warm & sunny though cool in places. - Fab walk, worth the effort to get to the diving-board!
Andrew Joss scaled Fan y Big on August 27th, 2017 [from/via/route] Pont Ar Daf car park [with] Barbara, Pip, Mick & Benson [weather] Dull then sunny
Lucy Perchard walked up Fan y Big on August 22nd, 2017 [from/via/route] Neuadd Reservoir [with] Mum, Dad and Tony [weather] Overcast & windy; Cribyn, Pen Y Fan & Corn Du in cloud so decided to save them for another day
Dianne Graham climbed Fan y Big on June 8th, 2017 [from/via/route] Upper Car Park near Talybont reservoir [with] Kieran [weather] Mixed. Low cloud, touch of rain.. sun peeking out
Robert Shaw bagged Fan y Big on May 14th, 2010 [from/via/route] Classic horseshoe walk [with] The usual crew [weather] Clear
Rachael Tyler hiked Fan y Big on April 7th, 2017 [from/via/route] Neuadd reservoir [with] Husband [weather] Cloudy at first but glorious by 11 - Fantastic day out shared with the squaddies. Hard slog but well worth it & glad we weren't wearing packs like the lads. A lovely horseshoe / ridge walk.
Paul Macey summited Fan y Big on June 4th, 2016 [from/via/route] From Brecon
Iain Jones conquered Fan y Big on January 1st, 2013 [from/via/route] Cwmgwdi - 25 April 2015 - walked from Neuadd Reservoir
Christina Lander scaled Fan y Big on March 26th, 2014 [from/via/route] Upper Neuadd Reservoir - Craig Fan Ddu - Corn Du - Pen y Fan - Cribyn - Fan y Big - Upper Neuadd Reservoir [with] Dick & Suzanne [weather] Overcast but dry - First time of doing horseshoe walk from Neuadd Reservoir
Ian Woodford has walked up Fan y Big [from/via/route] Not sure [with] Rich [weather] Wet & cloudy - Fantastic walk
Tricia David climbed Fan y Big on March 31st, 2013 [from/via/route] Started at Neuadd Reservoir up to left ridge to Corn Du, Pen Y Fan, Cribyn, Fan Y Big along ridge & back down to other side of Neuadd Reservoir. [with] Jason [weather] Very cold & windy lots of snow & ice on ground
Robert Taylor-Marriott bagged Fan y Big on October 12th, 2011 [from/via/route] Route 34: Cribyn & Fan Y Big (CYYB) Completed 12.10.11 [with] Vince Wetton & Robert Taylor-Marriott. [weather] Cloudy, raining
Andrew Jenkins hiked Fan y Big on June 15th, 2014 [with] Nikki [weather] Lovely - Three Geocaches found.
Wyn Griffiths summited Fan y Big on September 10th, 2013 [from/via/route] From Llygaid Llwchwr, Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn -- & back [with] On own - training - 12 kms in 6hrs 6 mins [weather] Sunny/windy & very mist on Pen y Fan on return - Training for 1st Wizzard Walk
Tim Buckley conquered Fan y Big on November 23rd, 2013 [from/via/route] Blean y Glyn car park, Craig Fan Ddu, War Memorial, Carn Pica & Waun Rydd, then Bwlch y Ddwyallt, Fan Y Big back to Craig Cwn Oergwn turn to Garn Fawr, Craig Fan Ddu & CP [with] Solo walk [weather] Bitter cold wind, some fill fog at times but clear at Fan Y Big, Pen Y Fan was obscured. Wind dropped on the route back, the rocks at Garn Fawr was a great place to stop & break. - Sun setting at 4.20 on the way back - spectacular sun set.
Jason Johnston scaled Fan y Big on June 22nd, 2013 [from/via/route] Breacon Horse Shoe [with] Rebecca Fisher [weather] Sunny - very
Vince Wetton walked up Fan y Big on October 12th, 2011 [with] RTM
Simon Neilson-Clark climbed Fan y Big during 2010 [from/via/route] Circular walk with Cribyn & Pen y Fan [with] Mrs H [weather] Overcast
Bay Wan bagged Fan y Big on April 30th, 2011 [from/via/route] Following from pen Y Fan [with] Kira Dog and Cocoa pup [weather] Sunny
Stephen Mcvey hiked Fan y Big on January 12th, 2012 [from/via/route] Storey Arms
Jonathan Morris, Paul Roddam, Erin Ryan, Michael Rygol, Simon Rutstein, John Cuthbert, Edward Wells, Paul Booth, Trevor Williams, Andrew Fleming, Andy James, Paul Donoghue, Alan Smith, Victoria Bates, Stephen Hobdell, David Price, Ian Thomas, Jacqueline Debbie Tonks, James Penkethman, Alex Oldridge, Richard Penney, Pete Howes, Matthew Thomas and Mark Davidson have all walked, climbed & bagged Fan y Big.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Fan y Big
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).
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Fan y Big
If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Fan y Big to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:
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