Nuttall Icon

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

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.


Record Fan y Big as Bagged, Climbed & Conquered


Welsh Nuttall Icon

Welsh Nuttall
79th highest in Wales,
189th in England & Wales

You can find Fan y Big & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)

The Brecon Beacons National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL12 Brecon Beacons National Park - Western & Central areas


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

160 Brecon Beacons


See Fan y Big and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:

See Fan y Big and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:


You can walk to the top of Fan y Big by using any of these 4 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
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Walk po131 Bwlch y Ddwyallt and Fan y Big from Blaen y Glyn

The finest ridge walk in the Brecon Beacons

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 8.25ml (13km)
Ascent:1,942ft (592m)
Time:5 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
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Walk po146 Cribyn and Fan y Big from Pont y Caniedydd

Superb ridge walk - pick a clear day

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 8.5ml (13.5km)
Ascent:2,539ft (774m)
Time:5.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
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Walk po127 Fan y Big, Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du from Neuadd Reservoir

Unsurpassed views from this high level route - pick a clear day

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 10ml (16km)
Ascent:2,850ft (869m)
Time:6½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk po169 Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn and Fan y Big from Nant Cwm Llwch nr Brecon

Simply fantastic - but pick a nice clear day

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 10.5ml (17km)
Ascent:3,256ft (992m)
Time:7.25hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)

Other walkers who hiked, climbed, bagged and summited Fan y Big Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Fan y Big

Sion Britton walked up 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 climbed Fan y Big on October 27th, 2019 [from/via/route] The Horseshoe walk

Andy Buxton bagged Fan y Big during May, 2011 [from/via/route] From Neuadd reservoir

Kimberley Gratton hiked Fan y Big on July 22nd, 2019 [from/via/route] Horseshoe Trail - Mountain Mist

Mary Norris has summited 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 conquered 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 scaled 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 walked up 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 climbed Fan y Big on May 14th, 2010 [from/via/route] Classic horseshoe walk [with] The usual crew [weather] Clear

Rachael Tyler bagged 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.

To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record

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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Fan y Big

Cribyn with Pen Y Fan beyond from Fan y Big

Cribyn with Pen Y Fan beyond from Fan y Big

Photo: Paul Holroyd (28)

Fan y Big, Cribyn and Pen y Fan from Cefn Cyff

Fan y Big, Cribyn and Pen y Fan from Cefn Cyff

Photo: David Thompson (2)

Craig Cwm Cynwyn, Cribyn, Craig Cwm Sere, Pen y Fan and Corn Du from Fan y Big

Craig Cwm Cynwyn, Cribyn, Craig Cwm Sere, Pen y Fan and Corn Du from Fan y Big

Photo: Jane Thomas (2)

On the summit of Fan y Big

On the summit of Fan y Big

Photo: Alex Oldridge (5)

Cribyn (left) and Fan y Big from Neuadd Reservoir

Cribyn (left) and Fan y Big from Neuadd Reservoir

Photo: Paul Holroyd (34)

On the summit of Fan y Big

On the summit of Fan y Big

Photo: Jane Thomas (1)

Fan y Big, Cribyn and Pen y Fan from Cefn Cyff

Fan y Big, Cribyn and Pen y Fan from Cefn Cyff

Photo: David Thompson (3)

Fan y Big, Cribyn and Pen y Fan from Brecon

Fan y Big, Cribyn and Pen y Fan from Brecon

Photo: David Thompson (1)

Me striding out across Craig Cwmoergwm with Corn Du (centre - distance), Pen y Fan, Cribyn amd Fan y Big (far right).

Me striding out across Craig Cwmoergwm with Corn Du (centre - distance), Pen y Fan, Cribyn amd Fan y Big (far right).

Photo: Steph Burton (2)

The obligatory diving board photo on Fan y Big with Cribyn beyond

The obligatory diving board photo on Fan y Big with Cribyn beyond

Photo: Alex Oldridge (4)

Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn and Fan y Big from Craig Cwareli

Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn and Fan y Big from Craig Cwareli

Photo: Alex Oldridge (6)


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:



and we shall do our best to publish them.

(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)

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