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


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.


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

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.

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

Fan y Big, Cribyn and Pen y Fan from Brecon

Fan y Big, Cribyn and Pen y Fan from Brecon

Photo: David Thompson (1)

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)

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)

On the summit of Fan y Big

On the summit of Fan y Big

Photo: Alex Oldridge (5)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)


Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Fan y Big

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