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.
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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
See Pen y Fan 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)
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The Whole of Bannau Brycheiniog (The Brecon Beacons National Park)
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See Pen y Fan 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 Pen y Fan & 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 Pen y Fan
Craig Barrell walked up Pen y Fan on August 25th, 2025 [with] solo [weather] sunny
Tia Cain has climbed Pen y Fan [from/via/route] Parked in the car parks at the bottom of the path. [with] Solo [weather] Perfect & clear. - Very much up up up & very simply down down down
Nikola Jenkins bagged Pen y Fan on March 22nd, 2025 [from/via/route] Storey Arms [with] April Bryant [weather] Very misty, poor visibility
Melfyn Parry hiked 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 summited Pen y Fan on February 13th, 2002 [with] Lawrence [weather] snowed
Donovan Suddell conquered Pen y Fan on June 7th, 2024 [from/via/route] Nant Gwdi [with] wife [weather] Sunny Day, a bit blustery at times
Daniel Moran scaled 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 walked up 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 climbed Pen y Fan on August 31st, 2021 [weather] Cloudy on top
Mark Davidson bagged 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 hiked 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 summited 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 conquered 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.
Sion Britton scaled Pen y Fan on August 9th, 2020 [from/via/route] Brecon Beacons Horseshoe Walk [with] Rhiannon [weather] Mist
Toby Norman walked up Pen y Fan on July 19th, 2020 [with] Woots, Kev, Lee, Bex, Cam
Rich Roberts climbed Pen y Fan on May 6th, 1986 [with] SRCC
Andy Buxton bagged Pen y Fan during May, 2011 [from/via/route] Neuadd Reservoirs [weather] Sunny/showers
Iwan Williams hiked Pen y Fan on August 12th, 2019 [from/via/route] Neuadd Reservoir
Marcelle Allman summited Pen y Fan on October 27th, 2019 [from/via/route] Corn Du, Horseshoe walk, however it was so lovely & we made good time so added on traversing the valley & walking back along the opposite ridgeline. [with] Dave Raime [weather] Glorious sunshine 12 degrees - My first visit to the Brecon Beacons.
Dale Tyler conquered Pen y Fan on May 15th, 2018 [from/via/route] Horseshoe walk up from Cwn Gwdi: Cribyn - Pen y Fan - Corn Du [with] On my own [weather] Hottest day of the year so far. Thought I was melting.... - Cuckoos calling in the woods across the Nant Sere & newts in Llyn Cwm Llwch
Kimberley Gratton scaled Pen y Fan on July 22nd, 2019 [from/via/route] Horseshoe Trail - Mountain Mist
Alan Pritchard walked up Pen y Fan on April 24th, 2015 [with] My Wife [weather] Good - Walked the Brecon horseshoe a few times beautiful walk from Cwm Gwdi.😎🚶♂️
Iain Jones climbed Pen y Fan on November 12th, 2011 [from/via/route] Cwmgwdi [with] Nick Cockayne & Neil Biddle - 27 December 2011 - walked from The Storey Arms; 01 January 2013 - walked from Cwmgwdi; 25 April 2015 - walked from Neuadd Reservoir; 15 July 2018 - walked from The Storey Arms as part of UFC Survival Weekend - Day 3 (Fan Dance)
Bay Wan bagged Pen y Fan on April 30th, 2011 [from/via/route] Not sure, east side. Also completed on 20/5/18 with just Cocoa via the classic horseshoe starting from Storey Arms [with] Cocoa Puppy and Kira dog [weather] Sunny (20/5/18 very sunny & hot!) - 1st big hike with Cocoa
Michael O'driscoll hiked Pen y Fan on May 31st, 2009 [from/via/route] From Lower Neuadd Reservoir, via Fan y Big, Cribyn, Pen y Fan, Corn Du & Twyn Mwyalchod [with] Yvonne & jamie O'Driscoll [weather] Beautiful - Tough walk
David Buckley summited Pen y Fan on July 12th, 1993 [with] Julie, Haley & Carlie [weather] Cloudy
Andrew Joss conquered Pen y Fan on August 27th, 2017 [from/via/route] Pont Ar Daf car park [with] Barbara, Pip, Mick & Benson [weather] Dull then sunny
Lucy Perchard scaled Pen y Fan on August 11th, 2015 [from/via/route] Storey Arms [with] Mum and Dad in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary [weather] Lovely & sunny
David Wand walked up Pen y Fan on January 3rd, 2015 [with] Gayle and the Girls
Robert Shaw climbed Pen y Fan on May 14th, 2010 [from/via/route] Classic horseshoe walk [with] The usual crew [weather] Clear
Mary Norris bagged Pen y Fan on April 7th, 2017 [from/via/route] Pont ar Daf [with] Solo! [weather] Gorgeous, sunny & warm - Absolutely beautiful...But HARD!! About 1hr 20 to summit
Rachael Tyler hiked Pen y Fan 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.
Neil Hake summited Pen y Fan on September 1st, 2016 [weather] sunny
Paul Macey conquered Pen y Fan on June 4th, 2016 [from/via/route] Brecon [with] TrekFest [weather] Cloudy then Sunny
Janet Wells scaled Pen y Fan during July, 2011 [with] William
Glenn Radford walked up Pen y Fan on August 24th, 2012 [from/via/route] po100 [weather] Sunny strong wind
Rodger Beer climbed Pen y Fan on November 28th, 2015 [from/via/route] Libanus [with] Fresh Air Learning Company [weather] Early morning before dawn, sunrise on Pen-y-Fan but very cloudy & bitter wind
Wayne Linley bagged Pen y Fan on September 11th, 2011 [from/via/route] Corn du- pen y fan [with] my trail buddy buster the dog [weather] sunny very hot - Excellent day
Paul Redman hiked Pen y Fan on August 4th, 2014 [with] Solo [weather] Fair - My first & Only time so far up this one .. My First Barefoot Ascent & Descent of a Mountain, got some strange looks as i had my boots around my neck.. it wont be my last Barefooted ascent of a mountain
Colin Egan summited Pen y Fan during 1968 [with] School cadet trip
Christina Lander conquered Pen y Fan on March 12th, 2014 [from/via/route] Storey Arms [with] Alethea [weather] Sunny & hot - First walk up Pen Y Fan (the first of many!)
Tracey Anderson scaled Pen y Fan on February 14th, 2015 [from/via/route] storey arms [with] lee sue and ray [weather] snow & windy & fog - very poor visibility
Ian Woodford has walked up Pen y Fan [from/via/route] Not sure [with] Rich [weather] Wet & cloudy - Fantastic walk
Mark Jackson climbed Pen y Fan on January 18th, 2015 [from/via/route] Storey Arms car park [weather] Clear sunny day, snow
Emma Morris bagged Pen y Fan on September 13th, 2014 [weather] Cloudy & mild - Done as part of the Mountain Trail Challenge
Mark Hartshorne hiked Pen y Fan on August 15th, 2014 [from/via/route] From Lower Neuadd Reservoir, up onto the Western ridge of the classic horseshoe & then via Corn Du to Pen y Fan. Didn't include Cribyn but descended from Eastern ridge back to Neuadd [with] Sam, Jamie & Flash [weather] Occasionally overcast but also sun & blue patches. Quite windy on top. - First long walk for Jamie which he managed with no difficulty. Saw very few folk during ascent - until we joined the final push to Corn Du where we joined loads coming/going from Storey Arms.
Tricia David summited Pen y Fan during November, 2012 [from/via/route] M4 path [weather] Dry & bright but cold
Leon Harvey conquered Pen y Fan on June 15th, 1990 [from/via/route] ? [with] DAD112 (work) [weather] Warm
Robert Taylor-Marriott scaled Pen y Fan on September 17th, 2011 [weather] Fair
Andy Richards walked up Pen y Fan on August 24th, 2012 [from/via/route] from the north at Nant Cym Llwch [with] Becky and our woofers Rover & Guiness [weather] sunny at start, A bit misty near the top, & one heavy shower on the top of Pen-y-fan
Alan Smith climbed Pen y Fan on June 21st, 2014 [from/via/route] Ccircular walk from forestry comm car park. 4 peaks [with] Martin [weather] Sunny
Wyn Griffiths bagged Pen y Fan on September 6th, 2011 [from/via/route] Cwm Llwch [weather] Dry, Sunny, & windy
Lesley Legge hiked Pen y Fan on April 12th, 2014 [from/via/route] Storey Arma [with] Joanne Bartlett [weather] Cold but sunny
Tim Buckley summited Pen y Fan on December 29th, 2013 [from/via/route] From Storey Arms, left hand path via Corn Du [with] Esther [weather] Cold & clear, snow & ice on the ground at high levels - Lost count of the times I've been up Pen y fan, always busy. Great when snow is on the ground & clear skies. Always surprsing to see a couple of ice climbers appear over the lip of the plateau!
Pauline Styles conquered Pen y Fan on October 4th, 2013 [from/via/route] the south [with] Richard, Ruth and Alastair Gabriel, and Sara Lowrie [weather] Pouring Rain All Day - Fording the streams & coming down in a river were challenging, but we all felt we'd achieved a lot, even though we had no view!
Kenneth Mellor scaled Pen y Fan during 2005 [from/via/route] Dunno [with] On my ownsome [weather] V Good
Tracy Lewis walked up Pen y Fan on August 13th, 2013 [from/via/route] Pont yr Daf [with] Erfyl and Ruby - Did it the same day as Corn du.
Jason Johnston climbed Pen y Fan on June 22nd, 2013 [from/via/route] Breacon Horse [with] Rebecca Fisher [weather] Sunny - very
Nick Fox bagged Pen y Fan on January 1st, 2010 [from/via/route] youth hostel
John Tippins hiked Pen y Fan on September 30th, 2012 [with] just me [weather] thick mist
Keith Bezant summited Pen y Fan on April 7th, 2013 [from/via/route] Storey Arms [with] solo [weather] Very windy with snow from a quarter of the way up - very slippery first part of descent
Andrew Heath conquered Pen y Fan during July, 2011 [with] Karen Wendy gary
Alan Macmillan scaled Pen y Fan on October 11th, 2012 [from/via/route] usual simple routes + whole horseshoe [with] ash and dave [weather] all - done this about a dozen times in '12.
Vince Wetton walked up Pen y Fan on September 17th, 2011 [with] Alone [weather] Bright + Sunny
Steve Gilmore climbed Pen y Fan on August 9th, 2012 [with] Steve Taylor [weather] sunny
Stephen Reader bagged Pen y Fan on October 13th, 2012 [from/via/route] Storey Arms [with] Bev and Matthew [weather] Good with poor visibility at the t
Des Middlemass hiked Pen y Fan on August 26th, 2012 [from/via/route] from sports centre, via Corn Du [with] family [weather] sunny
Jacqueline Debbie Tonks summited Pen y Fan during May, 2012 [weather] sunny & warm - good clear views
Simon Neilson-Clark conquered Pen y Fan during 2011 [from/via/route] Reservoir circuit with Fan y Big Cribyn etc [with] Mrs H [weather] Overcast but clear - You can see Pen y Fan from away & it is busy. Also much longer on the approach ridge which has great views
James Penkethman scaled Pen y Fan on September 13th, 2010 [from/via/route] From Storey Arms via Corn Du [weather] Rained all day, terrible visibility - Only saw one other person on the mountains!!
Peter Rockell walked up Pen y Fan on May 20th, 2012 [from/via/route] From the Storey Arms Centre, straight up Corn Du, across to Pen-y-Fan & back around the peak of Corn Du to the start. [with] The Three Geeks Mark Osborne and Carl Newell [weather] Thick fog/very low cloud, visibility was down to about 5m in places
Christine Knowles climbed Pen y Fan during March, 2011 [with] Graham, Sheila and Jeff [weather] OK to start, then rain & hail
Stephen Mcvey bagged Pen y Fan on January 12th, 2012 [from/via/route] Storey Arms [weather] rain, fog
David Grant hiked Pen y Fan on May 16th, 1980 [weather] Sunny
Aileen Robinson summited Pen y Fan during March, 2000 [with] Joy, Paddy, Joe [weather] Sunny, clear - fanatastic
Elen Newcombe-ling, Jonathan Morris, Wendy Sockett, Mike Harris, Paul Roddam, Linda Mckeogh, Andrew Jones, Sarah Groves, Hugh Towns, Daniel Graham, Ron Smith, Math Llwyd, Tom Norgate, Chris Hughes, Michael Rygol, Simon Rutstein, John Cuthbert, Angela O'neill, Sasha Angus, Anthony Jackson, Edward Wells, Paul Booth, Trevor Williams, Andrew Fleming, Andy James, Paul Donoghue, Andrew Buxton, Mark Hall, Victoria Bates, Immacolata Pescatore, Kate Havard, Francoise Gamble, Louise Sandwith, David Price, Ian Thomas, Dave Milner, Keith Brockwell, Martin Smith, Richard Penney, Anthony Charlson, Matthew Thomas, Ray O'hara and Doug Jeffries have all walked, climbed & bagged Pen y Fan.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Pen y Fan
Corn Du and the Brecon Beacons from the summit of Pen y Fan just after sunset
The cairn on the summit of Waun Rydd with Corn Du and Pen y Fan in the distance
Pen y Fan (far left) and Corn Du with Llyn Cwm Llwch tarn below from near the Tommy Jones Obelisk
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
A very cold day but my boyfriend and I finally made it to the top of Pen y Fan summit
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).
Mick and Rob, friends of 40 years make it to the top of a windswept Pen Y Fan
Corn Du and Pen y Fan (centre left) and Cribyn (centre) from Neuadd Reservoir
Corn Du and the Brecon Beacons from the summit of Pen y Fan just after sunset
. . . see just 20 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Pen y Fan
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Pen y Fan
If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Pen y Fan to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:
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