Pen y Fan Mountain

Address: Access commonly from Storey Arms car park (A470), Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales

Website: https://www.breconbeacons.org/

Hours: Open year-round (hiking); weather dependent

Admission: Free (hiking)

Pen y Fan is the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons, Wales, with a summit elevation of 886 metres and is a focal point for outdoor recreation in the park. It is widely visited for day walks and panoramic views across southern Wales.

The summit area and the horseshoe ridge linking Corn Du and Cribyn are the main draws, offering a circular walk of several kilometres and 300-400 metres of ascent from common car parks. The top gives extensive 360-degree views on clear days and is used for recreational hillwalking, guided walks and military fitness training.

The hill form is the result of glacial and post-glacial shaping; the summit area also contains prehistoric cairn remains indicative of Bronze Age activity. Over time the site has become managed within Brecon Beacons National Park with marked trails and access points.

Pen y Fan sits in the central Brecon Beacons, accessed from the A470 corridor between Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil, with popular trailheads at Storey Arms and nearby valley car parks.

• Summit height: The summit reaches 886 metres above sea level, making it the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons and southern Britain.
• Route and conditions: The main ridge route commonly links Pen y Fan with Corn Du and Cribyn and is exposed to changeable mountain weather, so stout footwear and layers are recommended.

What to See#

• Corn Du: A neighboring summit on the same ridge reaching about 873 metres and often climbed together with the main peak for a circular route.
• Cribyn: A sharp, rocky spur to the east rising to about 795 metres that forms part of the classic Pen y Fan horseshoe walk.
• Storey Arms: A popular roadside access point on the A470 that serves as a common car park and trailhead for the southern approach.

Pen y Fan is in the Brecon Beacons National Park and is most commonly reached by car via the A470. The usual parking and trailhead is the Storey Arms car park on the A470; from there the summit is roughly 3 km (one way) and typically a 1-1.5 hour walk on well-marked paths.

From the market town of Brecon it is about a 20-30 minute drive; from Cardiff allow around 1-1.5 hours by car. Public transport to Brecon is available and seasonal/route buses can serve nearby trailhead areas, but many walkers drive to the Storey Arms or other park car parks.

• Start very early on weekdays (pre‑sunrise if possible) to avoid large weekend groups on the Storey Arms route and to catch clear summit views before afternoon cloud builds.
• Use the Storey Arms car park on the A470 as the most direct and popular parking/starting point; from there the paths to Pen y Fan and Corn Du are well‑waymarked and compact enough for a brisk ascent.
• If you want fewer people, take an alternative route (for example from Pont ar Daf) or plan a late‑afternoon descent - many day‑trippers concentrate on mid‑morning to early‑afternoon hours.