Pen-y-Fan Horseshoe | Detailed hike guide with maps and where to park
The quintessential walk of the Brecon Beacons which offers magnificent 360-degree views and a chance to summit its three highest peaks; Corn Du (873m), Pen-Y-Fan (886) and Cribyn (795m). A slight 20-minute extension to the walk can be taken to visit the hilariously named Fan-Y-Big (717m), which has a large flat rock shaped like a diving board
For me, this is the must-do hike within the Brecon Beacons especially if you are blessed with a dry and clear day as you will be treated with incredible views of the Brecon beacons glacial landscape. Be warned though, because of its ease of access, Pen y fan is one of, if not the most popular peaks the UK, so if you are seeking a walk that provides some solitude then this wouldn’t be a summit for you.
If tackling this route on a weekend I would recommend starting nice and early in order to guarantee yourself a parking spot and to try and minimise the number of other people you encounter on the trail.
Key information
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate to hard
Distance: 14km
Elevation gain: 820m
Duration: 4.5-7 hours
Technical Aspects: None, just several steep ascents and descents
Trail Type: Mixture of mud, rock, and stony path
Parking and Start Point: Neuadd Car Park
Where to Park
The start point for this hike is the Neuadd Car Park in the Taf Fechan forest (Postcode CF48 2UT). The car park is free but is slightly out of the way and will seem like you driving to the middle of nowhere.
Trust the postcode and keep following the single track road past the Ponticill Reservoir and the Old Barn Tea Room until you reach a gravel car park to the left of the road.
The Route
As the route is a loop it can be tackled in either direction. with this blog I have described walking the route in a clockwise fashion.
From the car park head north up the road you drove in on. After several hundred meters the road will split, take the paved path to the left passing by a metal swing gate on the way towards the Lower Neuadd Reservoir. Once at the reservoir, head left and begin the steep 1km climb up to the Craig Fan Ddu ridge.
The steep climb up from the Lower Neuadd reservoir,
The Ridgeline to Corn Du
After catching your breath at the top, turn right and follow the ridgeline northwards for 3.5km. Alongside being granted epic views over the Brecon Beacons you can also will be able to see an outline of the route.
After 3.5km you’ll reach a saddle in front of the Twin peaks of Corn Du and Pen y Fan. Here you will be treated by the droves of people who have just trekked up the path known as ‘the motorway’ from the A470.
Here you have two options, the left hand path leads up to the summit of Corn Du (873 m), before descending slighty and then re-ascending up to Pen-y-Fan.
If for some strange reason you didn’t want to see the view from Corn Du, you can bypass the peak by following the right hand path which skirts around to the right.
The saddle before Corn Du and Pen y Fan (right).
Looking back at Corn Du from Pen-y-fan
Pen y fan
Standing at 886 metres (2,907 feet), The summit of Pen y Fan is the highest point in the Brecon Beacons National Park (Bannau Brycheiniog) alongside southern Britain .
The summit is marked by a stone cairn, which covers a Bronze Age burial site, giving the peak historical significance.
Being such a popular and easy to access peak peak, the summit can get incredibly busy, especially in summer and on weekends. Even if there was an apocalypse you wouldn’t have this place to yourself.
Take the time to marvel at the 360 views of the magnificent glacial landscape all around you. On a clear day, you can see across the Brecon Beacons, towards the Black Mountains, Carmarthenshire Fans, and even as far as the Bristol Channel.
The rolling green hills and dramatic escarpments make it one of the most scenic spots in Wales. The best view has to be looking down the ridge towards Cribyn and Fan y Big, Two peaks which are park of this walk.
Ascent to Cribyn
From Pen-y-Fan the route descends steeply down to a saddle before rising again sharply to the summit of Cribyn (795m).
You can by pass Cribyn by following the right hand path which skirts around its base.
The saddle can get very bogy, especially in winter, so I’d advise taking a wide arc to avoid getting wet feet. On the way up to Cribyn look for the large platform like patch of ground which makes for a great photo spot.
Standing at 776m Cribyn is a Snow plough shaped mountain which offers stunning views of the surrounding valleys and ridges.
For a peak which is just a stones throw away, Cribyn will be significantly quieter than the neighbouring Pen-y-Fan, meaning this would be a preferred location to stop and have a bite to eat.
Sunrise Looking West wards towards Cribyn (closest) and Fan-y -Big
Optional ascent to Fan y Big
From the summit of Cribyn continue to follow the ridgeline the descent south-eastwards away from Pen-y-fan. The route will gradually descend over 1km, before a final steep descent down to ‘the gap’ , a large gravel bridleway which separates Cribyn and Fan y Big.
From the saddle, you have the option to make one final short but steep ascent up to the summit of Fan y Big. While this mountain isn’t officially part of the horseshoe, it s a peak thats well worth visiting as it not only affords spectacular views, but has a stone shaped diving board.
If for some reason you didn’t fancy visiting Fan y big, simply turn right and follow the gravel bridleway for 3.5km past the Upper Neuadd Reservoir back down to the car park.
The diving board at Fan-y-Big with Cribyn and Pen-y-Fan in the background
Return to the car park
From fan y big you can either descend back down the steep slope to the Gap, before following the gravel bridleway south for 3.5km past the Upper Neuadd Reservoir back down to the car park.
Alternatively you can continue along the ridgeline for around 800m before descending diagonally back down the the bridleway, then following the bridleway back to the car park.
If you have the time, weather, and energy, another option is to extend this hike by combining this route with the Blaen- y- glyn Waterfall walk. This will add on around 8km but will make for one incredible hike. You can find all of the details of that 21km hike below.
There we have it, a hike guide to the Pen y Fan Horseshoe in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
Is it a route you have done, or one you want to do? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
If you did find the blog helpful, I’d appreciate you giving it a share or giving me a follow on social media, every bit of support goes a long way.
You can find more Welsh hiking inspiration in the following blogs;
For more travel, & photography inspiration around Wales check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite regions below.