Explore Bannau Brycheiniog: top 5 short walks in the Brecon Beacons

The joys of walking in the Brecon Beacons are endless. Stand atop a windswept peak and take in the sweeping views, or follow a woodland trail where the sound of rushing water fills the air. Watch red kites soaring overhead, pause by a hidden waterfall, or trace the footsteps of history along ancient pathways. But most of all, take the time to appreciate and respect this spectacular landscape's beauty, wildlife and ever-changing moods. Whether you're looking for a gentle stroll or a rewarding climb, there's something for everyone in every season. Here are five of the best short walks.

15 Short Walks in Bannau Brycheiniog - Brecon Beacons

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Discover 15 of the best short walks in the Brecon Beacons. Each walk comes with easy-to-read Ordnance Survey maps, clear route description and lots of images, plus information on local beauty spots and tasty refreshment stops. No challenging terrain or complicated navigation means walks can be enjoyed by everyone.

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Iron Age cairn on the summit of Pen y Fan

The best walk for panoramic views...

What: Pen y Fan
Summary: Challenge yourself to reach the highest summit in South Wales
Start/finish: Pont ar Daf car park
Time: 3½hr
Distance: 7.5km (4¾ miles)
Climb: 500m

This is the quickest route to the two highest peaks in the Beacons, Pen y Fan and Corn Du, and by far the most popular. Route finding is easy in good weather, but conditions can change dramatically if the wind picks up and the cloud comes down. Temperatures drop with altitude, so make sure you are well equipped for this high excursion, the rewards of which include some of the best mountain views in Wales. Take care when approaching the north-facing cliff of Pen y Fan and Corn Du, as they both have precipitous drops.

The summit of Pen y Fan is one of the finest vantage points in Wales. On an exceptionally clear day, Cadair Idris in the Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) can just be distinguished to the north and Exmoor to the south. Almost due west are the cliffs of a beautiful glacial cwm, Craig Cerrig-gleisiad, and beyond is Fforest Fawr, a relatively unvisited part of the park that possesses many interesting features. To the south-west, when there is good visibility, the wide sweep of Swansea Bay can be seen, which culminates in the west with the Mumbles Lighthouse.

Sgwd yr Eira (The Fall of Snow) on the Afon Hepste

The best walk for waterfall lovers...

What: Waterfall Country: Four Waterfalls Walk
Summary: Walk behind a curtain of water as the Afon Hepste plunges into space over your head
Start/finish: Cwm Porth car park
Time: 2hr
Distance: 8km (5 miles)
Climb: 185m

This is the classic waterfall walk, taking in four major cascades in the Waterfall Country and culminating in an unforgettable experience of walking behind a sizeable waterfall. Autumn is the best season to visit, as the deciduous woods will be a riot of colour, and the warm summer months are an opportunity take a dip in one of the many inviting pools. There is one steep section on the descent to Sgwd yr Eira.

Of all the falls in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Sgwd yr Eira is the most exciting to visit. Notice when you stand behind the fall that your feet are on hard sandstone but that the rocks in a recessed band at the base of the cliff are relatively weak, thinly bedded shales that crumble away easily. The rocks above are of a more resistant sandstone but are weakened by numerous bedding planes. The final massive band of sandstone, which forms the protruding shelf over which the water tumbles, is the strongest and so is the most resistant to collapse, resulting in the fall being thrown out spectacularly into space.

The best walk for a dramatic cascade...

What: Henrhyd Falls
Summary: Ascend the intimate gorge of Nant Llech to reach the highest waterfall in South Wales
Start/finish: Layby on A4067 at Ynyswen
Time: 2¾hr
Distance: 5.5km (3½ miles)
Climb: 110m

This is an out-and-back route that ascends gentlythrough a wooded gorge carved out by Nant Llech to Henrhyd Falls, the highest cascade in South Wales at 27m. The path follows alongside the stream at first and then climbs high up on the wooded valley side. The falls were used as the entrance to the Batcave in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises. It is possible to walk behind the curtain of water but take care as the wet rocks are slippery.

The formation of Henrhyd Falls is due to earth movements along a geological fault 300 million years ago brought the hard sandstone of the Farewell Rock adjacent to the softer, easily eroded Coal Measure shales that normally lie above. The water has worn away the soft shales at a faster rate than the sandstone, resulting in a step in the riverbed. Over thousands of years, the size of the step increased as the shale at the base of the waterfall was worn away, and the overhanging Farewell Rock collapsed to produce a spectacular gorge and high waterfall.

The distinctive conical peak of the Sugar Loaf

The best walk for an iconic summit...

What: Sugar Loaf
Summary: A sustained climb to reach a peak that stands on its own with a memorable 360-degree panorama
Start/finish: Road end north of Abergavenny
Time: 3hr
Distance: 8km(5 miles)
Climb: 420m

Sugar Loaf is an iconic mountain that stands alone in the Usk Valley. This walk gradually gains height through the stunning beech woodland that coats the slopes of St Mary’s Vale. A sustained steepening climb brings you to the summit with its exceptional panoramic views. The return path is wonderfully open along the Rholben ridge, giving fantastic views of the Usk Valley. The stone bridge across Nant Iago near the beginning may be submerged after heavy rain, in which case you may want to leave the walk for another day.

Sugar Loaf is commonly mistaken as being an extinct volcano. It is in fact composed of Old Red Sandstone, the sedimentary rock that forms much of the Black Mountains. The summit is made of quartz conglomerate, a very hard white rock, that has resisted erosion over millennia. It stands on its own due to the Usk glacier dividing around it as it travelled eastwards. The mountain was gifted to the National Trust by the suffragette Lady Rhondda. The impressive 360-degree panoramic views from the summit are of the central Beacons summits to the west, Black Mountains to the north, Cotswolds and Skirrid Fawr to the east, and the Usk Valley to the south.

View south along the ridge of Ysgyryd Fawr

The best walk for a scenic ridge...

What: Ysgyryd Fawr (Skirrid Mountain)
Summary: Wonderful views await as a reward for your efforts in summitting the ‘shattered' mountain
Start/finish: The Skirrid National Trust car park on B4521
Time: 2hr
Distance: 5km (3 miles)
Climb: 335m

Standing separate from the rest of the mountains in the park, the Skirrid is a prominent landmark for miles around. Its Welsh name is Ysgyryd Fawr, meaning the 'Big Shattered' mountain. A relaxing woodland section leads you to the base of a steep climb to gain the summit with fine views. The gently sloping ridge brings you to a steep descent and back through the woodland to the start. The steep ascent to the summit and the descent at the end of the ridge can be avoided by carrying along the main path around the base of the mountain.

To the north of Ysgyryd Fawr in Llanvihangel Crucorney is the Skirrid Mountain Inn. Reputedly the first record for the inn is its use between 1100 and 1485 with a courtroom on the first floor. It is believed that around 183 hangings took place between the 12th and 17th centuries. The rope was suspended by the beam across the joist over the staircase. Owain Glyndŵr is said to have rallied his forces in the cobbled courtyard in the early 1400s. Not surprisingly, the pub claims to be home to many ghosts, including the infamous Master Bloody Hangman Judge Jeffreys (1644–1689) who possibly sat in judgement here. He can be encountered on the stairs along with some of his victims who were laid out on the stone slab below the first step.

All these walks (plus 10 more!) are included in our guidebook to Short Walks in Bannau Brycheiniog - Brecon Beacons. Other highlights include the Elidir Trail, Llyn Cwm Llwch, Pencelli canal walk, Craig y Cilau and Table Mountain. Easy-to-read maps and clear route descriptions make these walks perfect for beginners and families. No specialist gear is needed, and each route includes information on facilities, parking, and highlights.