Breathtaking hikes in the Brecon Beacons National Park
Hiking Collection by Dan Hobson
7
Tours
25:00 h
49.3 mi
10,050 ft
Carved by ice and weathered by time, the Brecon Beacons National Park is a diverse and beguiling landscape that begs to be explored.
With sweeping valleys, remote mountain ranges, vast swathes of moorland, magical waterfalls, historical ruins, quaint towns and villages, friendly people and a plethora of wildlife to see, the national park is a Mecca for those looking to escape the hustle-and-bustle of modern life.
Due to the small population and astonishingly few visitors, the wild and remote landscape is yours alone to enjoy for the most part. In fact, you will be surprised just how isolated it can feel at times. Despite being less than 30 miles (48 km) from Cardiff, 100 miles (161 km) from Birmingham and a mere three hours from London, the national park is a rare wilderness, especially the Black Mountain range, which feels dizzyingly deserted.
There are four main ranges within the national park. Confusingly, two of them have very similar names. To the west is the Black Mountain range and, in the east, the Black Mountains, which include a peak called Black Mountain. At the heart are the Brecon Beacons massif.
This Collection serves as an introduction to this wildly intoxicating national park. The routes included will take you to the iconic summits of Sugar Loaf, Table Mountain, Fan Brycheiniog and Fan Foel, as well as the classic ‘horseshoe’ route that includes Corn Du, Pen y Fan — the highest in the national park — Cribyn and Fan y Big.
While the peaks, ridges and remote landscape here are, no-doubt, making your legs twitch for some action, this Collection also takes you to the utterly mesmerising ‘Waterfall Country’, where you can see another side of the Brecon Beacons National Park all together — and walk behind the watery veil of a magnificent waterfall.
The best place to stay to explore the national park is Abergavenny, a small, friendly market town with lots of interest, places to stay and great options for food and drink. There’s also a super-easy route to explore the town in this Collection, too. All of the Tours start from car parks.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- Difficult05:3310.9 mi2.0 mph2,250 ft2,225 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Pen y Fan is one of the most popular mountain climbs in the Brecon Beacons National Park. And for good reason. Hikes to the summit afford breathtaking views and the opportunity to spot some wonderful wildlife.
Many people opt to climb Pen y Fan in isolation, starting from, or near to, the Storey Arms…
by Dan Hobson
- Intermediate02:034.56 mi2.2 mph475 ft450 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The Brecon Beacons National Park is famous for sweeping glacial valleys, remote mountain peaks and wild landscapes. If you spend the whole time in the clouds, though, you’re missing a trick
While the bold hills and mountains of the Beacons are unrivalled in their dramatic beauty, it’s well worth coming…
by Dan Hobson
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- Difficult06:3912.6 mi1.9 mph3,000 ft3,000 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Sometimes dubbed the last wilderness in the Brecon Beacons National Park, the bold landscape this route explores is one sculpted by glacial ice millennia ago. Expect sublime views throughout this Tour of the Black Mountain range.
While challenging, this route rewards your efforts richly. The bold, dramatic…
by Dan Hobson
- Intermediate03:567.11 mi1.8 mph2,025 ft2,025 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
One of the most iconic sights in the Brecon Beacons is the aptly named Table Mountain (Crug Hywel, in Welsh). Looming over the market town of Crickhowell, the hill's flat and slightly sloping top simply begs to be climbed.
At 1,480 feet (451 m) high, the phenomenal views from the summit showcase the…
by Dan Hobson
- Intermediate02:435.29 mi1.9 mph1,125 ft1,150 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
It may not be the biggest peak in the Brecon Beacons. It doesn’t have any rocky crags, ridges, crags, or hair-raising features either. But there’s something very special about the grassy slopes of Sugar Loaf.
The shape of Sugar Loaf is a near perfect hill, almost like a child would draw: neat, conical…
by Dan Hobson
- Intermediate03:377.68 mi2.1 mph1,150 ft1,125 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Once carved by industry, The Blorenge and the surrounding landscape is now sculpted by nature. While the scars of its industrial heritage are still visible, they add immense character to the rugged heather moorland, which now flourishes with wildlife.
This hike affords spellbinding views throughout. You…
by Dan Hobson
- Easy00:291.12 mi2.4 mph50 ft50 ftEasy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Abergavenny is the perfect base for your explorations in the Brecon Beacons National Park. A vibrant market town, it boasts an array of places to stay, plus cafes, restaurants and pubs to refuel you after a long day hiking in the mountains.
However, this historic little town offers more than just a place…
by Dan Hobson
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Collection Stats
- Tours7
- Distance49.3 mi
- Duration25:00 h
- Elevation10,050 ft
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