12 Best Walks In Brecon Beacons, Wales - Updated 2024

best walks in the brecon beacons
Kapil
Kapil 
Updated
| 5 min read

Nestled in the beautiful country of South Wales, Brecon Beacons National Park is home to some of the highest and most graceful mountains, delightful rolling green meadows, spectacular waterfalls, and wonderful hiking trails in the United Kingdom. Spanning over a splendid region of 520 sq miles (1347 sq kilometers), the Brecon Beacons is one of the first geoparks in Wales and welcomes you with breathtaking natural landscapes, a plethora of adventure activities, and travel experiences you’ll never forget. You can stay comfortably at a cabin rental in Brecon Beacons to experience all it offers. The natural beauty of Brecon Beacons is one of its kind and attracts millions of wanderers to enjoy glamping in its diversely beautiful landscapes consisting of astounding mountains, serene lakes, lively waterfalls, enormous castles, stargazing nights, and marvelous hiking trails. The best way to immerse yourself in the grandeur of Brecon Beacons National Park is to hike around and explore its beautiful walks. Scroll down further to learn more about the best walks in Brecon Beacons, Wales.

1. Neath: Six Waterfalls of Brecon Beacons Guided Walk (from USD 75.72)

best walks in the brecon beacons | neath: six waterfalls of brecon beacons guided walk

Experience the beauty of Brecon Beacons National Park with a guided hike from Neath. Explore its eight major waterfalls and smaller cascades amid the park’s scenic forested hills.

Your journey starts in Pontneddfechan, led by a knowledgeable local guide who’ll share insights about the area. The 15km (9.32 mi) round-trip hike includes a 400m (1312.34 ft) elevation gain, providing stunning park vistas. Don’t miss the chance to walk behind some waterfalls and wrap up your adventure with a refreshing swim in the final pool, fully immersing yourself in this captivating natural landscape.

Visited this place?

Experience The Brecon Beacons Six Waterfalls Guided Walk

Duration: 6.0 hour

8 reviews

2. Brecon Beacons Horseshoe Ridge Trail

South Wales
Source: Photo by Flickr user Robert J Heath used under CC BY 2.0

Embark on a 10-mile (16.09 kilometer) journey on Brecon Beacons’s Horseshoe Ridge Trail and experience majestic views from its highest peaks. The trail starts from Taf Fechan car park and takes about six hours for a round trip. The trail takes you through Graig Fan Ddu ridge, where you can pause to soak in the panoramic valley vistas, showcasing Pen y Fan (886m), the pinnacle of this trek. Resume your journey to uncover the striking peaks of Cribyn (795m), Pen y Fan (886m), and Corn Du (873m), where you can admire the awe-inspiring glacial valleys.

The terrain along this ridge can be rugged and steep, so make sure to wear appropriate attire for a challenging ascent. Additionally, pack all the necessary hiking gear, as the weather in these peaks can change rapidly and be quite unpredictable.

Brecon Beacons Horseshoe Ridge Trail

Address: Neuadd Valley, Brecon Beacons National Park, CF48 2UT

Website: Brecon Beacons Horseshoe Ridge Trail

Visited this place?

3. Castle Meadows

Castle Meadows
Source: Pixabay

Nestled near the busy market town of Abergavenny, Castle Meadows is a beautiful riverside grassland to stroll around and enjoy the stunning views of the countryside. Set next to the pristine River Usk, the meadow is well surrounded by verdant trees, miniature ponds, and peaceful streams. The macadam path is just 900 meters (2263.8 feet) long, which makes it an easy walk in Brecon Beacons for beginner trekkers to embark on. They can wander around, relax, and explore its stupendous surroundings. Along with walking around, you can also enjoy some fishing on the River Usk. Also, don’t forget to bring your dog along he’ll truly enjoy and love the place!

Castle Meadows

Address: Castle Street, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 5DL

Website: Castle Meadows

Visited this place?

4. Craig Cerrig-gleisiad

Ruined Wall and New Fence, Craig Cerrig-gleisiad - geograph.org.uk - 1383152
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mick Garratt used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Set just 7 mi (11.3 km) away from Brecon, Craig Cerrig-gleisiad is a fascinating park to hike. The fantastic landscape of the hiking trail features centuries year old craggy mountains, outrageous rocky slopes, and restful woodlands. This challenging trek is 5 km (3 mi) and takes you to the beautiful summit of Fan Frynych from where you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the national park.

Craig Cerrig-gleisiad

Address: Powys LD3 8NL, Wales

Website: Craig Cerrig-gleisiad

Visited this place?

5. Talybont Reservoir

Talybont Reservoir
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user R3pul5e used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Surrounded by lively waterfalls, beautiful canals and breathtaking countryside of Beacons, the walk to Talybont Reservoir is a liberating experience that takes you miles away from loud crowds and daily hustle-bustle of the city. The walking trail begins from Talybont-on-Usk, a beautiful village set just 6 miles (10 km) away from the reservoir. The terrain of this peaceful walk is flat in nature and boasts old town trackbeds and low-level narrow roads. The view of the mountains from the reservoir is truly magnificent and mesmerizes you with its incredibly pleasant insights.

Talybont Reservoir

Address: Near Brecon Beacons, Wales LD3 7YS

Visited this place?

6. Pen y Fan (from USD 72.0)

Hiking up to Pen y Fan is one of the most sought after activities at Brecon Beacons National Park. Nestled at an elevated height of 886 m (2906.8 ft), Pen y Fan is the highest peak in South Wales. The views from the summit are breath-taking and inspire the trekkers to complete this challenging trek. Storey Arms is the popular route among tourists and provides a great hiking experience with stunning insights of the country outdoors. Other routes to Pen y Fan include Brecon Beacons Horseshoe and Cwm Llwch Horseshoe. So grab your boots, map, and camera and have a hiking experience like never before.

Visited this place?

Hike up the Brecon Beacons highest mountain, Pen-y-fan

Duration: 5 hours

8 reviews

7. Table Mountain

Crug Hywel Hill Fort, Near Abergavenny
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jasper Fforde used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Towering over the country-town of Crickhowell, the Table Mountain is a 451-m (1,480 ft) tall flat-topped summit in the Brecon Beacons. Embark on this walk from Crckhowell to Table Mountain that begins from the beautiful small town and welcomes you with challenging slightly elevated terrains, delightful grasslands, and breathtaking sights. The energetic walk of 4 mi (6km) takes you to the top of Table Mountain from where you can enjoy astounding beauty of the surroundings. Look around and you’ll find the historical Iron Age Fort, be mesmerized by the jaw-dropping view of the Black Mountains and take a look down at the beauty of Crickhowell and the lively Usk Valley. Overall, trekking to Table Mountain will be an unforgettable experience for you.

Table Mountain

Address: Near Crickhowell, Wales

Visited this place?

8. Sgwd yr Eira (from USD 72.0)

Nestled between the four villages Hirwaun, Ystradfelite, Pontneddfechan, and North-west Merthyr, Sgwd yr Eira is one of the most eminent waterfalls in Brecon Beacons. Popularly known as Four Falls Walk, the trek to Sgwd yr Eira waterfall is 7 mi (11.2 km) long accompanied by beautiful gushing of water, fantastic woodland areas and cool breeze of the surroundings. The views of the Sgwd yr Eira waterfall is beyond imagination and offers you a thrilling hiking experience of trekking rocky and slippery paths. The other three waterfalls of the fascinating Four Falls Walk include Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Clun Gwyn and the tranquil Sgwd yr Pannwr.

Visited this place?

Walking Tour in the Iconic Four Waterfalls Valley

Duration: 6 hours

28 reviews

9. Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal in Pontypool
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Nilfanion used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal walk is perfect for those who wish to uncover the hidden gems of Beacon Brecons. It boasts beautiful canals, clean waters from River Usk, slender bridges and gorgeous views of the green valley. It’s a true heaven for nature enthusiasts, wanderers, and peace-lovers. The 37-mi (60 km) long canal path starts from Brecon and ends at Newport. It consists of Brecon - Talybont-On-Usk - Llangynidr Locks, a beautiful canal path with breath-taking views of the serene River Usk; Llangynidr - Crickhowell-Abergavenny path where you can stop by and explore the pleasant castle meadows; Abergavenny-Pontypool-Newport path, the final section of the canal route. There are also excellent fishing and kayaking opportunities available near the site.

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

Address: Near Brecon Beacons, Wales

Website: Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

Visited this place?

10. Brecon Promenade

Usk Bridge, Usk - geograph.org.uk - 1268258
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Philip Halling used under CC BY-SA 2.0

If you’re looking for a short walk to escape from the daily routine of the city, then strolling along Brecon Promenade is a great idea. The short 0.37 miles (0.6km) walk-in Beacon Brecons National Park offers you magnificent views of the River Usk, one of the most beautiful streams in Wales.

Brecon Promenade

Address: Near Brecon Beacons, Wales

Website: Brecon Promenade

Visited this place?

11. Abergavenny Riverside Walk

Beacon Brecons National Park
Source: Pixabay

Walking on Abergavenny Riverside is a wonderful experience as it lets you encounter serene green valleys, delightful canals and beautiful views. There are many popular routes to walk from the Abergavenny Riverside and explore the serenity of Beacon Brecons National Park.

Abergavenny Riverside Walk

Address: Near Abergavenny, Wales

Visited this place?

12. Cefn Llechid

The summit of Cefn Llechid
Source: Photo by Geograph user Jeremy Bolwell used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Towering at an elevated height of 400 m (1312 ft) above the Vale of Glamorgan region, Cefn Llechid is a perfectly textured mountain in Brecon Beacons. Walking to Cefn Llechid is a great experience as the 8-mi (12 km) path takes you through the beautiful valleys, tranquil woodlands and lively rivers accompanied by fabulous views.

Cefn Llechid

Address: Near Brecon Beacons, Powys, Wales

Website: Cefn Llechid

Visited this place?

Walking in Brecon Beacons

Brecon Beacons Pass
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Takver used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Brecon Beacons is a true adventure paradise and astounds you with stunning insights of incredibly tall and slender hills, peaceful lakes, and wonderful canals. Whether you’re a beginner hiker who loves strolling around or a pro hiker who loves challenging climbs, Brecon Beacons will make your adventure goals come true with its flabbergasting hiking trails. And with our article, it will be easy to find your next hiking route.

Frequently asked questions about the best walks in Brecon Beacons, Wales


Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

A content marketer by profession, solo traveler by hobby and a content creator by heart. I believe that the right perspective can drastically improve the quality of our lives and help us do great...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Brecon Beacons National Park
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.