Pen y Fan

About Pen y Fan

Dominating the Brecon Beacons skyline, this iconic Old Red Sandstone peak is the highest point in South Wales. While the southern 'Motorway' path is popular, the true character lies in its dramatic northern escarpment. The summit offers a commanding perspective over the Usk Valley and the neighbouring twin peak of Corn Du.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Welsh 'Pen' (head or top), 'y' (the), and 'Fan' (a mutation of 'Ban', meaning peak or beacon). It translates literally as 'Top of the Beacon', marking it as the crowning point of the Bannau Brycheiniog range.
• •The summit is crowned by a Bronze Age burial cairn. Excavations in 1991 revealed a central stone-lined cist containing charcoal and cremated bone, indicating the peak has held significant spiritual or ritual importance for nearly 4,000 years.
• •It is a primary location for UK Special Forces selection. The 'Fan Dance' is a gruelling 15-mile load-carrying march that crosses the summit twice, testing the endurance of candidates against the steep gradients and notoriously unpredictable mountain weather.
• •From the 886-metre trig point, the view extends south across the Bristol Channel to the hills of Exmoor. Looking north and west on a clear day, the vista reaches across Mid-Wales to the Cambrian Mountains and the distant silhouette of Cadair Idris.
• •Geologically, the mountain is defined by Old Red Sandstone. The spectacular northern face was carved by glacial erosion during the last ice age, leaving behind the deep hollow of Cwm Llwch and the steep, layered cliffs that characterise the northern escarpment.
• •The main path from the A470 is known locally as 'The Motorway'. It is perhaps the only place in the Welsh wilderness where you might find yourself stuck in a literal pedestrian traffic jam while waiting to take a photo at the summit cairn.