Wales
Fan y Big
717M
2351FT
About Fan y Big
Sitting at the eastern end of the Central Beacons’ famous horseshoe, this distinctive peak is best known for the ‘Diving Board’ rock overhanging its steep northern face. It offers a sharp, grassy profile and commanding views across the glacial cirque towards the higher summits of Cribyn and Pen y Fan.
Key Statistics
Rank
18th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Brecon Beacons
Prominence
?
28.5m
Nearest Town
Brecon
Geology
This peak is formed from the Brownstones Formation. It features distinct layers of solid sandstone mixed with softer, clay-rich mudstone.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SO036206
Latitude
51.8756°N
Longitude
3.4017°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Welsh as 'Peak of the Pointed Hill' or 'Peak of the Beak'. 'Fan' is a mutation of 'ban' (peak), while 'big' refers to a point or a bird's bill, aptly describing its sharp profile when viewed from the Usk Valley to the north.
- •The summit is home to the ‘Diving Board’, a cantilevered slab of Old Red Sandstone that juts out over the precipice. It is a celebrated spot for photographs, looking out over the dramatic drop into the Cwm Oergwm valley.
- •For many years, this was classified as a Hewitt. However, a 2004 GPS survey revealed its prominence was just under the 30-metre requirement, leading to its reclassification as a Nuttall—a status change that has done little to impact its popularity with hikers.
- •It is a vital component of the 'Beacons Horseshoe', a classic high-level circuit. From the summit cairn, walkers earn a clear perspective of the Glyn Tarrell valley and the impressive glacial escarpments that define the central range.
- •Despite being stripped of its Hewitt status for lacking a mere few inches of prominence, the hill remains blissfully unaware of its demotion and continues to demand the same calf-straining effort as its more 'official' neighbours.