Pen y Fan Gate – Pen y Fan loop from Cefn Cul

Hiking trails & Routes

South Wales

Llanfrynach

Pen y Fan Gate – Pen y Fan loop from Cefn Cul

Moderate

4.8

(218)

4,202

hikers

Pen y Fan Gate – Pen y Fan loop from Cefn Cul

03:54

11.5km

580m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Last updated: August 23, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park

Waypoints

Start point

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1.95 km

Craig Gwaun Taf

Highlight • Summit

Craig Gwaun Taf Is an 826m tall mountain in the Brecon Beacons. Away from the busier peaks, the summit affords great views to Corn Du and Pen Y Fan, whilst also meeting the classification criteria for a nuttal.

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4.06 km

Blaen Taf Fawr Valley

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Blaen Taf Fawr and Afon Tarell segments start at the Storey Arms parking area. Head through the gate towards Corn Du, to the Taf Fawr bridge. Ignore the path …

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4.35 km

Pen y Fan Gate

Highlight • Trail

The gate here has been the local start point for the Pen Y Fan gate to summit test for a number of years. It is 3.1km from here to the …

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4.50 km

Beacons Way to Pen y Fan Summit

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

PYF Test Route.
This is a Strava segment and a personal fitness test of mine from the swing gate at Pontardaff Lay-by to the summit post that I have done …

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7.43 km

Pen y Fan

Highlight • Summit

Chief of the Brecon Beacons and the highest summit in south Wales, Pen y Fan is a hugely popular peak with routes to the top to suit everyone from first …

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7.44 km

Cefn Cwm Llwch

Highlight • Trail

This is the ridge route to Pen y Fan from the north. A fine route that steepens sharply near the top.

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7.59 km

Jacob's Ladder (Pen y Fan Ascent)

Highlight • Climb

Classic route to the top of Pen Y Fan and a great thigh burner. Made infamous by the SAS as part of their Fan Dance event. It's a great place …

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10.6 km

Rhiw yr Ysgyfarnog Escarpment

Highlight • Natural Monument

Easier to walk it than it is to say, the Rhiw yr Ysgyfarnog escarpment is an arrow-straight ridge that takes hikers from the high points of the Central Beacons towards …

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11.5 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.67 km

5.28 km

503 m

Surfaces

6.46 km

4.47 km

518 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (860 m)

Lowest point (440 m)

Weather

Wednesday 7 October

12°C

5°C

22 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

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Comments

December 9, 2021,Pen Y Fan, Gate to Summit Test.

This is a Strava segment and a personal fitness test of mine from the swing gate at Pontardaff Lay-by to the summit post. This afternoon I did it in 37min dead with my 3kg light sack on a cold icy snowy topped day. All in time of 58m 36s. Not bad for a pretty slippy weather day. Ran the flats …