Pen y Fan and Waun Rydd Route Information

Home Glossary

Pen y Fan & Waun Rydd

Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

1040 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

6 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

19.87 km

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

160

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

A strenuous day of excellent ridge walking above crags on good tracks, with some steep slopes. Could be extended by traversing Fan y Big with steep ascent E from col; or ascent reduced by contour paths around Corn Du and Cribyn.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Talybont-on-Usk

From Talybont-on-Usk take the minor road for Talybont reservoir. Continue for 10km (passing the reservoir) to the top of the hill at the W end of the valley, then descend into the Tal Fechan valley. Cross the bridge at the bottom, then turn right at T-junction. After 1km cross another bridge (over same stream) and park in car park on the right.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,040 metres. Allow 6 hours to complete this 19.87 km route.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Park in car park in Taf Fechan Forest just N of river
		SO04241635	Distance	Altitude 352 m

1	Cross river over bridge then follow sketchy path SW to bridleway track
		SO04081627	Distance 0.20 km	Altitude 370 m

2	Follow bridleway beyond forest. When it turns E, walk 100m NNW to start of ascent path.
		SO02821806	Distance 2.21 km	Altitude 438 m

3	Cross stream and ascend steep path WSW to top of escarpment
		SO02111780	Distance 0.77 km	Altitude 641 m

4	Follow path NNW by edge of Craig Fan Ddu to narrow ridge
		SO01241968	Distance 2.17 km	Altitude 736 m

5	Continue NNW across ridge on path above Craig Gwaun Taf
		SO00762043	Distance 0.90 km	Altitude 791 m

6	Follow edge of escarpment NNW towards Bwlch Duwynt col
		SO00502074	Distance 0.40 km	Altitude 822 m

7	Cross narrow col and ascend NNE to Corn Du (873m)
		SO00742134	Distance 0.65 km	Altitude 873 m

8	Descend E to col then climb NE to summit of Pen y Fan (2500ft+)
		SO01202156	Distance 0.52 km	Altitude 886 m

9	Descend SE by path on Cwm Sere Ridge
		SO01482131	Distance 0.38 km	Altitude 784 m

10	Descend ESE to just above col, where path divides
		SO01882119	Distance 0.42 km	Altitude 670 m

11	Take right path and contour SE around slopes of Cribyn
		SO02732040	Distance 1.18 km	Altitude 630 m

12	Continue on path turning ENE to reach 599m pass
		SO03192057	Distance 0.49 km	Altitude 599 m

13	Ascend SE on path across slope of Fan y Big to start of plateau
		SO03981967	Distance 1.22 km	Altitude 722 m

14	Continue E on path
		SO04461968	Distance 0.49 km	Altitude 705 m

15	Follow edge of escarpment NNE then E to crossing of paths
		SO05732060	Distance 1.75 km	Altitude 737 m

16	Ascend peat-hag terrain ENE onto Waun Rydd (2500ft+) . Unmarked highest point is 100m S of a modest cairn.
		SO06212070	Distance 0.55 km	Altitude 769 m

17	Return to crossing of paths and ascend gently SSW on path
		SO05732060	Distance 0.55 km	Altitude 742 m

18	Follow escarpment edge SSW to a stream crossing
		SO05041922	Distance 1.46 km	Altitude 679 m

19	Continue SSE to start of descent of Craig y Fan Ddu ridge
		SO05471835	Distance 0.98 km	Altitude 638 m

20	Descend steeply S on path to 460m contour then turn R crossing stream
		SO05521774	Distance 0.62 km	Altitude 461 m

21	Follow sketchy path SW joining road and continue to a R turning
		SO04951673	Distance 1.15 km	Altitude 392 m

22	Turn R and after 100m take left fork. Follow forest road back to car park
		SO04241635	Distance 0.81 km	Altitude 352 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Brecon Beacons
by Met Office

Pen y Fan
by Metcheck

Images of Pen y Fan & Waun Rydd

Another picture of the old firing range in Cwn Llwch.

© Gareth Pratt

Image by Gareth Pratt

The Brecon Beacons on a lovely day.

© Gareth Pratt

Image by Gareth Pratt

Corn Du seen from Pen y Fan.

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

Pen Y Fan taken from the North on the A470 just before Brecon.

© Gareth Pratt

Image by Gareth Pratt

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

Where to Stay

We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

Not yet rated.

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

|

|