Home » Routes » Europe » Wales » Brecon Beacons National Park » Bannau Brycheiniog and Fforest Fawr » Pen y Fan Walk from Storey Arms

Pen y Fan Walk from Storey Arms

By Dave Roberts   

on May 2, 2017    4.92/5 (13)

Posted as a walk in – Bannau Brycheiniog and Fforest Fawr, Brecon Beacons National Park, Europe, Wales

Pen y Fan Walk from Storey Arms

Route Essentials

Route Summary

Popular route up South Wales’ highest mountain from Storey Arms

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

7.5 km

Ascent

566 m

Time

3-4 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Storey Arms

Difficulty

Moderate Walk

Hazards

No specific hazards, but it’s still a mountain and you’ll need to know what you’re doing.

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Brecon Beacons Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Pen y Fan Walk from Storey Arms Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Pen y Fan Walk from Storey Arms

As Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons is the highest mountain in South Wales, and being within easy reach of a large population base, Pen y Fan can be quite popular with walkers. As a result, there has been a serious path erosion problem here which has necessitated the building of flagged paths.

At least this makes navigation on the walk up to Pen y Fan from, the Storey Arms easy enough! The sandstone used for the footpath is also reassuringly grippy and doesn’t polish into a lethal smooth surface such as some of the Snowdonia paths. The walk up and down Pen y Fan can be completed in three to four hours for someone of reasonable fitness. If you have more time to hand, then a much better day’s walking would be to complete one of the Pen y Fan horeseshoes.

This is the route we took on a Welsh 3 Peak challenge as the most convenient.

It’s also important to know what to wear walking up Pen y Fan as it’s a proper mountain, as you’ll need good boots, clothing appropriate to the conditions. So checking out the Pen y Fan Weather Forecast is essential to start with. We suggest starting off with this page – Summer Hill Walking Kit List and taking a good read of our Outdoor Skills and Tips section.

The Walk up Pen y Fan from Storey Arms

1 – You can park opposite the misleadingly named Storey Arms, which hasn’t served a pint to weary travellers for nearly a century on the summit of the A470. This is easily reached via Brecon in the north or Merthyr in the south.

2 – The footpath for Pen y Fan’s summit leads off to the left of the Storey Arms, clearly signposted, and sets off on a steady uphill for a good km or so past a forestry plantation.

3 – The path eventually relents, but then commits a cardinal sin as you have to descend and lose a good chunk of your ascent. However it doesn’t really matter, as the whole walk involves so little ascent as to need these sort of diversions to make it worth while.

4 – It descends to cross the Blaen Taf Fawr, where you have to ford the stream. It was wet when we crossed and the weather for the last few weeks had also been exceptionally wet, and it barely wet my boots. There are stepping stones of sorts for those of a more sensitive deposition.

5 – Beyond the ford, the path reascends again, continuing on a steady pull. You’ll either love or hate it, as it’s manufactured path all the way!

Pen y Fan Walk from Storey Arms.

6 – Sooner, rather than later, you’ll arrive at the Craig Cwm Llwch ridge where the path turns right and steepens for the final 130m up to Corn Du. There’s a welcome bit of rock just below the summit, a welcome break from the path, and soft peat on the summit! It’s clear how easily eroded these hills are by the erosion on the summits.

Pen y Fan Walk from Storey Arms.

7 – The path sets off along the flat summit of Corn Du from which it drops steeply for a short distance before reascending the final stretch to Pen y Fan. There’s apparently a wonderful view, but mist prevented us from seeing a thing. Instead, I noiced the fossilised ripples that can be seen not far from the summit, reminding us of the origin of these hills. Being only a quarter past six, we almost had the summit to ourselves but still saw a handful of people about! Descent is straightforward enough, though if you’ve got enough time then it would be criminal not to climb a few more summits. Unfortunately, the Storey Arms doesn’t lend itself well to anything but out and backs, with the only circuit being far too short for a full day’s outing.

For more walks up Pen y Fan, visit our All the Walking Routes up Pen y Fan article.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Popular route up South Wales’ highest mountain from Storey Arms

This walk includes the Washi of Pen y Fan – Brecon Beacons

This walk includes the Hewitt of Pen y Fan – Brecon Beacons

This walk includes the 2 Nuttalls of Pen y Fan – Brecon Beacons, Corn Du

Route Start Location: Storey Arms

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
7.5 km 566 m 3-4 hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Moderate Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

None – note that the Storey Arms isn’t a welcome pub at the end of the day, but an outdoor centre.

Hazards

No specific hazards, but it’s still a mountain and you’ll need to know what you’re doing.

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking : LD3 8NL

Parking availble but limited at busy periods. The A470 is a busy trunk road and illegal parking will be ticketed.

Public Transport:

Trawscambian bus.

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Brecon Beacons Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

Please rate this

Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

Leave a Reply