BANNAU BRYCHEINIOG / BRECON BEACONS / OUT AND BACK
Pen y Fan and Corn Du Walk from Pont ar Daf
Walk Pen y Fan and Corn Du from Pont ar Daf, with two summits, a return along the main approach and room to make the right weather decision.
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At a glance
Why this walking route is worth doing
Pen y Fan and Corn Du give you two recognisable summits in one outing. From the A470 side of Bannau Brycheiniog, the main approach steadily leaves the road behind before opening onto the broad high ground. On a clear day, the reward is seeing how abruptly the plateau falls into the surrounding valleys.
The version here is an out-and-back via Corn Du and Pen y Fan. It returns along the main approach instead of descending towards Storey Arms or extending to Cribyn. That makes the route choice easier to understand, although it remains a substantial uphill walk.
The National Trust describes the two summits and the Pont ar Daf approach. Its advertised 6.4 km circular returns by a different western line. Our KML is a separate mapped return via Corn Du, about 7.5 km; do not use the circular’s distance for this version.
Leave room in the day for an unhurried descent. If cloud obscures the route or wind makes standing difficult, the right outcome is a shorter walk or another day, rather than collecting the second summit.
Where to stay
Brecon: A practical base for dinner and another day in the National Park; plan the A470 journey to the start.
Merthyr Tydfil: A southern alternative with rail connections, but accommodation is not at the walking entrance.
The accommodation map is centred on Brecon. Compare your own dates, cancellation terms and the journey to the actual trailhead. Check breakfast times, parking, dog charges and somewhere to dry wet kit before booking. Booking through some links may earn Days Out Now a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Plan another day
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Step-by-step directions
Follow the route
Find the southern walking approach
From Pont ar Daf parking, locate the signed walking approach and cross onto the main uphill path. The KML starts on the mapped approach rather than your individual parking bay. Check the start against the signs before climbing.
Gain the high ground
Keep on the main path towards the Corn Du area. Several paths appear on the upper slopes; use the route file and local signs to stay with the established approach. Pause before the steep upper section to assess the cloud and wind.
Visit Corn Du, then Pen y Fan
Use the mapped summit path to Corn Du, descend into the saddle and continue to Pen y Fan. The line does not include Cribyn. Stay away from the steep northern edges and keep your return junction in mind.
Return over the same approach
Reverse the summit section and main approach to Pont ar Daf. A western descent towards Storey Arms would create a different route from the one supplied. Use the main line you came up unless a signed closure requires an alternative.
Useful overnight bases
Make a break of it
Brecon
Brecon, Wales
Compare stays →Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
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Things to do on another day
Compare the provider’s current activities for a longer stay. Check the meeting point, duration and travel time; keep a demanding walk as its own outing.
Affiliate links: Days Out Now may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider.
Before you go
Practical information
Route checked against mapped paths on 2 October 2026. This out and back measures approximately 7.5 km along the supplied OpenStreetMap line. It does not include travel from your accommodation, optional detours or time spent at attractions. Walking time is a planning estimate, with room for short stops.
Download the file before leaving and use it with a detailed offline walking map. The KML is independently assembled from OpenStreetMap paths, rather than a recorded walk or a route copied from another travel publisher. It has been checked for continuous mapped segments; this is not an on-foot condition survey. Current closures, landowner notices and signed diversions take priority.
Route data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0.
Parking
Use the designated Pont ar Daf car park beside the A470. The route line begins at the southern walking approach, so allow the connection from your parking bay. Check current National Trust parking charges; do not park in passing areas or on the road.
Tickets and booking
The walking route has no attraction admission. Parking is charged separately where displayed. Corn Du and Pen y Fan are walking summits; no cable car or transport down is included.
Seasonal considerations
A clear, settled day with sufficient daylight makes the route easier to navigate. Winter snow, ice and wind demand skills and equipment beyond a fair-weather hill walk.
Toilets and refreshments
Make a toilet stop before starting and use advertised car-park facilities only if open. Bring water and a packed snack or lunch; a food van is not a dependable mountain supply plan.
Terrain
A steady climb, stone-pitched sections and steep rocky ground at the summits. The plateau is exposed and can be cold or windy even when the car park is sheltered.
Accessibility
Narrow, uneven mountain paths and summit steps make this unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. It is not a step-free viewpoint walk from the road.
Dogs
Keep dogs on short leads near grazing livestock and under control on the mountain. Take waste away and carry water for them.
Public transport
Plan a bus to the Storey Arms/Pont ar Daf area using the current regional timetable. The road stop and the path start are separate places, so include that walking connection and confirm the last return.
Road conditions, tolls or permits
Use the exact start coordinates to locate the walking entrance. Follow current local parking, access-road and signed restriction information.
Safety
Keep back from escarpment edges, especially in mist. Carry warm layers and waterproofs, and use your map at the summit junctions. The return is via the main south-western approach, not the steep northern face.
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Useful answers
Pen y Fan and Corn Du Walk from Pont ar Daf FAQs
Is this the National Trust circular?
No. The Trust’s 6.4 km circuit uses a different return. This guide supplies an approximately 7.5 km out-and-back via both summits.
Can I miss out Corn Du?
There are alternative upper paths, but changing the line changes this plan. Decide using a detailed map and current signs; the supplied KML visits Corn Du.
Is Pen y Fan easy?
The road approach is accessible by car, but the walk climbs onto exposed mountain terrain. Treat it as a strenuous hill day, with appropriate fitness and kit.
Can I bring a dog?
Yes with responsible control and short leads around livestock. Consider the rocky descent and the weather before taking it.
Which base is useful?
Brecon gives a convenient wider-area town base; Merthyr Tydfil may suit a southern approach.
Can I use the KML in a walking app?
Import it into an app that supports KML, or into your own map project. Check that the whole route is visible after importing. Download the underlying map for offline use too: a line without terrain, paths and place names is a poor navigation aid.
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