Epic Hikes of the World ( PDFDrive )

© Ben Pipe | Getty
the An Steall Ban waterfall and the path through Nevis Gorge
PEN Y FAN HORSESHOE, BRECON BEACONS, WALES
Wales’s Brecon Beacon National Park comes into its own in the low, golden sun of
autumn, when the distinctive rocky strata of Pen y Fan’s northern face casts a
corduroy shadow across mountain. Just a short drive from Cardiff, this is a great
day out, starting from the Forestry car park just south of the town of Brecon. You
hang a left at the Neuadd Reservoir and begin the climb on to the Craig Fan Ddu
ridge. This leads you up to Corn Du (2864ft/873m) and then north along the ridge,
offering incredible views of glacial valleys. British Special Forces are based locally
and train on this mountain and you’ll see evidence of shooting ranges as you
continue on to your high point for the day: Pen y Fan (2907ft/886m), the highest
peak in the Brecon Beacons. A steep descent from the summit takes you over the
2608ft (795m) Cribyn and the gloriously named 2359ft (719m) Fan y Big.
Start/End // Forestry car park, near Brecon
Distance // 9 miles (14km)