Perfect Routes for Beginners in Bannau Brycheiniog
Bannau Brychieniog (The Brecon Beacons) is a National Park in the heart of Wales. In this post we have collected a number of routes in this area that are ideal for beginners. Whether you’re new to Bannau Brycheiniog or you’re a beginner hiker, these routes are ideal to help you get started.
These great short walks have been provided by our OS Champions Phillipa Cherryson, Anna Humphries and Tracey Purnell. Our resident experts for this dramatic Welsh National Park.
Blaen y Glyn Waterfalls Circular Walk
Short really is sweet with this walk from Phillipa Cherryson. A lovely amble along some of the prettiest waterfalls in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. There’s easy parking in the free car park and then the route is clear, with no stiles to clamber over. The paths are clear and its a sheltered spot which makes it suitable for almost all weathers. If you are talking little ones watch them carefully by the fast flowing waters and it can get slippery in wet weather. This is my favourite walk to take all visitors too when they come to stay with me.
Usk Reservoir Circular Walk
This circular route from Phillipa, around the Usk Reservoir to the west of Brecon provides well signposted walking (follow the mountain bike signs), away from the weekends you may not see another soul and you’ll have views over the water, into the woodland and on a clear day across to the Carmarthen Fans. Its a great walk for dogs too as it avoids the livestock on the open hill.
Cwm Llwch Walk
This is a simple out and back hiking route from Phillipa Cherryson. It’s great for a beginner as the path is very clear and simple to follow. You’ll also see other fellow hikers on your walk which is always great for confidence. But what it does do is give you a feel of being in the mountains, ridges rise either side of you and the view opens out as you get higher. Underfoot it varies from grass, mud and gravel and as you climb it can get puffy in places, but the final reward is the gorgeous lake of Cwm Llwch nestled below the northern ridge of Pen y Fan. Its a cracking spot for a coffee or a picnic lunch and sitting looking up at the peaks will leave you vowing to return to climb them another day.
Mynydd Illtyd Walk
The walk starts at Bannau Brychieniog Visitor Centre, there is a lovely café and gift shop that can be visited before or after your walk. It is a beautiful scenic walk on open common, surrounded by the unmistakable shapely peaks of Bannau Brychieniog. There are no steep climbs, just some slight undulating terrain. You will find grassy paths with ponds, wide open space and choice to take your own route. Easy access to a quiet road through the common. A chance to spot some amazing wildlife including the rare Curlew during the summer months. The walk can be made as long or as short as required, breathtaking views for little effort. This route also includes the Welsh dragon trig pillar.
Twmpa / Lord Hereford’s Knob
Anna Humphries suggested this great beginners walk in Bannau Brycheiniog. Twmpa also known as Lord Herefords Knob not only sounds great but it’s such a fabulous and gentle hike to bag yourself a trig and enjoy the mountains of South Wales. From the carpark just down from Hay Bluff at Gospel Pass, you can access a lovely trodden path from the road to the summit in as little as 20 mins. Standing at 680m you’re officially on a mountain and you have access to several other peaks in the area. There are great views all around which is perfect for learning about spurs, valleys, bearings and back bearings! But it’s not too risky to reach!
Read more articles about walking in Bannau Brychieniog (Brecon Beacons)
By Hilary Pullen
Meet Hilary, Editor of Get Outside – the Ordnance Survey Blog. Hilary is based in North Wales and loves hiking with her dogs in the mountains of Eryri and Bryniau Clwyd, you can find her on Instagram @nearlyuphill and read her guides to walking in North Wales on her blog. Drop her an email hilary.pullen@os.uk if you are interested in posting an article on Get Outside.
