Pen y Fan Horseshoe Ridge — Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons National Park

The Pen y Fan Horseshoe Ridge offers a challenging and rewarding hike through Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. This classic circular route covers 11.5 miles (18.5 km) with a significant elevation gain of 2370 feet (722 metres), typically taking around 5 hours and 55 minutes to complete. You will traverse well-worn mountain trails, rocky sections, and grassy ridges, encountering numerous steep ascents and descents, including pitched stone staircases. From the summits of Corn Du, Pen y Fan, and Cribyn, you can enjoy magnificent 360-degree views across the Brecon Beacons and towards the Neuadd Reservoirs below.

Rated as difficult, this route demands good fitness and sturdy footwear. The trail can be a mixture of mud, rock, and stony paths, with some sections becoming boggy, especially in winter. The ridge sections are exposed, so be prepared for rapidly changing mountain weather and potential wind. Starting your hike early is often recommended to secure parking and experience quieter sections of this popular trail.

This route is celebrated as one of the best ridge walks in southern Britain, forming a distinctive U-shape around the Taf Fechan glacial valley. It includes Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales, along with Corn Du and Cribyn, all featuring Bronze Age burial cairns. The challenging conditions and varied terrain also make it a famous training ground, notably used by UK Special Forces for their selection process.