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Corn Du summit – Pen y Fan Gate loop from Beacons Reservoir

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Hiking trails & Routes

Corn Du summit – Pen y Fan Gate loop from Beacons Reservoir

Moderate

4.8

(226)

4,713

hikers

Corn Du summit – Pen y Fan Gate loop from Beacons Reservoir

02:25

6.41km

440m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Bannau Brycheiniog National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

371 m

Blaen Taf Fawr Valley

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Blaen Taf Fawr and Afon Tarell segments start at the Storey Arms parking area. Head through the gate towards Corn Du, to the Taf Fawr bridge. Ignore the path and head upstream to a small gorge, with the waterfall at its head. Return to the parking area, and head northwest towards the Storey Arms. A track starts below it, heading down the right side of the valley. It soon passes over a stream. Head upstream to see the waterfalls on the Afon Tarell.

Tip by

2.21 km

Windy Gap

Highlight • Mountain Pass

This is the col between Corn Du and Craig Gwaun Taf. Not only is it a fine viewpoint, but it is also the parting of the ways. Turn right at the marker stone you will follow the crowds down to the Storey Arms, turn left to Craig Gwaun Taf and you arfe likely to have the airy path all to yourself.

Tip by

2.45 km

Craig Gwaun Taf

Highlight • Natural Monument

Craig Gwaun Taf is the sheer escarpment that runs south from Corn Du, and overlooks the valley of Blaen Taf Fechan.

Tip by

2.65 km

Corn Du summit

Highlight • Summit

Corn Du is rarely climbed alone, but as a peak added to an expedition to Pen y Fan. The climb up is a great one though and the views from the top are absolutely spectacular.

On clear days, you can see all the way to the Severn Bridge and beyond, as well as much of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Be careful in bad weather conditions: visibility can shrink to zero on one of the regular foggy days and strong winds will try and blow your sandwiches away!

Tip by

2.67 km

Corn Du

Highlight • Natural Monument

From the 2,864 feet (873 m) summit of Corn Du, you get spectacular views of Llyn Cwm Llwch directly below and over Wales stretching out below. The trail to this peak is great fun, whether ascending or descending. Pen y Fan is very close to Corn Du, so it can get busy here at peak times. Get up early to beat the crowds.

Tip by

2.67 km

Col between Corn Du and Pen y Fan

Highlight (Segment) • Mountain Pass

This easy col between Pen Y Fan and Corn Du is a gorgeous easy hill section no more than a few hundred metres long with minimal height gain and loss. It is very busy for a good reason, as the views north and south are picture postcard. Being a broad col and a bit lower than the nearby summits, it is a popular rest/picnic area. There is also easy access from Pontardaff car park, which is about a 45-minute walk away. This is high mountain country though, so it would be wise to dress appropriately for the weather.

Tip by

3.24 km

Beacons Way to Pen y Fan Summit

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

PYF Test Route.
This is a Strava segment and a personal fitness test of mine from the swing gate at Pontardaff Lay-by to the summit post that I have done for the last forty years. It is 3.2km to the top of PYF with 460m of height gain.

These are my guideline test times from the gate to the summit with a 3-5kg sack.
15 mins - You are a physical mutant.
20 mins - You are exceptionally fit and bordering on genetic mutation.
25 mins - You are very fit, train hard and love pain.
30 mins - You are fit, smile and wave to others in an annoying way when going past them.
35 mins - You are fit, try to smile but can't be bothered to wave at others.
40 mins - You are pretty fit but you grimace a lot.
45 mins - You are doing okay but mumble a lot during bouts of pain.
50 mins - You are maybe suffering from the Stella from last night.
55 mins - You are definitely suffering from the Stella.
60 mins - Your best days are behind you.

Tonight I did it in 40min 34secs with a 5kg sack...there was a lot of grimacing!

Tip by

6.27 km

Pen y Fan Gate

Highlight • Trail

The gate here has been the local start point for the Pen Y Fan gate to summit test for a number of years. It is 3.1km from here to the summit with 450m of height gain. A good running time for it (one way) is 20 minutes and an up and down time within 40 is excellent. With a 7kg pack, if you can do it one way within 35min and down within an hour you can't complain.

Tip by

6.41 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.47 km

1.18 km

649 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

4.47 km

1.21 km

649 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Tuesday 19 May

15°C

8°C

57 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 30.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Corn Du summit – Pen y Fan Gate loop from Beacons Reservoir

Blaen Taf Fawr Valley

Windy Gap

Craig Gwaun Taf

Corn Du summit

Corn Du

Col between Corn Du and Pen y Fan

Beacons Way to Pen y Fan Summit

Pen y Fan Gate

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