Today I undertook a quick walk up Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. This lovely mountain is the highest peak in South Wales at 886m.
I parked in the National Trust Pont at Daf car park. This has recently been enlarged to provide more spaces as well as enhanced facilities. There is a daily parking charge, and National Trust members can park free.
Today was a typical Saturday with nice weather – lots of people were tackling the route, from families, tourists to fell runners, and some undertaking training for the Fan Dance. From a distance it looks like an army of ants meandering up the mountain. If you want more solitude (which I normally plan for), best to go at quieter times such as outside of school holidays, bank holidays and weekends. Better yet, how about getting up early to watch the sunrise from the top!
Given I was short on time, I took the ‘tourist route’ up to Pen y Fan summit, and back. This is a straight forward clear route, the first half of the route up seems harder (to me at least!) than the second half, with a well made path surface. Normally I would also include heading up Corn Du on the way to Pen y Fan, a short dog leg to bag another summit, but not today.