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Pen y Bryn from Pencelli

Brecon Beacons/Bannau Brycheiniog Walk

Nat Park - Brecon Beacons - Brecon Beacons Central

County/Area - Powys

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.0 miles / 8.1 km    Ascent - 1400 feet / 424 metres

Time - 3 hours 50 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Pen y Bryn from Pencelli
Click image to see photo description.

This short but energetic Brecon Beacons walk starts from the village of Pencelli which lies a few miles south-east of Brecon on the B4558. The objective is the summit of Pen y Bryn (562 metres) which offers extensive views over the Usk Valley and the Black Mountains. There is a small car park at the west end of the village (grid ref. SO091250) which is perfectly placed for this walk.

After parking exit the car park and turn right (west). Ignore the lane on the left at the first junction and continue for a further 150 metres and take the next lane on the left. This lane climbs steadily beaning gently to the right and then left again. Beyond this point (some 1.4 km from the start of the lane) you reach a fingerpost on the left-hand side of the lane (grid ref. SO080244). Note this is the second fingerpost along the lane. Turn right off the lane and follow the path between trees through the left-hand metal gate. After 600 metres the path reached open country.

Ahead to the south, lies the objective of this walk, Pen y Bryn. There are a number of paths once open country is reached. Provided you are heading just west of south and climbing, then you are heading in the right direction. The ground starts to steepen above 500 metres and soon you have reached the summit area with two individual tops with a cairn on the lower of the two (grid ref. SO072227).

On a fine day the summit is a fine place to enjoy the views especially to the north across the Usk Valley to the high peaks of the Black Mountains. All that remains is to retrace your steps downhill to the lane and back to the start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3536 Pen y Bryn & Carn Pica from Pencellimod/hard11.3 miles
Walk 3209 Llanfrynach and Pencelli circulareasy/mod5.6 miles
Walk 3210 Pen-y-Crug hill fort from Breconeasy3.0 miles
Walk 3564 Groesfford and M & B Canal from Breconeasy/mod6.2 miles
Walk 3236 Pen-y-crug, Sarnau and Battle from Breconmoderate10.0 miles
Walk 2400 Pen y Fan from Cwmgwdi near Breconmoderate5.0 miles
Walk 1903 Pen y Fan & Corn Du from Cwmgwdimoderate7.5 miles
Walk 2074 Highest Peaks of the Brecon Beaconsmod/hard11.0 miles
Walk 1283 Fan y Big from Torpantaumoderate8.5 miles
Walk 1552 Waun Rydd easy/mod5.5 miles

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