Pont ar Daf up Pen y Fan (Brecon Beacons): route map, distance and time
886 m · Brecon Beacons
Pen y Fan is the highest mountain in southern Britain, a flat-topped sandstone summit at the centre of the Brecon Beacons and one of Wales's busiest hills.
A wide, pitched path over the shoulder of Corn Du to the summit.
Pont ar Daf at a glance
| Distance | 3.3 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 469 m |
| Time up | 1h 25m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 5m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Pont ar Daf car park |
| Start grid reference | SN 987 199 |
| Summit grid reference | SO 012 215 |
Pont ar Daf map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Pont ar Daf takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 10m | 1h 45m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 25m | 2h 5m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 35m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:43, sunset 18:14. Start by 15:09 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:45, sunset 18:12. Start by 15:07 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Pen y Fan summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Sunday 18 October
Mostly dry, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 28 mph gusting 35 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:43, sunset 18:14.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Slight rain, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 27 mph gusting 33 mph, 100% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:45, sunset 18:12.
Best day of the next seven for Pont ar Daf: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 35 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 3% (Low), best around 09:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Pen y Fan forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Pen y Fan?
Before you go, also check: MWIS Brecon Beacons forecast · Met Office mountain forecast.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -3°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 35 mph.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Pen y Fan
Pen y Fan is the highest mountain in southern Britain, a flat-topped sandstone summit at the centre of the Brecon Beacons and one of Wales's busiest hills. More about Pen y Fan, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, historic county top, county top.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Corn Du (872 m), 0.6 km south-west
- Craig Gwaun Taf (826 m), 1.1 km south-west
- Cribyn (795 m), 1.2 km east
- Y Gyrn (619 m), 2.3 km west
- Fan y Big (717 m), 2.6 km east
Challenges that include Pen y Fan
- Welsh 100 Challenge · 100
- 10 Peaks (Wales – Brecon Beacons) · 10
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- County Tops · 88
- Marilyns · 1,555
More walks from Pont ar Daf car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Pont ar Daf up Corn Du
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at SN 987 199, the summit at SO 012 215), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Pont ar Daf: questions and answers
How far is Pont ar Daf?
Pont ar Daf is 3.3 km one way to the summit of Pen y Fan, with 469 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 6.6 km.
How long does Pont ar Daf take?
About 1h 25m to the summit of Pen y Fan and 2h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 2h 35m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Pont ar Daf?
Pont ar Daf starts from Pont ar Daf car park. The grid reference is SN 987 199.
Is Pont ar Daf suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Pont ar Daf today?
By 15:09 at the latest. Sunset on Pen y Fan today is 18:14, Pont ar Daf takes about 2h 5m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Pont ar Daf?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).