Visit the 10 Beautiful Waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons, Wales

Just an hour out of Cardiff is a beautiful place to connect with nature and explore the Waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons.

Numerous walks are available in this area, including to the top of South Wales’s highest mountain, Pen y Fan.

The Brecon Beacons are also known as Waterfall Country, with numerous waterfalls and trails.

I’ve visited the following waterfalls, but there are more. A visitor centre should be your first stop for directions, information on what to do, and weather conditions.

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Waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons

Four Falls Trail

Right in the heart of Waterfall Country, the Four Falls Trail is the most popular and well-known falls in the Brecon Beacons.

There are three car parks available to access these waterfalls. Clun-Gwyn is the smallest on the side of the road, with about eight parks. From here, it takes you to the other side of two of the waterfalls, Sgwd Clun-Gwyn and Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn. I didn’t park here, so I don’t know anything about the track.

This track also takes you to the Cwm Porth car park, where you can pick up the trail to the other waterfalls and the other side of the two you may have visited. There is also the Porth yr Ogof cave near this car park.

This car park features a shop offering maps, food, and drink, as well as an information officer available for advice and directions. There are toilets, and this is a pay-and-display car park with picnic facilities.

Once again, I didn’t use this car park, but instead went to the other car park, Gwaun Hepste. It is also a pay-and-display facility, and it features a picnic area.

On The Track I Took

The start is down a road, which then turns into a track closer to the waterfalls. This track has markers with reference points in case a rescue or Ambulance is needed. The trail from here is 5.5 miles (9 km) return and is posted as strenuous.

The track itself is a road until you turn off onto a narrower road. It’s about 20 minutes from the turnoff to the first waterfall, and it’s all downhill. Remember, the return trip to the car park will be uphill and steep in parts.

When you get to marker 11, you can either go left to Sgwd yr Eira and go around clockwise or straight ahead to Sgwd Clun-Gwyn and go around anti-clockwise.

Sgwd Clun-Gwyn

I went to Sgwd Clun-Gwyn first. When you go off the track, you have a very rocky path down to the waterfall.

Once you’re down, you have a great view of the waterfall. Unfortunately, a broken branch is in the way, making it difficult to see clearly.

Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn and Sgwd Y Panwr

It takes about 30 minutes to walk down to the next two waterfalls. The track starts to become a bit rougher with roots and rocks, although it remains relatively level.

When you get to the turnoff, the track down is a bit challenging. It is steep with rocks and steps and slippery in parts. It’s about one kilometre each way to the waterfalls.

The path ends right at the next waterfall, Sgwd y Pannw, which I think is the best. Because it is so close to you, you have a great view of the cascading waters.

From here, you walk back up the river towards the next waterfall, Sgwd Clun-Gwyn. Although this is flat, there are boardwalks, and it gets rocky near the end. I don’t think I got to the end, but the trail did seem to end unless you had to clamber over rocks.

Working back up to the main track is quicker and easier than coming down from it. From here, it’s only about 20 minutes to the next turnoff to the last falls.

Sgwd Yr Eira

The steps become wet and slippery near the bottom, and then they transition to rocky terrain next to the river. Although it is wet, slippery, and narrow, you can walk behind this waterfall.

Once you’re back at the top, it’s an easy loop back to marker 11 along a gravel road.

This walk took me under 4 hours, but others I talked to along the way took 4 hours or more.

It’s a great walk, although moderate fitness is required, and the track is too rough for strollers or wheelchairs.

Elidir Trail

The Elidir Trail also has four waterfalls and two car parks.

The first car park starts in the village of Pontneddfechan. Whichever car park you start from, the trail is 3 miles or 4.8 km long.

This track is posted as moderate, but it is still steep in parts, rocky, wet, and muddy in others.

I started this walk from the Pont Melin-Fach car park. It’s only about a couple of miles from the main road, but this road is very narrow. There wasn’t much, if any, room to pull over if someone was coming the other way.

On the Track I Took

This track remains sound and flat until you reach the first waterfall, Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf. Although it is level, it is still rocky.

You can see it from above or take a path down further along the track. Looking back up from below, you have a great view.

Back on the main track, it doesn’t take long to get to the next waterfall.

When you get just before the bridge, you can go down on the flat bedrock to get an up-close view of the falls.

Once down, you can walk back to the upper falls for a better view. There are also rock pools here full of tadpoles.

Back up on the track, you have the bridge to cross before the path becomes wet, slippery and muddy. Occasional boardwalks help you cross.

The last waterfall, Sgwd Gwladus, is at the turnoff. You can go across the bridge and down to a lookout, or you can turn off before for a better view of the falls.

I didn’t carry on into the village but turned back to the car park.

Pont Blaen-Y-Glyn

This stand-alone waterfall is a bit out of the way, south of Brecon, but is an easy enough walk to the waterfall, about 20 minutes from the car park.

I was told to walk back across the road bridge to a gate and take the track from there. There is a track from the car park, but I was told the best view of the waterfall was from the other side of the Caerfanell River.

It is a good track, but in parts, small creeks cross your path, causing wet and muddy crossings. It can also be a bit steep and rocky.

It doesn’t take long to get to the waterfall.

You can go further up the river, but trees obscure the next lot of falls. I turned back to the car park just a bit further up the track.

It’s a pleasant walk to a lovely waterfall that doesn’t seem to be crowded.

Henrhyd Waterfall

Another single waterfall, Henrhyd, is the highest in South Wales at 90 feet. Although out of the Brecon Beacons, it’s still part of the Waterfall Country. You can take a longer track that follows the river, which is about an hour each way, but the path is steep, uneven, wet, and slippery in parts.

It takes approximately 20 minutes to reach the falls. You go down most of the way on a gravel track before heading up the stairs and then along to the falls. You then have rocks again to negotiate down to the water.

There is a ledge behind the falls that you can walk around, although it would be wet and slippery, so take care.

Remember, what goes down must come up, and you have a fair walk back up to the car park.

Brecon Railway

Another attraction in the district is the Brecon Railway, which runs from Merthyr Tydfil.

The Vintage Steam Locomotive runs along the narrow gauge line from Pant station to the next station of Pontsticill, which has views across the Pontsticill Reservoir.

When I was on this trip, we stopped at Pontsticill station for about 35 minutes, enough time to take in the sights and have a coffee break. You can also take walks in the area and catch a later train back.

I comfortably discovered all the Waterfall Country in the Brecon Beacons over two days. I don’t know what it’s like in the height of summer, but I visited this area in mid-May, and you weren’t bothered by crowds.

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