The name Pen y Fan consists of the Welsh words pen (‘top, head, peak, summit’, etc.), y (‘the’) and fan, a mutated form of ban (‘summit, crest, peak, beacon, hill, mountain’, etc.). The same noun ban, in its plural form bannau, is found in the Welsh name for the Brecon Beacons: Bannau Brycheiniog. There is no one standard translation of Pen y Fan, but ‘the mountain’s peak’ or ‘the beacon’s summit’ are both possible translations, and is just 2.5 hours from where I started.

Pen y Fan (/pɛn ə ˈvæn/) is the highest peak in south Wales, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park. At 886 metres (2,907 ft) above sea-level, it is also the highest British peak south of Cadair Idris in Snowdonia. The twin summits of Pen y Fan and Corn Du at 873 m (2,864 ft) were formerly referred to as Cadair Arthur or ‘Arthur’s Seat’.

Highest point – Elevation 886 m (2,907 ft)
Coordinates 51.88328°N 3.43684°WCoordinates: 51.88328°N 3.43684°W
OS grid SO012215

The mountain and surrounding area are owned by the National Trust whose work parties attempt to combat the erosion caused by the passage of thousands of feet up and down this most popular of South Wales’ peaks. The mountain is used by the military as part of the selection process of the UK’s Special Forces personnel. Three soldiers who died after collapsing in the field in July 2013 were believed to have been climbing the mountain (see “Fan Dance”) while undergoing Special Air Service selection.[2]

The summit lies on a ridge stretching from Talybont Reservoir in the east, to the A470. About 0.5 km to the south-west lies the subsidiary top of Corn Du, beyond which the terrain drops at a moderate angle to the subsidiary top of Y Gyrn then more steeply to the Storey Arms on the A470. To the east, the ridge drops steeply to the col connecting it to Cribyn, the next mountain along the ridge. From Corn Du, a ridge with an inner escarpment descends south towards Merthyr Tydfil.

The first night was spent at Brecon Beacons Wild camping – found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/breconcamping/ Pretty basic, but perfect location, only £5 – check out the video at the bottom of the site

A pleasant stroll past down a few lanes allowed us to view the peak for the first time

Near the route from the Storey Arms (once a coaching inn on the Brecon to Merthyr road) to the summit is a memorial granite obelisk, with an inscription which reads: “This obelisk marks the spot where the body of Tommy Jones aged 5 was found. He lost his way between Cwm Llwch Farm and the Login on the night of August 4, 1900. After an anxious search of 29 days his remains were discovered Sept [2nd]. Erected by voluntary subscriptions. W Powell Price Mayor of Brecon 1901.”

Tommy was the son of a Rhondda coal miner, and had been visiting his grandparents at the time. He died from exhaustion and hypothermia or exposure. The obelisk, a useful landmark in misty conditions, was paid for by the proceeds of a memorial fund started when the jurors at the boy’s inquest waived their fees.

The search was used as the theme of the 1980 film, Tommy Jones.