Camping and Hiking in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog)
· Updated
The Brecon Beacons is a 519 square mile national park in mid and south Wales, and since April 2023 its official name has been Bannau Brycheiniog (the older English name is still in wide use). It holds Pen y Fan, at 886m the highest peak in southern Britain, some of the best waterfall walks in the country, and International Dark Sky Reserve status, granted in 2013. That combination makes it one of the best places in the UK to pitch a tent and walk straight onto a mountain.
This spoke sits within our wider guide to camping in the UK's national parks, and you can find bookable pitches across the region through Camping Sites in Britain. Below you get the real peaks, the named walks, where to camp, and the one rule people get wrong about wild camping in Wales.
Where to camp in the Brecon Beacons
Base yourself near Brecon, Talybont-on-Usk or Libanus and you are within 20 minutes of the main peaks and the waterfalls. The park has no single official campsite, so you pick a commercial site or farm pitch and drive out to the walks. These three areas cover most trips.
Llanfaes and Brecon
Camp around Llanfaes and Brecon town for the shortest hop to the central Beacons and Pen y Fan. This is the practical choice if you want shops, pubs and a resupply on the doorstep, plus easy road access to the Storey Arms and Pont ar Daf car parks where the main horseshoe walk begins.
Talybont-on-Usk
Pitch near Talybont for quiet reservoir and canal country on the eastern side of the park. Talybont Reservoir and the Taff Trail run through here, and it puts you within reach of the Beacons Way and the Talybont forest tracks. It is a calmer, greener base than the busier central peaks.
Libanus and the visitor centre
Stay around Libanus for the National Park Visitor Centre (the Mountain Centre) and open common land with wide western views. It is a strong dark sky spot and a good middle ground between the Pen y Fan cluster and Waterfall Country to the south west.
Browse verified pitches and read facilities before you book through the Camping Sites in Britain directory. For the wider region, our roundup of scenic drives to campsites is a good way to string a Welsh trip together.
The best hikes in the Brecon Beacons
The signature walk is the Pen y Fan horseshoe, and Waterfall Country is the best low-level alternative when the tops are in cloud. The park splits into four ranges: the central Beacons, Fforest Fawr, the Black Mountain in the west and the Black Mountains in the east. Here are the walks worth planning a trip around.
| Walk | Distance | Difficulty | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pen y Fan from Pont ar Daf | 5 miles return | Moderate | Fastest route up the 886m summit |
| Pen y Fan horseshoe (Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn) | 7 to 8 miles | Hard | Three summits and the classic ridge |
| Four Waterfalls walk, Ystradfellte | 5.5 miles | Moderate | Walk behind Sgwd yr Eira |
| Sgwd Gwladus (Lady Falls) | 2 miles return | Easy | Short woodland waterfall walk |
| Llangorse Lake circuit | 4 miles | Easy | Wales's largest natural lake |
| The Beacons Way | 99 miles | Multi-day | Coast to coast across the whole park |
Pen y Fan and the horseshoe
The most efficient way up Pen y Fan is the motorway path from Pont ar Daf, a steady five mile there-and-back on a repaired stone track. For a proper day out, link Corn Du (873m), Pen y Fan and Cribyn (795m) into the horseshoe, roughly seven to eight miles with real exposure on the ridge. Both start just off the A470 south of Libanus.
Waterfall Country
The south west corner around Ystradfellte is Waterfall Country, and the Four Waterfalls walk is its headline route. The trail lets you walk behind the curtain of Sgwd yr Eira, one of very few falls in Britain you can pass behind on dry ground. Nearby Sgwd Gwladus is a gentler two mile option through oak woodland, which pairs well with our guide to campsites for exploring ancient woodlands. Paths here are rocky and can be slippery, so wear proper boots.
Lakes, ridges and the Beacons Way
Llangorse Lake gives you an easy four mile circuit and the largest natural lake in Wales, good for a rest day or a family walk. If you want a challenge, the Beacons Way runs 99 miles across the whole park from Abergavenny to Llangadog, usually walked over eight days. The limestone gorges and caves of Waterfall Country also make this prime ground for our guide to the UK's geological wonders near campsites.
Stargazing and dark skies
Bannau Brycheiniog became an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2013, so on a clear night you can see the Milky Way, major constellations and meteor showers with the naked eye. The darkest spots sit away from Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil: the Usk Reservoir, the Libanus common and Llanthony in the east all deliver. Bring a red torch to protect your night vision and check the moon phase before you travel, because a full moon washes out the fainter stars.
Wild camping and the rules that apply
Wild camping in the Brecon Beacons needs the landowner's permission. Unlike Dartmoor in England, where a UK Supreme Court ruling in May 2025 confirmed a legal right to backpack camp, Wales gives no automatic right to camp on open land, and that includes the whole of Bannau Brycheiniog. Much of the high ground is privately owned or grazed, so pitching without consent is trespass.
In practice you have two clean options. Book a proper campsite, or arrange a pitch in advance with the landowner (schemes such as Wild with Consent connect walkers with farmers who allow paid backcountry pitches). Whichever you choose, follow the Countryside Code and Leave No Trace: arrive late, leave early, keep groups small, use a stove rather than an open fire, and carry out everything you bring in. You can confirm the park's own position on the official Bannau Brycheiniog camping page.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit to camp in the Brecon Beacons?
No. There is no national park permit for camping. You book a commercial campsite, or you get the landowner's permission for a specific pitch. Wild camping without that permission is not allowed anywhere in the park.
Is the Brecon Beacons the same as Bannau Brycheiniog?
Yes. Bannau Brycheiniog is the official Welsh name adopted in April 2023, and it means the peaks of Brycheiniog. The English name Brecon Beacons is still widely used and refers to exactly the same national park.
How high is Pen y Fan?
Pen y Fan is 886m (2,907 feet) and is the highest peak in southern Britain. The quickest route up is the five mile return path from Pont ar Daf on the A470.
Can you swim in Llangorse Lake?
Yes, wild swimming is popular at Llangorse Lake, the largest natural lake in Wales. Take care with boat traffic and cold water, enter gradually, and avoid swimming alone or after heavy rain.
When is the best time to camp in the Brecon Beacons?
Late May to September gives the longest days and warmest nights for camping and the high walks. Autumn brings the best waterfall flow in Waterfall Country, while winter offers the darkest skies for stargazing but demands proper mountain kit.
Is wild camping legal in Wales?
Not automatically. Wales has no general right to wild camp, so you need the landowner's permission everywhere, including Bannau Brycheiniog. This differs from Scotland, where the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 permits responsible wild camping on most unenclosed land.
The short version
Base yourself near Brecon, Talybont or Libanus, climb Pen y Fan by the horseshoe, walk behind Sgwd yr Eira in Waterfall Country, and stay up for the dark skies. Just remember that wild camping in Wales always needs permission, so book a pitch first. Find your site through the Camping Sites in Britain directory or read more on camping in the UK's national parks.
