Brecon Beacons - Walking & Waterfalls Weekend

Join Large Outdoors for a weekend adventure in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. Our Active Plus weekend is set to summit Pen-y-Fan on Saturday and explore the renowned waterfalls of the Brecons on Sunday. This trip includes accommodation, guided walks, and all meals, providing an ideal opportunity to meet and socialise with fellow walkers.


Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration:
2 nights
Accommodation: Bunkhouse
Group Size: Maximum 25
Level: Active Plus
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs

In a Nutshell:

  • Explore the waterfall wonderland that is the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park over two days of guided walking.

  • Climb Pen y Fan, south Wales’ highest peak.

  • Relax and enjoy meals in a delightful hostel with plenty of space to kick back and get to know your fellow walkers.

  • Warm to the peaceful surroundings of Coed Owen as you mingle with a great bunch of people.


 

How do we grade our walks?

 

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

You’re welcome to arrive at our bunkhouse accommodation for the weekend from 5pm onwards. Your Large Outdoors host will be ready to greet you and will prepare a lovely home-cooked meal, to be served at around 8pm.

Your only task this evening is to get yourself comfortable in the lounge and get to know your fellow weekenders over a cup of tea or a glass of wine. We’ll go over plans for the rest of the weekend over dinner, detailing the routes for our Active Plus walks (learn how we grade our walks).

Day 2

After breakfast, you’ll head out with a packed lunch and the rest of your walking kit to explore this wonderful area of Wales. Weather permitting, our goal for the day is a 12-mile hike to the top of Pen y Fan. Roughly translating as ‘Top Spot’, it’s a spectacular 870m (2,900ft) tall peak that’s a top spot in more ways than one. The exhilarating and inspired circuit we’ll take today will leave you feeling suitably challenged, but it’s certainly worth the effort required. Although there are a couple of steep sections, none of the walking on this route is exposed.

We’ll head up the Nant Ddu valley and up the ridge of Graig Fan Ddu, heading north over an easy, wide ascent to reach to top of Corn Du. From here, you’ll be able to take in the spectacular geology, the carpet of green below you, and the wide-open sky above. The views throughout this walk are truly spectacular: to the south, the Welsh valleys and the Severn Estuary and north, the rolling lowlands of mid-Wales.

From Corn Du, you’ll follow the summit ridge to the top of Pen y Fan, then follow a longer ‘down and up’ route to reach our final peak of Cribyn. Three peaks in one day - serious bragging rights!

On return to the bunkhouse, it’s time to relax and enjoy another home-cooked evening meal, soaking in the vibes of a good day’s walking in great company.

Day 3

Some of the loveliest waterfalls we’ve ever seen can be found right here in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, so we’ve dedicated today to visiting them. You’ll definitely want to have your camera at the ready for this one.

After breakfast and a pack-up of belongings, we’ll head out on a gentle, 3 to 4-hour walk as a group along tranquil, wooded and waterfall-laden trails straight out of Middle Earth. We’ll aim to hit three main waterfalls today, with perhaps the most famous being Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, known as ‘Fall of the White Meadow’.

After the walk, perhaps you might like to head to a local pub or tearoom for a final meal or cuppa with your fellow participants, before heading your separate ways. A weekend well-spent!

A group of walkers exploring the many waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons.

Good to Know

  • Meeting Time: from 5pm
    You can arrive any time from 5pm - the Large Outdoors host will be at the accommodation to welcome you. Dinner will be served around 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.

    Meeting Location:
    Coed Owen Bunkhouse
    Coed Owen Farm
    Cwmtaff
    Merthyr Tydfil
    CF48 2HY

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    Parking: There is parking available at the accommodation.

    Public Transport: Coed Owen Bunkhouse is located 6.7 miles from Merthyr Tydfil Train Station, with services to/from Bridgend, Barry Island and Cardiff Central. A taxi from the Train Station is approximately £15 - we recommend pre-booking.

    Please Note: On some days there could be a short drive required - where activities don’t start from the door of the accommodation. We don't include transport and participants normally car share.

    Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.

  • We’ll be staying at the lovely Coed Owen Bunkhouse, a modern, comfortable hostel in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It’s a favourite of ours, with exposed beams and wooden floors throughout, charming decorative touches, and fantastic facilities for guests, including seating to relax outdoors.

    Bedding is supplied by the Bunkhouse, but please remember to bring your own towel and toiletries.

    Accommodation Address:
    Coed Owen Bunkhouse
    Coed Owen Farm
    Cwmtaff
    Merthyr Tydfil
    CF48 2HY

    Room Types:
    You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
    Bed in a Shared Female Room
    Bed in a Shared Male Room
    Twin Room (shared bathroom)
    Double Room (shared bathroom)

    There are Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared). Twin Rooms sleep up to two participants booking together, with two single beds (bathrooms are shared with other rooms). Double Rooms sleep up to two participants booking together, with a double bed (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).

  • Included:

    • 2 nights’ accommodation at Coed Owen Bunkhouse - we have taken over exclusive use of the hostel, so it will just be Large Outdoors participants staying.

    • A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.

    • Guided walks on 2 days (Day 2 and Day 3).

    • Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on both evenings.

    • A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).

    • A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2’s walk. Please ensure you bring a lunch box or dry bag - to reduce waste, we do not supply cling film or sandwich bags.

    • Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.

    • Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.

    • The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

    • Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

    Not included:

    • Travel to and from the meeting location.

    • Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door. On some days there could be a short drive required - we don't include transport and participants normally car share.

    • Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.

    • Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

    • Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.

    • Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

    • Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

  • Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.

    The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.

    • What level of fitness is needed?
      This experience is rated as Active Plus. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.

    • Can I attend on my own?
      Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

    • I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
      Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.

    • What transport is provided during this experience?
      We do not provide any transport for this experience. On some days there could be a short drive required to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the accommodation - participants normally car share.

    • Can I bring my dog?
      Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.

  • The Brecon Beacons are a spectacular mountain range in South Wales. The area is a real walker’s paradise, with challenging summit climbs and leisurely routes both brilliant options for a weekend break.

    The Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park was established in 1957 - the first area in Britain to be given this status. The National Park covers 520 square miles of South and Mid Wales. It’s an exciting natural landscape known for its wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, lively market towns and exhilarating outdoors activities.

 

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