BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK WALKS - FOUR WATERFALLS WALK
Is Brecon Beacons National Park on your list? If you love hiking, waterfalls, nature and getting a little dirty, then you’ll absolutely love the Four Waterfalls Walk!
We have just got back from a 9-day road trip around the South of Wales, reminding us how lucky we are to have such stunning scenery and nature, pretty much on our doorstep. We explored the Brecon Beacons for the first time, stopped off in Ebbw Vale, before heading down to the most stunning seaside town we have come across! Tenby.
In this post, we are excited to concentrate on the Four Waterfalls Walk and share with you some amazing photos and everything you need to know before you go.
What are the Four Waterfalls Walk?
Deep in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales, is where you can find the four waterfalls; Sgwˆd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwˆd IsafClun-Gwyn, Sgwˆdy Pannwr, and the biggest of them all, Sgwˆd yr Eira. In between each fall, you can follow the Mellte River which offers some amazing photos spots or somewhere to perch on a rock for a break.
The paths are fairly obvious, but you will find you need to scramble across some small rocks and planks to get where you need to be. We absolutely loved this part and made it 10x harder for ourselves by climbing up and down the huge hill (mountain) face by the first and northern-most waterfall, Sgwˆd IsafClun-Gwyn. We definitely don’t mind swinging through the trees like Tarzan lol!
How to get there, park and pick up the trail
There are two car parks you can choose from, both with trails leading to the waterfalls. The Gwaun Hepste car park and the Cwm Porth car park – both are pay and display at £4 for the day, which is open from 9:30-16:00 every day (apart from Christmas Day). You can see the facilities at each one on the map below. We parked at the Cwm Porth car park and the gentleman in the shop luckily accepted card payment which was very handy as we forgot to get change!
From the Cwm Porth car park, you can see there are 3 white dotted routes – make sure you opt for the middle one which runs rights down by the side of the river! We didn’t realize this, however, the route to the right had lovely surroundings with horses, sheep, farms, and bluebells – still a lovely walk, and you can just take the river route on the way back. If you’re not sure, you can always pick up a guide from the shop.
The man from the shop will direct you straight past the shop from the top of the car park and along the path dead opposite on the road. However, if you’d like to reach the river straight away, then this entrance is to the right and down the hill a little, with a smaller opening.
How long will it take? Is it a difficult walk?
In total, the walk is 5.5 miles and can be fairly uneven and difficult at times. The suggested time for this hike is 3-4 hours, which was perfect for us as we were totally up for a whole day of hiking and waterfalls! Who doesn’t love these kinds of days? We were in our element. As long as you’re fairly fit, have good walking shoes, plenty of water and can handle some hills, rocks, and stairs, you’ll love it – it’s a great challenge!
The terrain can change from muddy paths and puddles to huge tree roots and slippery rocks. Not forgetting the 170 steps descending to the fierce and final waterfall, Sgwd yr Eira. There’s no escaping the stairs either, as you do have to climb back up… of course after a well-deserved rest, picnic or possibly a paddle, at the foot of this stunning natural creation of mother nature.
What do I need to take? What should I wear?
If you’ve been hiking before, then I’m sure you know the regular hiking bits and bobs to take with you. If you don’t, then here’s a little list for you which should help. Remember, there aren’t many facilities around apart from toilets, drinks and a small selection of snacks at the Cwm Porth car park, so come prepared.
- Rain jacket/mac
- Plenty of water
- Packed lunch
- Snacks – this is the worst thing to be caught out for! Protein bars and bananas are great for energy
- Camera
- Portable charger and phone charger/cable
- Torch/head torch if you plan on being there in the afternoon – just in case
- Gloves and hat for the colder months
- Spare pair of socks in case they get wet
- Water shoes as well as hiking boots
- A small towel to dry feet
- Sun cream & lip balm
- Hairband for the ladies (or men) – you’ll get hot and sweaty!
- Tissues
Regardless of the weather, we definitely recommend taking a waterproof jacket or just a rain mac! The air is very moist and you’re bound to get a little wet. A simple rain mac is nice and light to keep in a backpack too which is always our go-to option. Light, stretchy clothing is always recommended for a comfy hike, and for sure something you don’t mind getting a little dirty. I typically go all out and wear gym leggings, a sports bra and a vest top (SO COMFY!), and Luke with his shorts/tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt. We like to keep it simple and carry as little as possible, yet still be super prepared – is that even possible?!
Shoes are definitely the most important aspect of your outfit when hiking, and can really make or break your day. We were lucky enough to be supplied with some amazing water shoes by our friends over at Aleader, who is an amazing footwear company who sponsor us. This was the first time we tried the Xdrain Classic Knit Water Shoes, which are available in Men’s and Women’s, and they were absolutely incredible!
Super lightweight and comfy, it’s honestly almost like you’re wearing slippers! They look amazing and feel amazing too, and for those wide footed peeps out there like me (Kelly), they’re nice and wide which is usually a nightmare for me to find! They were perfect for this waterfall hike as they were cushioned and gripped enough to climb over rocks, yet had enough breath-ability to comfortably walk in the water and dry off. Win-win!
This is pretty much all you need to know before you visit the Four Waterfalls Walk in the Brecon Beacons, you’re just gonna have to go and see it for yourself! We are so lucky to have places like this in the UK right on our doorstep, so go and make the most of it!