The Brecon Beacons Waterfalls at Pontneddfechan in Wales proved to be an awesome route for novice hikers like me, who wish to be wowed by waterfalls over a gentle climb. Right here’s just a few factors which will enable you in your hike.
Whereas this route gives a gentle climb, please take care when strolling on the routes and take your individual precautions in case you’re a novice like me!
The place to Park
One of many biggest issues about these Brecon Beacons Waterfalls is the free parking, however you should arrive early. Pontneddfechan is a really small village, so typing this within the Sat Nav received us the place we must be. Past two pubs and wonderful cafe named Sywd Gwladys, there’s not a lot else and the principle highway runs out and in once more. Parking is on the roadside with clear areas that you just’ll see in your method, earlier than Sywd Gwladys.
Roadside Parking
The route we wished to take began close to the Guests Centre, nevertheless, there may be one other automotive park named the 4 Waterfalls Automobile Park additional up the highway that prices (£4 for the day I believe) and appeared fairly far up the route in response to the map.
We arrived at 10:30am and there was loads of roadside parking.
Time of Yr
Once we hiked this path to the Brecon Beacons Waterfalls, it was early September within the midst of an Indian Summer time heatwave. This meant lots of the routes as much as the waterfalls have been accessible, however they is probably not later within the yr. Please bear this in thoughts when monitoring your expectations of what you might even see.
What to Deliver
To reiterate, I’m solely a novice so take the recommendation on this article evenly and do your individual analysis on learn how to stay secure. Primarily based on my expertise, I’d suggest packing water and snacks, carrying a superb pair of mountaineering sneakers with a cleaner pair of sneakers to swap for the journey again in case you’re muddy, and a towel and swimming costume do you have to want to swim.
A Cautionary Story
The swimming pools on the base of the waterfalls could be very alluring, significantly throughout summer season, however please be very cautious when swimming because the water temperature is colder than you might count on.
The Mountain climbing Route
We opted for the Elidir Path that promised 4 waterfalls with little problem and, it didn’t disappoint. In line with the informational maps, the route is estimated to take 1.5 hours for the 1.3 mile hike. It’s a common route because it is likely one of the much less difficult within the Brecon Beacons Nationwide Park.
Described as a ‘Celtic Rainforest’, this route is a superb introduction to the Brecon Beacons Waterfalls beginning by a clearly outlined gate by the customer centre in Pontneddfechan. Welsh fable claims that the doorway is the exact same that trainee monk Elidir used to enter the fairy world after eloping from the abbey from which he escaped merciless remedy.
Sgwd Gwladus
The primary waterfall you’ll see alongside this route, affectionately referred to as Girl Falls, stands at 7 meters excessive, and is likely one of the few Brecon Beacons Waterfalls you’ll be able to stroll behind. After roughly half-hour, you’ll come to a footbridge that leads off throughout the ravine and a signpost to a viewpoint. You’ll wish to proceed on the trail to the left and ultimately, you’ll attain Sgwd Gwladus.
Footbridge
We continued past the precise viewpoint because it was accessible with some cautious footing throughout rocks and pebbles.
Sgwd Gwladus
Earlier than backtracking searching for the remaining waterfalls, tiptoe throughout the pebbles to the opposite facet and observe the trail as much as the highest of this waterfall proven beneath.
As I discussed, we visited throughout a dryer spell which meant we might sit over the lip of the waterfall.
Head again down the trail and proceed within the course you first got here till you’re again on the footbridge. With the footbridge in your proper, bear left on the trail upwards. You’ll discover a second bridge that pulls off to the suitable, however proceed upwards and never throughout this bridge the place you’ll attain waterfall #2.
Waterfall #2
So the opposite waterfalls alongside this route are named elsewhere as Sgwd Ddwli Isaf, Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf, Sgwd-y-Bedol, and Sgwd Einion Gam however in addition to Sgwd Gwladus, I can’t confidently identify each I got here throughout, so we’re simply going to name them waterfalls 2, 3 and 4.
Waterfall #2 pictured beneath was actually beautiful, off to the suitable of this image is a deeper pool excellent for swimming. As soon as we’d completed ogling, we trekked throughout the rocks to succeed in waterfall #3. I believe that in wetter months this route wouldn’t be accessible.
Waterfall #3
What’s fascinating is that once we adopted the clear path upwards, we weren’t in a position to see this waterfall in any respect. It’s solely as a result of the rocks have been dry that we have been in a position to stroll instantly as much as it and even see it at waterfall #2.
Waterfall #4
After a small ascension, the trail leveled out and we reached waterfall #4. From the trail, we walked right down to the rocks for a more in-depth view. With the hotter climate, we determined to proceed the trail till we reached the highest of this waterfall the place we splashed round within the very chilly swimming pools.
Full of serotonin from the wildlife stroll, we adopted the identical path again down and throughout to the automotive park and loved a well-deserved halloumi wrap at Sywd Gwladys.