Pen y Fan is one of the most iconic mountains in Wales. The mountain offers some of the best & stunning views in the country, and is a popular tourist destination. Even though it is a mountainous hike, it is fairly easy to do with only minimal hiking experience required. It can be done as a day-trip or over an overnight stay with camping available. Planning on doing this South Wales hike? Make sure you’re prepared with these smart tips before you go.
What to Wear: An Introduction to Brecon Beacons
If you are planning on doing the Pen y Fan hike, make sure that you pack items that are appropriate for hiking.
Brecon Beacon weather can be utterly unpredictable , so it is crucial to wear appropriate clothing. It can get very cold in the mountains at night, with potential of icy conditions, rain showers and even snow. Make sure you’re ready for the changeable weather by packing the essentials.
Packing your walking clothes and gear for your trip means it’s important to consider every situation, whether or not you’re planning on walking in the summer or winter it’s always wise to pack a back up and alternative just in case you get a first hand look at the bizarre Brecon Beacons weather.
Lets get down to business, lets evaluate our absolute walking & hiking essentials when walking up pen y fan.
Walking Trousers
Walking trousers are essential for this hike as they protect your legs from the cold. They should be sturdy and breathable too, so you don’t feel like you’re sweating in a sauna. There are many different types of walking trousers out there; for example, mountain biking or climbing trousers are a good choice if that’s what you do. For hikers, hiking or trekking trousers will give you the flexibility to move around easily and won’t get caught on a branch.
Most hiking trousers will be available in a waterproof material option, we strongly advise using the waterproof trousers for your walk up Pen Y Fan, as often you may encounter crossing streams & waterfalls as part of your journey.
Popular walking trousers options include Mountain Equipment, who provide a range of durable trousers that protect against abrasive surfaces for rock climbers & hikers, and those who are experienced in bad weather walking. They come with some great additional features that will appeal to the experienced hiker and novice hiker, making them a great buy for everyone.
Waterproof Clothing
If it’s raining, don’t worry! This hike will still be enjoyable if you’re prepared for rain. However, make sure you are wearing clothes that are waterproof as the trail is not paved so it can get quite muddy, slippery and often quite treacherous.
Nowadays, you can find pretty much any item of clothing available in a waterproof option. Ideally you’ll find a waterproof jacket & waterproof trousers as the most useful items, whilst you won’t always need them on every South Wales walk, it’s important to pack them in preparation.
Our advice is to take a backpack with a packed waterproof jacket, as you never quite know when the weather will take a turn for the worst, and there’s nothing worse than seeing your fellow hikers unpack their waterproof jackets whilst you’re dripping & soaking wet!
Luckily in the warmer months you may not need the waterproof jacket as much, however it’s always a good idea to bring along.
Walking Boots
No matter what the weather, you need to be prepared for anything. Walking boots are the most common item to pack with you on your hike, guided walk or tour. Whether you’re walking in North Wales, Mid Wales or South Wales, it’s a no brainer to bring your proper walking boots.
Having the right walking boots with make choosing your walking routes much easier, as you’ll have the capacity and ability to choose the challenging route which can often be met with more mud, water, incline or difficulty, or some lesser known alternate routes which can typically have less foot traffic, but more of a steep climb.
Without the correct footwear, you risk running into slippy conditions and flooded areas that will likely leave you with wet socks & feet.
Hat, Scarfs & Gloves
Ok, so we all used to groan and moan when we were younger when mum would force us to wear the ridiculous hat & gloves set, even though we would yell and swear we were not cold, it’s important to wrap up warm.
The Mountain rescue team in South Wales gets several phone calls each year regarding lost hikers & walkers, with most of their complaints being consistently dropping temperatures and poor clothing attire.
Despite your levels of fitness, if you become lost or stuck, the number one important factor to focus on is finding a way to remain warm.
Hat, Scarfs & Gloves are easy additions to this, as they protect vital parts of the body, with the head and throat being protected alongside protecting against frostbite on the hands. Now, that being said, it’s unlikely that you would be to develop frostbite from walking Pen Y Fan, however it’s important to always prepare for the worst case scenario and be the most prepared member of the walking group.
Even in the summer months it’s important to pack extra layers such as hats & gloves for an emergency use.
What to bring on your hike
Now that we’ve covered the absolute essential clothing items to bring with your on your hike, it’s important to address what to bring with you on your mountain walks that you may not wear, but are equally as vital to your journey.
Additional Items
- Water & Snacks
Obviously it’s a no brainer that you’ll need to bring a large bottle of water for your hike, the average time to walk Pen Y Fan is between 2-4 hours, meaning you’ll be extremely dehydrated if you were to attempt the steep climb without any water.
We also suggest bringing some snacks to enjoy alongside the beautiful views, this makes the rise to the peak more rewarding at the end.
- Torch
Even if you aren’t planning on extending your stay to the Brecon Beacon over night, a torch is a handy tool to keep in your backpack just in case. Whilst we don’t advise hiking Pen Y Fan in the dark if you’ve never attempted it’s a vital item to bring along.
- Suncream
You may be wondering, after this article has consistently warned of the effects of cold and icy conditions why we would be advising to bring sun cream, however, even if it doesn’t feel that warm when you set off, being exposed to the sun for a prolonged period of time can lead to future skin conditions, and there’s just no telling the weather once you’ve reached the peak, be safe & smart and pack some just in case.
- First Aid Kit
Unfortunately Pen Y Fans location isn’t directly centred in the town Centre of Brecon Beacon, therefore the likelihood of being able to run to the shop and grab a plaster or bandage whilst climbing is very unlikely.
That’s why bringing a first aid kit is most important on your hike, walk or guided tour. The Brecon Beacons national park is completely secluded from the shops and town centre so packing the essentials is vital if you want to be prepared for any outcome.
If you’re travelling with a mountain leader it is likely that they will provide a first aid kit if required.
