The Beacons Way Booklet

The Beacons Way walk offers some of the best views the National Park has to offer.   If you want to complete the whole 159km (99 mile) walk it takes eight days, or you can do it one day at a time at your convenience. Some days are more challenging than others so you can choose what suits you and maybe set yourself a challenge to build up to the more strenuous days.

The Beacons Way is an iconic walk which runs the length of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It is a challenging route, but well within the reaches of a fit and competent hill walker. Demanding uphill climbs and undulating ridges give spectacular views of the National Park, its varied landscapes and its wildlife.

The trail often goes off the beaten track taking routes into back country not usually explored by the average walker. The route has limited waymarking, especially on open hill and moorland sections, meaning navigation skills will be required, but the rewards are great – new vistas and new experiences are awaiting the explorer prepared to put in the effort. Day lengths vary from 16 to 23.5km (10 to 14.5 miles), often with significant height gain, so be prepared for a challenging route needing fitness and careful planning. This is particularly true in the west where accommodation is much scarcer and the use of taxis or public transport may be needed. Unless you are a very experienced winter hill-walker, you should plan your walk during the summer when more daylight is available and weather conditions more forgiving. The timings for each day have been calculated based on an average walking speed of 4.5km per hour.