GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Ystradfellte Four Waterfalls Walk

5 miles (8 km)

This is a specatacular walk visiting four beautiful waterfalls near Ystradfellte in the Brecon Beacons. It is one of the best waterfall walks in Britain with delightful woodland gorges, riverside trails along the Afon Mellte and a series of roaring waterfalls.
The popular trail starts at the Gwaun Hepste car park just south east of Ystradfellte. It's a good sized parking area which also includes a picnic area. From here you can pick up the trails to the Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr and Sgwd-yr-Eira waterfalls. Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn is a particularly impressive and powerful waterfall which will take your breath away. Sgwd yr Eira, is also noteworthy as probably the most photographed waterfall in the Brecon Beacons. You can actually walk behind the curtain of thundering water which is a great experience. There are also many other smaller waterfalls dotted around this area known as Waterfall Country.
There are some challenging sections on the walk but the footpaths are well surfaced and maintained.
The bottom half of the trail is on a circular loop with other trails branching off if you would like to extend the walk. You can see these on either of the detailed walking map links below.
To continue your waterfall walking in the area try our longer Brecon Beacons Waterfall Walk. The 11 mile circular walk visits the Pontneddfechan Waterfalls and the Neath Waterfalls, to the west of the four falls.

Postcode

CF44 9JF - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Four Waterfalls Walk OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Four Waterfalls Walk Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The New Inn is located just to the north of the car park. They serve a fine Sunday dinner and have a nice garden to sit out in on warmer days. There's also a covered, heated Terrace if the weather is not so good. You can find them at postcode CF44 9JE for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The woodland trails make for a fine dog walk and the New Inn mentioned above is also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The area can also be explored on the Porth Yr Ogof Walk. This starts from the alternative Cwm Porth car park where you'll find the impressive Porth Yr Ogof. Here the Afon Mellte travels for a short distance under ground.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Sgŵd Clun-gwyn - geograph.org.uk - 375833

Sgŵd Clun-gwyn

Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn, Afon Mellte

Sgwd Isaf Clun-gwyn, Afon Mellte

The Waterfalls at Ystradfellte - geograph.org.uk - 20521

The Waterfalls at Ystradfellte

Sgwd yr Eira, Afon Hepste

Sgŵd yr Eira, a waterfall on the Afon Hepste near the village of Ystradfellte in the Brecon Beacons National Park. A public right-of-way leads from one side of the river to the other, behind the falling waters. These fall are well known for being the falls behind which you can walk. The 'falls of snow' plunge over a hard band of sandstone whose overhang protects the walker from the full force of the water.

Footbridge over River Mellte - geograph.org.uk - 70656

Footbridge over River Mellte. This bridge allows access to the main waterfall walks from the west side of the River Mellte.

Sgŵd Uchaf Clyn Glyn - geograph.org.uk - 70655

Sgŵd Uchaf Clyn Glyn. This is the upper of the two Clyn Glyn waterfalls as seen from above on the west river bank walk.

Steps to Sgwd yr Eira - geograph.org.uk - 1909252

Steps to Sgwd yr Eira

Car park at Ystradfellte - geograph.org.uk - 2408690

Car park at Ystradfellte. This car park in the village makes an alternative start point for the walk. Ystradfellte is chiefly known in history as the place where the Welsh nobleman and rebel leader Llywelyn Bren surrendered at the end of his revolt of 1316. As well as being a popular place for hiking the surrounding area is renowned for its caves and karst scenery, making caving a popular activity. 

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Four Waterfalls Walk.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

Four Waterfalls Walk.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)