Easy Brecon Beacons Four Waterfalls Walk Map & Trail Guide

Last Updated on 24/03/2024

Wales Waterfall Country is a must for any South Wales itinerary, I knew I had to explore the Brecon Beacons Four Waterfalls Walk during my recent week in Wales. But, you’d better believe if there was an easier, quicker route I was going to find it! 

Read my Brecon Beacons Waterfalls Walk for a lazy-girl Guide on how to see the four waterfalls and save yourself 2 miles of walking! You’ll thank me later! 

Four Waterfalls Walk Map + Trail Guide to save for a later date

Planning on doing the four waterfalls walk in the Brecon Beacon later in the year? No problem, just pin the image below to your Pinterest to save & read this blog post at a later date!

What is the Four Waterfalls Walk?

The Brecon Beacons National Park covers a staggering 520 square miles of South and Mid Wales and is managed by The National Trust who conserve the natural landscape and wildlife in the park. 

Located in the vast Brecon Beacons National Park, the Four Waterfalls Trail is a circular route comprising 6km and covering (you guessed it) four wonderful Welsh waterfalls. 

The Four Waterfalls Route is the perfect way to connect with nature, soothe your soul and enjoy the greenery Wales is famous for (it is often referred to as The Valley after all!)

Covering the ancient woodland of the Brecon Beacons, the Four Waterfalls Trail has some breathtaking sites, which are beautifully preserved, whilst still providing a well-maintained route that even those with young families can enjoy. 

Though, please ensure you’re all wearing walking shoes or trainers with a good grip, particularly on rainy days as some of the routes can get slippery! Safety first!

The Four Waterfalls Trail Guide visits the following waterfalls, one of which you can even walk behind!

• Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, which translates from Welsh to “the upper fall of the white meadow”.
• Sgwd yr Eira – which translates from Welsh to “waterfall of snow”.
• Sgwd y Pannwr, which translates from Welsh to “fall of the woollen washer.”
• Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, which translates from Welsh to “the lower fall of the white meadows”.

Ready to ignore TLC and start chasing waterfalls? I thought as much!

Four Waterfalls Walk Parking

The biggest dilemma I had when planning my own Four Waterfalls itinerary was deciding on the best car park for the four waterfalls walk. Whilst I am a National Trust member (therefore eligible for free parking on National Trust sites) I wanted to park somewhere that was not inundated with other tourists and indeed be somewhere where I was close enough to the waterfalls that I didn’t end up with an overly lengthy hike. 

I scoured numerous blog posts offering different advice on the best Brecon Beacon waterfall trails when I noticed a few mentioning a tiny car park located within 5 minutes of Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, which happens to be the first waterfall in my guide. As you can see, parking in this small car park (SA11 5US) is not only free, it saves you almost 2 miles of unnecessary walking from Cwm Porth or Gwaun Hepste car parks (meaning you can use this time wisely to grab a coffee afterwards or continue exploring other trails such as the Elidir Trail, which is 5 minutes drive from this small car park.

Brecon Beacons Waterfalls Postcode + Trail Guide

So, without further ado…the place you need to park for the Four Falls Trail is the little car park on postcode SA11 5UT. As someone who cannot be described as a morning person, I must warn you there are only a few spaces in this car park (less than 10), therefore arriving early is a must. However, believe me, it is worth the early start particularly when you see the difference between how quiet the waterfalls are at the start of the trail compared to how busy they are when you leave! 

Adam and I parked up around 9 am and there were 3 cars already in this small car park. 

If it is full on arrival, sometimes there is an overflow car park open, alternatively, you will have to park at the bottom of the road where it is wide enough for cars to pass by. 

Disclaimer- 

The drawback with this car park is that it does not have the facilities that some of the other car parks benefit from (there is no cafe or functioning toilets), but there are some very grimy portaloos you can use (if you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go!) Just remember to bring your own toilet roll and hand-sanitiser!

Lack of facilities aside, in my opinion, this is the best car park for the four waterfalls walk! 

Brecon Beacons Four Waterfalls Walk Map

This handy Four Waterfalls Walk Map details the small car park (SA11 5US) mentioned above and also shows the position of the four waterfalls included on the route. 

Feel free to use the four waterfalls walk map to plan your own trip.

Brecon Beacons Four Falls Trail Guide

Without further ado, here are the Four waterfalls walk directions…

Once parked in your sacred four waterfalls parking spot, you will see a large information sign displaying information about the Brecon Beacons Park and the trail route. 

The information sign displayed in the car park details the route indicated by dot markers. As part of this quick four waterfalls trail guide, you will be loosely taking the red dot markers from #16 through to #36, then from dot marker #36 back to #25 and then following the trail down to marker #32 before following it back up to marker #15.

You will begin your four waterfalls walk by heading to the right of the information sign along a concrete pathway. 

Follow the path to the lovely portaloos I mentioned above, and from here follow the path down through the metal gate. By this time you should hear the sound of the first waterfall, Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, the closest to the car park and approximately 400m along the path. 

Waterfall 1 – Sgwd Clun-Gwyn – The Upper Fall of the White Meadow

Translating from Welsh as the upper fall of the white meadow, Sgwd Clun-Gwyn is as the name suggests, the uppermost of the falls found on the Afon Mellte River and plummets over two ledges. 

The River Afon Mellte means “lightning” and reflects the power of this cascade which rapidly rises and falls. 

A craggy stone pathway takes you overhead Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, giving those that are afraid of heights that “don’t look down” moment as the falls cascade over the cliff. 

For the adventure seekers among you, it is possible to scrabble down the side of the waterfall to view it from the bottom, but it wasn’t something I felt comfortable doing during my visit. 

There was a coasteering group that looked like they were having plenty of fun climbing up and down the waterfalls if you fancy giving this a go! 

Right back to the Four Falls Trail, to get to marker #16 simply follow the craggy walkway onwards away from the waterfall cascade along the river stream or alternatively walk back up the steps you came from (before viewing Sgwd Clun-Gwyn), either way, both routes are the same and take you to a wooden bridge.

Go over the wooden footbridge and turn right along the path, which after a couple of minutes will take you to red marker #15. Here you can view Sgwd Clun-Gwyn from the other side of the waterfall trail to take a photo if you like. 

Don’t worry yourself about seeing marker #15 if you’re not fussed about capturing a photo from the other angle, as you will get the chance to see the view from this marker on the way back 😉

Head up the hill to red marker #16 and continue following the red arrows found along the red-dotted trail. 

Once you reach red marker #25 you will be enticed by signs to walk to another waterfall. Resist the temptation and ignore the path branching downward for marker #25 – you don’t want to be clambering back up again to see the next waterfall! 

Instead, continue onward for around 1.5km until you reach marker #35 and see the sign-post for Sgwd yr Eira

Waterfall 2 – Sgwd yr Eira – Waterfall of Snow

Sgwd yr Eira translates to waterfall of snow, which is really quite lovely. Easily my favourite of the four waterfalls, if you arrived early you will be thankful that you ignored marker #25 to hopefully experience this wonderful Welsh waterfall minus the crowds! 

To get to Sgwd yr Eira from marker #35 you will need to climb down around 170 steps, which are generally fine on the way down…At least on the dry day I visited! 

Once you’ve tackled the descent, you will need to scramble over various rocks to reach the waterfall, which will be the time when you are thankful that you have worn sensible walking shoes to walk the Brecon Beacons! 

The special thing about Sgwd yr Eira is that it is a waterfall you can walk behind, an aspect that adds to the magic of seeing the Brecon Beacons Falls. 

Walking behind Sgwd yr Eira took me back to visiting Iceland and walking behind Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. Waterfalls you can walk behind really add to the magic of seeing the waterfalls, but do expect to get wet! 

Can you swim in the four waterfalls I hear you ask? The answer is, yes you can. I have seen pictures of people on Instagram swimming in Sgwd yr Eira and I certainly would have braved a dip myself if I was with the Wandering Women group I’ve had the pleasure of outdoor swimming with previously. However, Ads wasn’t keen and in hindsight, it was probably better to do on a warmer day! Next time for sure! 

As we started the four waterfalls walk fairly early, we found we were able to capture photos and walk behind Sgwd yr Eira without having to queue for a picture. It was a fairly dry day and the waterfall gave us a light misting, though during a heavy downpour (or for those visiting during the Autumn/Winter months) it is worth wearing walking shoes with a grip and a waterproof jacket! 

After enjoying the magical Sgwd yr Eira take the 170 steps back up to the top, which if you’re anything like me, you will want to make use of the benches at the top to catch your breath before retracing your steps and heading back to marker #25.

Waterfall 3 – Sgwd y Pannwr – Fall of the Woollen Washer

Our next stop on the Brecon waterfalls walk is Sgwd y Pannwr, which roughly translates as the fall of the woollen washer (just don’t ask me what that means…as I have no idea!) 

I have to say, this waterfall was without a doubt the least impressive of the four waterfalls, but is nevertheless still beautiful and has some great natural areas to soak up or take a minute for a break along the route. 

To get to this waterfall you will have reached marker #25 and headed down the path that descends down into the valley, following the green markers until you eventually reach marker #30. 

The route down is quite fun for those with little ones as you cross balancing beams and take a scenic path that takes you into the thick of the Brecon Beacons where you’re most likely to encounter wildlife along the trail. 

One of the best things we saw along this route were the rock stacks, which I can only assume someone had taken the time to stack, making them appear to be mini statues. 

You will reach Sgwd y Pannwr from above and can capture pictures overlooking the small gorge below. It is possible to scrabble down to see the waterfalls from below, but again I wasn’t confident in my abilities to climb back up so the view from above was enough for me! 

Take the river upstream from Sgwd y Pannwr over more boardwalks, check out the rock formations I mentioned above before reaching the fourth and final waterfall.

Waterfall 4 – Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn – Lower Fall of the White Meadows

Without a doubt, an adrenaline junkies favourite of the four waterfalls, Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn, which translates as lower fall of the white meadows has various waterfalls over several ledges and pools. 

On approach, you will see the smaller section of the falls and you may be mistaken in thinking that this fall will be disappointing to see, but the falls get more impressive as you clamber up the path.

For the adventurous among you, it is possible to reach the upper section of the falls to get a more impressive view at a lower level. To do this you will need to scramble over the lower section of the falls and follow the rocks to the right.

The Coasteering group we saw at the start of the trail were in their element at Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn, as these falls have cave areas for them to navigate, deep pools to swim in, and at the top of the falls, you can actually jump through the waterfall into the pool. All involved looked like they were having plenty of fun in a well-organised and safe environment.

How to get back to the Four Waterfalls Car Park

After enjoying the views over the impressive Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn, which is the last waterfall on the Brecon Beacons four waterfalls walk, you need to climb up the bank on the right-hand side of the waterfall. 

I’d say this little scramble is the hardest part of the trail if climbing is not your forte. It’s certainly a time when I was glad I wore sensible footwear (I did see a girl wearing sandals and a dress – I did wonder how she fared climbing this section of the walk…) I’d imagine it’s quite slippery on wetter days and I was glad I was coming up rather than coming down (as it may have resulted in that iconic scene from the film Romancing the Stone!)

Let’s put it this way, if I can climb the rocks and hold onto the tree roots to climb this section then anyone can. It’s only for a minute or so and is really not that bad. Though, if you are unsteady on your feet, this may be tricky.

You reach marker #32 and follow the narrow path along the cliff face, a scenic route which at times transported me to somewhere in Aztec Mexico. It’s at this point where you may see signs that say danger, unsafe route, but the trail is absolutely fine in my humble opinion as long as you stick to the well-trodden path. 

Don’t worry about the lack of signs marking the route, following the path upstream will take you back to marker #15 and the first waterfall. 

It’s here you can take a photo of the other side of the first waterfall. I couldn’t believe how busy the first waterfall was at noon when we arrived back here, compared to when we started here at 9am. 

It’s at this point you relish in the satisfaction knowing you have completed the route, seen the magnificent waterfalls and captured your photos without the hordes of tourists you now see starting the route. 

Simply take the wooden bridge back over to the first waterfall and head back to the car park (avoiding the grimy portaloos if you can! Though, sadly I did have to stop and use these myself!)

Things to do near Brecon Beacons National Park

Now you’ve accomplished the Four Falls Trail, I’ll bet you’re in need of a hot drink and some food, so you may wish to head over to the official Brecon Beacons site which contains recommendations for cafes, light bites and pubs in the Brecon Beacons. 

For those of you that could hike all day and then some, you might want to check out the other Brecon Beacons walks.

If you’re looking for other places to explore in Wales, check out my Pembrokeshire Road Trip or Pembrokeshire 3-Day Itinerary.

Glamping in the Brecon Beacons

Looking to spend a little longer exploring waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons, why not enjoy a wild adventure weekend in Wales (with a bit of luxury of course!)

READ: Romantic Shepherds Hut Stay in Pembrokeshire

I’ve enjoyed my fair share of wild weekends in the UK, from hiking in the Lake District and camping in Kent, but it’s fair to say I love staying in boutique hotels more!

By glamping in the Brecon Beacons, you get the best of both worlds, particularly if you choose places to stay in the Brecon Beacons with hot tub included:

The Flying Scotsman Hut with hot tub

Pine Lodge with hot tub

The Mallard with hot tub

The Orient Express with hot tub

Alternatively, looking for affordable luxury stays in the Brecon Beacons, check out the recommendations below (some great for family/group trips)

Maes Merlin with hot tub (sleeps 6)

Bedlywn Coch Farm with hot tub + games room (sleeps 8)

Trapp Cottage with view of the Black Mountain (sleeps 6)

Four Waterfalls Walk Brecon Beacons National Park

I hope you enjoyed reading and find my Brecon Beacons Four Waterfalls Walk Map + Trail Guide useful for planning your own trip. The waterfalls are incredible to see and worth the hike in my opinion, but I’m also pleased that this four falls route shaves off two hours of unnecessary walking too! 

Let me know if you do use this four waterfalls trail guide in the comments and for other inspiration of outdoor activities to do in the UK and beyond, check out the posts below!

Jaz

xoxo

Pembrokeshire Adventure Guide + Map

Best Beaches in Cornwall Guide

Southern Cornwall Road Trip Guide

Best Things to Do in Edinburgh for Free

Lake District Adventure Weekend

Best Flower Fields to Explore in the UK + beyond

Chasing Waterfalls in Southern Iceland

South Iceland 4-day Road Trip Guide

Switzerland Mountain-top Roller-Coaster + Day Trip

Greece Zante Turtles Tour

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