The Four Waterfalls Walk links Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr and Sgwd yr Eira, four falls on the Afon Mellte and Afon Hepste in the wooded gorges south of Ystradfellte. Natural Resources Wales manages the waymarked Four Falls Trail here, grades it strenuous and suggests allowing three to four hours.
Where it starts
This version starts at the Cwm Porth car park, run by the National Park Authority. Visit Wales puts the first falls about 30 minutes from Cwm Porth, Sgwd y Pannwr around half an hour further on and Sgwd yr Eira about half an hour beyond that. The other main car park, at Gwaun Hepste, is pay and display and takes cards only.
Underfoot
The main loop, marked with red arrows, mostly follows wide stone paths with gentle gradients and few steps. The green-arrowed spurs down to each waterfall are narrower, unsurfaced and stepped, and rough and rocky near the water. The path behind Sgwd yr Eira is very slippery and you will almost certainly get wet. There are no toilets on the route, and the falls cannot be reached with buggies, pushchairs or wheelchairs.
When to take care
- Keep to the waymarked paths: the drops beside them are unguarded.
- Stay out of the water, which is cold, deep and fast-flowing over slippery rock.
- Car parks are small and often full before midday, so start early.
Distance: about 9 km (6 miles), round trip, measured along the line on the route map below.
The line is a guide to the route, not a substitute for a proper map. Carry an Ordnance Survey map, check the weather before you set off and allow plenty of time.
Walk it with us
Our Brecon centre-based walking holiday includes a day in Waterfall Country at Ystradfellte, with the path behind Sgwd yr Eira. We book your accommodation, move your luggage each day and provide route notes.
Photo: Mark Rickaby from Nottingham, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.