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Brecon Beacons Waterfall Country Walk – Elidir Trail Sgwd Gwladus Walk

By Dave Roberts   

on September 21, 2018    No ratings yet.

Brecon Beacons Waterfall Country Walk – Elidir Trail Sgwd Gwladus Walk

Route Essentials

Route Summary

A walk to Sgwd Gwladus and a number of other spectacular waterfalls in Waterfall Country on the Elidir Trail

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

4.03 km

Ascent

150 m

Time

couple of hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Pontneddfechan to Pont Felin Faen

Difficulty

Easy Walk, Trail or Fell Runs

Hazards

Waterfalls can be dangerous – so take care if you go off path. When in spate, you should take extra care and avoid venturing off officially marked tracks.

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Brecon Beacons Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Brecon Beacons Waterfall Country Walk – Elidir Trail Sgwd Gwladus Walk Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Brecon Beacons Waterfall Country Walk – Elidir Trail Sgwd Gwladus Walk

Sgwd Gwladus is one of the few waterfalls you can walk behind (though it’s probably not recommended – take care!) and one of the most famous waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons Waterfall Country. This walk up the Afon Pyrddin and Nedd Fechan takes in the watefalls of Sgwd Gwladus and Sgwd Einon Gam (which is off the waymarked trail and harder to reach) on the former and a series of waterfalls on the latter – Sgwd-y-Bedol, Sgwd Ddwli Isaf and Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf.

This easy walk follows a really good track, waymarked from the start, with an obvious iron gate denoting Waterfall Country and a time marked signpost stating the time to Sgwd Gwladus. The linear walk takes you first to Sgwd Gwladus which is 6m high (sometimes exaggerated to 15 metres, as is seemingly the case with all waterfalls!) The 26m high Sgwd Einon Gam waterfall requires some difficult walking along the river to reach and would be a tricky proposition when the river is in full flow and the waterfalls at their best. Sgwd Einon Gam is the second highest single drop waterfall in South Wales, the highest being Sgwd Henrhyd.

The Elidir Trail then continues on to Pont Melin-faen. You have the option of walking back the same way (probably the best option) or taking one of the country lanes back to the start. The distance given above is for following the walk out an back.

You can also follow the trail on Google Street View to Sgwd Gwladus and beyond, but while it gives you an idea of the walk the actual view of the waterfall is disappointing.

Elidir Trail to Sgwd Gwladus Route Description

More information is available at this link including an mp3 walk description.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

A walk to Sgwd Gwladus and a number of other spectacular waterfalls in Waterfall Country on the Elidir Trail

Route Start Location: Pontneddfechan to Pont Felin Faen

Distance
Ascent
Time
4.03 km 150 m couple of hours

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Easy Walk, Trail or Fell Runs

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Number of pubs in Pontneddfechan  – with the walk starting directly next to The Angel Inn. There’s a cafe and a couple of other pubs – The Old White Horse Inn and the Dinas Inn.

Hazards

Waterfalls can be dangerous – so take care if you go off path. When in spate, you should take extra care and avoid venturing off officially marked tracks.

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Public Transport:

Occasional buses from Neath and Swansea – 55.

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Brecon Beacons Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

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