Hay-on-Wye: The Talybont Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons Waterfall Walk

This walk is one of the hidden jewels of Wales. There is always water in the Caerfanell. I went in early May 2017 after an unusual six-week drought and the falls were as vibrant as ever. This leg of the walk is just under two miles to the end of the forest and back.

Along this Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons waterfall walk, if you are very lucky you may spy a ring ouzel, and certainly dippers, and perhaps a redstart if you’re walking between April and September, along with other meadow, woodland and hilltop bird species such as red kites, buzzards, meadow pipits, tree pipits and occasionally skylarks. At weekends, and in clement weather you will find families bathing in the waterfall pools.

This is an easy walk following the river up to the end of the forest which is on the other side of the bank. But if you want to add a further four miles and more demanding circuit to your walk, you can cross the river just past the forest’s edge, climb a steepish incline and walk back to the fence running along the top of the forest. Here you head towards Craig y Fan, the hill in front of you. This is the start of one of the serious Black Mountains walks.

Once you hit the Brecon Way Path, and the summit of Craig y Fan, the rest of your walk is flat or downhill. This is where you hit Wild Wales — BIG country the hallmark of our Black Mountains walks — and looking over to your left you can see the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons towering in the distance, a far cry from the Brecon Beacons waterfall walk below. Here you get the full perspective of how awe-inspiring our Black Mountains walks, and the Brecon Beacons, truly are.

Further along, you will find the remains of a World War II Wellington bomber, and a memorial to its crew. Very moving.