Brecon Beacons waterfalls that will take your breath away

Experience the magic of the natural world on a Brecon Beacons waterfall walk, taking in enchanting rivers and colossal cascades during your next Wales getaway. 

The Brecon Beacons National Park is known as ‘Waterfall Country’ for the sheer number and variety of impressive waterfalls that dominate this wild, mountainous region.

Deep gorges cut through this scenic landscape, waterfalls tumble into clear pools perfect for wild swimming in the Brecon Beacons, and you’ll even find a waterfall you can walk behind on this list. Seek out old mining relics, the Brecon Beacons’ highest waterfall, and a secret waterfall that few have the chance to visit; walkers, swimmers and wildlife lovers will be in their element in this unique destination.

Read on to uncover our top Brecon Beacons waterfalls and best waterfall walks, and pick out your favourite for a walking adventure on your next break to this impressive Wales national park. Or head over to our portfolio of Brecon Beacons holiday cottages to find your ideal South Wales escape.

Henrhyd Falls

You may have heard the name of this fabled Brecon Beacons waterfall before as it is renowned for its size and beauty. Henrhyd Falls is one of the most, if not the most, spectacular waterfall in the Brecon Beacons and once you’ve visited, this unforgettable sight will be one you’ll remember for a long time.

Here are a few need-to-know Henrhyd Fall facts: it’s the tallest waterfall in the Brecon Beacons with a 90-foot drop, it’s cared for by the National Trust, and Batman: The Dark Knight Rises was filmed here. 

As this is a waterfall you can walk behind, follow the Henrhyd Falls and Nant Llech Walk to step being the curtain of water, listening to the echos of the falls thundering into the pool below.

Sgwd yr Eira | Fall of the Snow Waterfall

With a name like ‘Fall of the Snow’, you may expect this Brecon Beacons waterfall to reside in a fantasy land such as Narnia, not in the heart of Wales. Yet, it is well within reach of holidaymakers as it’s set on the Afon Hepste river and a must-visit during your time in this region.

If you are tempted to uncover two miraculous geological phenomena during your exploration, follow the route from Dinas Rock car park to Sgwd yr Eira. Dinas Rock is an imposing limestone cliff set at the edge of the village of Pontneddfechan, once the location of an ancient fort and gunpowder works.

A second strenuous Sgwd yr Eira walking route you might prefer to conquer is the Penderyn to Sgwd yr Eira Trail, where you’ll get to soak up views of forests and mountains from atop Moel Penderyn.

Lower Ddwli Falls

If you are keen to try some Brecon Beacons waterfall swimming, this is an enchanting place to take a dip with several smaller waterfalls to pass along the river before you come to delightful Lower Ddwli Falls.

Sink into the cool waters, splash about with the kids, and let the falls wash away your worries during your day out to this serene destination. Please take care and ensure you feel this is a safe place for yourself and your family if your decide to go wild swimming as it’s remote, so can be difficult to call for help if you run into difficulty.

If you don’t fancy a swim, simply dip your toes in the refreshing waters, enjoy a picnic beside the falls, or take a few photos of this remarkable Brecon Beacons beauty spot.  

Four Falls Trail (4 Waterfalls Walk)

This series of Ystradfellte waterfalls offers a popular trail to traverse that will lead you through wild woodland, past shadowy caves and alongside an ancient gorge. The Four Falls trail route is an easy waterfall walk in the Brecon Beacons and you can shorten it to two waterfalls if you don’t fancy the full 4-mile loop.

If the weather has provided a couple of rainy days, it’s a great time to take to the Four Waterfalls Walk as they are sure to be at their very best. The best car park for the Four Waterfalls Walk is probably the Cwm Porth car park, Ystradfellte, although you could also park up at the Gwaun Hepste Car Park.

The Four Waterfalls Walk is also a fantastic choice for dogs and their owners to enjoy a remarkable dog walk together, although there are plenty of steep gradients and stone sections to contend with so perhaps puppies and older dogs are best left at home.

Afon Sychryd

Set out to discover the short Sychryd River which only flows for 5 miles before joining the Melte, yet cuts a deep gorge through the landscape with many waterfalls creating thunderous landmarks along the route.

The river follows part of the southern border of the national park and this series of Brecon Beacons waterfalls and cascades passes by relics of Dinas silica (or quartzite) mines, several tunnels, and the remains of a tramway, giving you a little insight into the heritage of this otherwise natural beauty spot.

Three main waterfalls dominate this river: Sychryd Cascades, Sychryd Falls and Upper Sychryd Falls – two of which can be reached via enchanting woodland footpaths while the third is only sought out by walking off-trail.

Caerfanell Falls | Blaen y Glyn waterfalls

So far, all the waterfalls on this list can be found grouped together in a spectacular region in the south of Waterfall Country; Caerfanell is the first in the beautiful north-east of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

There are actually around 20 waterfalls along this stretch of the Upper Caerfanell River, winding through wooded gorges that can be viewed from the paths that trail alongside.

Only one of the many waterfalls has an official name, known as the Caerfanell Falls or Blaen y Glyn. During your break to the Brecon Beacons, anyone searching for Black Mountains waterfalls to explore will be pleased to uncover these Blaen y Glyn waterfalls, a wonderful northern gem in this national park.

Sgwd Einion Gam | The Fall of the Crooked Anvil 

Now, we come to a lesser-known waterfall which few people have the chance to explore as it is hidden in the Brecon Beacons countryside between large tracts of privately-owned land with few rights of way. Yet, it is one of the biggest waterfalls in Wales.

We have stumbled across one route you can use to reach this secret waterfall in the Brecon Beacons. Sgwd Einion Gam is second only in height to Henrhyd Falls in the Brecon Beacons, and there’s a serene pool beneath that’s perfect for Brecon Beacons waterfall swimming, although do not jump off the lip that overhangs the water.

This impressive beauty spot, where water tumbles over a rocky overhang into the clear pool below, has to be one of the best waterfalls in Wales.

Pwll y Wrach Nature Reserve

This spectacular waterfall tumbles into the dark waters of a pool known as ‘Witches Pool’ after which the entire 45-acre reserve is named. Pwll y Wrach Nature Reserve itself is overflowing with ancient forest hiding dens built by adventurous families, wild garlic which bursts into life in the spring, and dormice who scramble between branches in the summer and hibernate among the grasses when winter comes – although you’re unlikely to spot these golden creatures!

As the Witches Pool is right outside the town of Talgarth, you could head over to Talgarth Mill during your Brecon Beacons adventures, a working watermill with a café and bakery where you can pick up some produce to take back to your cottage retreat.

The Witches Pool, Brecon, is an enchanting place to explore with forested trails to traverse before you even reach the beautiful waterfall at its heart.

Map of breathtaking waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons

Escape to Waterfall Country

We’ve barely touched on the many waterfalls hidden throughout this vast landscape and the surrounding region. Two impressive waterfalls worth a mention are Aberdulais Falls and Melincourt Falls, both magical cascades around 10 miles south of the Brecon Beacons which you may be able to visit during your stay.

Once you have picked out your Brecon Beacons waterfall walk, find a cottage nearby so you have a cosy and relaxing base to return to between adventures out and about exploring Waterfall Country.