Corn Du
National iconThe flat-topped summit that stands right beside Pen y Fan, the second-highest point in the Brecon Beacons
Open accesson open access land, where the right to roam applies
Corn Du is the peak most people walk over on the way to somewhere else, and that is no bad thing. At 872 metres it is the second-highest summit in the Brecon Beacons, and it sits so close to its bigger neighbour Pen y Fan that the two are almost always climbed together. The name means black horn, and from a distance the flat top and steep northern face give it a blunt, castle-like profile.
The classic approach comes up from the south along the broad ridge, and the busy path from the Storey Arms area on the A470 brings walkers over Corn Du first before the short dip and rise to Pen y Fan. It is honest hillwalking on a clear track, popular in summer and often busy, with a fine view down into the hollow that holds the little lake of Llyn Cwm Llwch below the northern crags.
Because it shares its ground with the highest peaks in southern Britain, Corn Du gets the same fast-changing mountain weather, so take warm and waterproof layers even on a bright day and don’t rely on the summit staying clear. The Beacons Way crosses this high ground, and the national park visitor centre near Libanus is a sensible first stop for maps and the latest conditions.
More at hill-bagging.co.uk
