8 Waterfalls Walk

Come and explore the Waterfall Country at the heart of the Brecon Beacons. Nestled into the southern slopes of the Fforest Fawr massif, west of Merthyr Tydfil, Waterfall Country is one of the most beautiful and popular parts of the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Fforest Fawr Geopark, with steep, tree-lined gorges and an abundance of tumbling water.

Known in Welsh as Coed-y-Rhaeadr (Wood of the Water), Waterfall Country lies within the triangle formed by the villages of Hirwaun, Ystradfellte, and Pontneddfechan. Here, old red sandstone and a long belt of outcrop limestone have created a highly distinctive environment of wooded gorges, caves, swallow holes and waterfalls.

We will follow the river Neath and then cross to follow the Mellte as they wind their way south through Waterfall Country via steep-sided, tree-lined gorges. This joins the two classic short walks in the area to allow us to take in 8 major waterfalls and countless other smaller falls and water features as we explore this beautiful area. We will also cross open farmland, explore small settlements and get open views across the surrounding vallies. This walk is often described as the best waterfall walk in the UK, and our route takes us behind the most famous one. 

The area contains two Sites of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation with fine specimens of sessile oak and ash trees and over 200 species of mosses, liverworts, and ferns. It is also of historical significance, as it contains the legacy of man’s attempts to make a living from this landscape.