Hike up Sugar Loaf Mountain in the Brecon Beacons for dazzling views

A peak of the Brecon Beacons National Park, Sugar Loaf offers a serene escape to breathtaking mountains and spectacular scenery. Located near Abergavenny in South Wales, the Sugar Loaf walk doesn’t follow the most direct path to the top. Instead, this circular walk takes you around the cone-shaped mountain through lush green meadows and over heather-clad hills, before climbing Sugar Loaf’s gentler ridge to the rocky peak.

Throughout the Sugar Loaf walk, the sheep-grazing meadows and rocky paths offer breathtaking views of the Brecon Beacons and South Wales. The most magnificent views can, of course, be enjoyed from the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain. This walk is a true hidden gem which takes you off the beaten path. You’ll meet very few people (except at the top of Sugar Loaf) but a lot of sheep grazing the day away.

Location: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, South Wales

Walk difficulty: Intermediate

Time: 2 ½ to 3 hours

Distance: 4.5 miles (7.2 km)

Walking through sheep-grazing meadows

The Sugar Loaf hike begins at the National Trust’s Sugar Loaf car park, and starts off with a leisurely stroll through lush green meadows and along an archetypal Welsh stone wall. Instead of following the crowds and climbing directly up Sugar Loaf’s flank, the walk leads you into the heart of the Brecon Beacons.

From the onset of the walk, you’ll enjoy splendid views of the vibrant valley, surrounding hills and Welsh countryside. Throughout the walk, you’ll no doubt meet sheep grazing the day away in the sun-kissed meadows and heather-clad hills. Ten minutes into the hike, I met a herd of sheep sunbathing on the path.

From heather-clad hills to the rocky peak of Sugar Loaf

The Sugar Loaf walk continues by dipping into a charmingly quiet valley, and then takes you along oak woodland and across a cute stream. The hike then starts climbing up the heather-clad hills. The climb is steep and from this point onwards, you keep climbing until you reach the top of Sugar Loaf. The higher you climb, the more magnificent the views. Don’t forget to stop regularly to admire the breathtaking scenery.

Once you climb further up the mountain, the imposing shape of Sugar Loaf stands out against the clear blue sky. Following the ridge trail to the rocky peak, you’ll enjoy the best views of the whole walk, stretching from the Cotswolds to Somerset and further into the Brecon Beacons. Once you’ve caught your breath and marvelled at the panorama, the hike takes you back down Sugar Loaf by the most popular path and brings you back to the car park.

Find the walk itinerary and map: Sugar Loaf on osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Download the walk GPX file: Sugar Loaf hike on outdooractive.com

Sugar Loaf Mountain: A cone-shaped peak

Sugar Loaf is one of the highest peaks in the Black Mountains, towering at 1,955 feet (596 m). Pen-y-Fal, to give it its Welsh name, is one of the gateways to the Brecon Beacons National Park near Abergavenny and is fairly popular with hikers. Sugar Loaf is a cone-shaped peak and can easily be mistaken for an extinct volcano. The flanks of the wild mountain are covered in heather, rocks and grazing sheep.

From the top of Sugar Loaf, you can enjoy breathtaking 360° views of the surrounding countryside. On bright clear days, you can easily spot the delightful town of Abergavenny, as well as glimpse the magnificent scenery from the Brecon Beacons and South Wales to the Cotswolds, the Severn Estuary and beyond.

Sugar Loaf walk details

Location: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, South Wales

Difficulty: Intermediate

Time: Approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours with regular stops

Distance: 4.5 miles (7.2km)

Ascent: Steep (1,150 ft or 351m)

Itinerary: BBC Countryfile Magazine: Sugar Loaf

Trail condition: Good, but the grass and earth trail can get muddy in wet weather

Accessibility: Not suitable for prams, wheelchairs or bikes

Parking: Sugar Loaf National Trust car park (NP7 7LA – free at time of writing)

Facilities: No public toilets. Nearest toilets, shops and pubs are in Abergavenny town centre

Notes: Please be mindful of sheep and keep your dogs on a lead

Explore the Brecon Beacons further

After your hike up Sugar Loaf, why not continue to explore the Brecon Beacons National Park and escape to other impressive mountains, magnificent peaks and spectacular scenery? From the Horseshoe Ridge hike to the Skirrid Mountain walk, check out the Brecon Beacons walk guides.

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