Beacons Way

How long it really is

We measure Beacons Way at 155.3 km (96.5 miles), computed by walking the OpenStreetMap route geometry point by point . The route is tagged in OpenStreetMap as 152 km; where that differs from our figure, the difference is usually alternative sections, spurs, or a published distance that rounds.

Access rights along the way

The route stays within Wales, so one access regime applies along its length.

A waymarked route is a route you may walk — it does not follow that you may camp beside it, leave it, or take a dog on it. Long-distance paths cross farmland, estates and access land in turn, and byelaws and seasonal restrictions override the general position. This is general information, not legal advice. Check a specific spot with the access checker.

National parks on the route

The line passes through one national park, each with its own byelaws and camping position.

• Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)

Summits on and beside the route

Listed hills from our hill dataset whose summit lies within 2.5 km of the line — 12 of them within 350 m, so effectively on the route itself. Distances are measured from the nearest point of the path, not from a trailhead.

The route in day stages

Beacons Way cut into 8 stages of roughly 20 km, measured along the line itself. These are equal-distance splits computed from the geometry, not an official itinerary — they will not always land on a village, a bunkhouse or a station, and the real day you walk should be set by where you can sleep.

Positions are 8-figure (100 m) OS grid references for points on the line, computed from WGS84 coordinates. Flat-ground times are Naismith at 5 km/h with a 6 min/hour rest allowance and no ascent — add the climb in the walking-time calculator before you plan around them.

Conditions on the route

Daylight at the midpoint today

Sunrise

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Sunset

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Daylight

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Civil twilight ends

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Computed astronomically for 51.840, -3.359. Set a turnaround with the daylight safety planner.

Plan this walk

• Walking-time calculator — add ascent, terrain, pack weight and fitness to get a usable time.
• Pack-weight calculator — multi-day routes live or die on base weight.
• Kit-list generator — season and terrain aware.
• Access checker — what a specific grid reference on the route allows.
• Best month to walk — historical rainfall, temperature and wind by area.
• Safety notes — conditions change fast; build in margin.

Other long-distance paths nearby

• Taff Trail · 101 km
• St Illtyd's Walk · 47 km
• Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk · 45 km
• Heart of Wales Line Trail · 231 km
• Wye Valley Walk · 224 km
• Wales Coast Path · 321 km

Sources for this route

• Route geometry, name, waymark and operator: OpenStreetMap relation 34591 — © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
• Distance, stages, country crossings, park crossings and summit proximity: computed by OpenFell from that geometry.
• Boundaries: Office for National Statistics (OGL v3.0). Summits: Database of British & Irish Hills v18.3 (CC BY 4.0).
• Official route website: www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org

OpenStreetMap data is licensed under the Open Database Licence. Our derived trail measurements are published under the same terms — see data sources.