About
The entrance to a fairy kingdom is reputed to be somewhere in the upper Neath Valley, along the Elidir Trail, which takes you upstream along the path on the left hand side of the River Pyrddin through spectacular gorges.
Waterfall Country Map Waterfalls on this trail.
- Sgwd Gwladys / Lady Falls
- Sgwd Ddwli Isaf
- Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf
- Sgwd-y-Bedol
- Sgwd Einion Gam – no official path
Photos
Elidir Trail
- 1 Review
Being keen hikers and living in the Vale of Glamorgan, my wife and I have had the pleasure of visiting many of the waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons. But it wasn’t until April 2021 that we experienced the Elidir Trail for the very first time. I spend a lot of time on the web researching our hikes and the Elidir Trail seemed to get far less attention than its close neighbour, the Four Waterfalls Walk. Having now completed both, the focus of the attention should definitely be flipped in my opinion. As good as the Four Waterfalls Walk is, we both feel that the Elidir Trail surpasses it.
The Elidir Trail itself takes in four beautiful waterfalls along two rivers. Approaching from the southern starting point of Pontneddfechan you will first reach the Sgwd Gwladus, located on the Afon Pyrddin. Then it is up the Afon Nedd Fechan for three further waterfalls all in close proximity to one another – Sgwd-y-Bedol (horseshoe falls), Sgwd Ddwli Isaf and Sgwd Ddwli Uchaf. It is then on up to the picnic and northern parking area at Pont Melin-Fach. From here it is a simple case of retracing your steps back to the starting point.
If you are up for a bit of adventure and fancy seeing a fifth and, in our opinion, the best waterfall in the locality, then it’s time to head upstream of the Sgwd Gwladus to the Sgwd Einion Gam. The falls sit approximately 800 metres upstream of the Sgwd Gwladus. There is no well made path for this stretch, a couple of river crossings are required as well as a precarious section of path. Put in the effort and you get to experience the beautiful secluded Sgwd Einion Gam, a waterfall the majority of visitors to the Elidir Trail never get to see, or probably even know about!
If you have to pick just one waterfall walk in the Brecon Beacons National Park, make it the Elidir Trail.