The
Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in
South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of
Old Red Sandstone peaks popular with walkers which lie to the south of
Brecon. Sometimes referred to as "the central Beacons" they include South Wales' highest mountain,
Pen y Fan. The range forms the central section of the
Brecon Beacons National Park (
Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog), a designation which also encompasses ranges both to the east and the west of "the central Beacons". This much wider area is also commonly referred to as "the Brecon Beacons", and it includes the
Black Mountains, Wales to the east as well as the
Black Mountain (range) to the west. The highest peaks include
Fan Brycheiniog to the west and
Pen y Fan in the central part. They share the same basic geology as the central range, and so exhibit many similar features, such the north-facing escarpment and glacial features such as lakes and
cwms below the escarpment. They all fall within the border of the
Brecon Beacons National Park.