Nant Sere Waterfall is one of the most scenic waterfall hikes in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, also known as the Brecon Beacons.
This 4.5-mile (7.25 km) hiking route begins from the Cwm Gwdi National Trust Car Park and takes you through the valley until you reach a series of cascading waterfalls.
Along the way, you’ll get to enjoy views of Cribyn and Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales (and the most popular hike in the national park).
I’ve hiked Pen y Fan more than a handful of times since living in Cardiff, so I was excited to hike a different route.
It was amazing to see how quiet this side of the park is in comparison to the constant droves of people who climb Pen y Fan from Pont ar Daf.
The best part of this hike is the wild swimming pools! I was waiting for a sunny day to visit the waterfalls and go for a dip, but the weather has been so unpredictable this summer that we decided to just go for it.
Rain or shine, it’s a stunning place to take a dip, especially with Cribyn towering over you.
Whether you want to visit the waterfalls or go for a wild swim, I’m going to share everything you need to know about the Nant Sere Waterfall hike in the central Brecon Beacons.
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Nant Sere Waterfall Trail Stats
Distance: 4.5 miles (7.25 km) roundtrip
Time: 2.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 751 feet (228 m)
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs: Yes
Nant Sere Waterfall Directions and Map
How to Get to Nant Sere Waterfalls
Nant Sere Waterfall is located in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park on the northern side of Pen y Fan and Cribyn.
The walking path begins from the Cwm Gwdi Car Park. It’s not marked on Google Maps, but you can find the directions here.
From Cardiff, the drive is just over an hour and follows the A470 for most of the way. You’ll end up driving through a one-lane country road on the final stretch to the car park.
The nearest town is Brecon, but unfortunately, there is no public transport to the trailhead.
Official Maps
Pick up an official map to help you plan your waterfall hike in the Brecon Beacons.
Nant Sere Waterfall Parking
You can park your vehicle at Cwm Gwdi, which is a National Trust car park. Parking is free if you are a National Trust member.
Otherwise, you can pay for parking using the pay-and-display machine. The daily fee is £3 for cars and £6 for camper vans and buses.
The parking lot is quite small. We arrived in the early afternoon on a bank holiday weekend and were able to get one of the last few free parking spots.
Most people that park here are hiking the circular route up Pen y Fan.
Nant Sere Waterfall Trail Guide
There are two paths that start from the Cwm Gwdi Car Park. The path that heads south will take you up Pen y Fan. The path to Nant Sere Waterfalls is to the left of the pay-and-display machine and heads east.
The trail is not well-marked, but it’s pretty easy to navigate on your own. I like to use hiking apps like AllTrails and Komoot to help me navigate.
Through The Woodlands
The path to Nant Sere Waterfall starts on a dirt path through the woodlands. You’ll pass through a wooden gate and then drop downhill to cross a small wooden bridge over Nant Gwdi.Â
Immediately after crossing the bridge, you will quickly zig-zag uphill. Keep your eyes peeled at the top of the switchbacks because you will need to take the path to your immediate left!
There will be a small stream to cross over before following the path around to the right.
I loved hiking through this area. We hiked in late August and there were a ton of mushrooms lining the forest floor. It was magical!
Around Cefn Cwm Llwch
The path emerges out of the forest and continues around the base of Cefn Cwm Llwch.
The trail becomes enchanting in a different way as you have to walk through thick patches of tall ferns. Some were taller than me!
The trail was super wet and muddy pretty much the entire way, so keep that in mind when choosing your hiking footwear.
Continue along the path as it weaves in and out of the fern patches.
The only signpost you will see is another route that leads up to Pen y Fan. As long as you keep the fence to your left and Cefn Cwm Llwch to your right, you will be heading in the right direction.
You will start to climb up and around the grassy hill in order to make your way into the Sere Valley. Aim to walk in between the two large trees, with the fence still on your left.
Up The Sere Valley
Once you get up the hill, you will begin to see Cwm Sere with the river below and Cribyn in the distance.
The Nant Sere hiking trail becomes a single-track dirt path that follows the side of Cefn Cwm Llwch. The trail was very muddy, which made it really easy to follow.
As you make your way up the valley, Pen y Fan will also come into view. Since I’ve only hiked these peaks from the other side, it was so beautiful to see them from another perspective.
Honestly, the entire area is stunning and the views are epic. I was surprised (but happy) that we didn’t see anyone else on the way.
Eventually, you’ll be able to hear and see the cascading waterfalls in the distance. You are nearly there!
Finding the Hidden Waterfalls
From the trailhead, the hidden waterfalls are just over 2.2 miles away. From the main path, it can be difficult to see exactly where you need to head down.
I didn’t see any official path down to the waterfalls but if you poke your head over the edge to look into the valley, you’ll see different ways to easily walk down.
I recommend taking the approach that leads you above the top of the falls. This way down was gentle and super quick.
Once you drop down into the valley and see this hidden gem up close, it’s so peaceful. I love how the waterfalls gently cascade down the valley.
There is a small grassy area right in front of the Nant Sere Waterfall, which is big enough to lay down a picnic blanket. It’s the perfect place to enjoy your lunch or a snack!
Nant Sere Waterfalls Swimming Holes
If you wanted to hike to this waterfall so you could go for a wild swim then you are in luck! Okay, the pools are shallow (below your hip), so it’s more of a dip.
There are multiple swimming pools along the river. The main pool is right underneath the larger waterfall, but this pool is very rocky.
It was easy to get in but hard to walk around without stumbling all over the place. I definitely wished I brought my water sandals with me!
Just below the grassy spot is another pool of water. I preferred the dip in this pool because the rock underneath is smooth, so it doesn’t hurt your feet to walk around. It’s also slightly deeper than the pool above.
The views from here are incredible. Cribyn peeks out directly behind the waterfall and if you look the other way, you’ll have views of the valley.
The water is definitely cold, but not glacier water cold (this is what I’m used to in Alaska). It felt so refreshing to get in.
Since the sun didn’t want to make an appearance, we didn’t stay in the falls for too long.
After we dried off and changed back into our hiking clothes, we walked downstream to check out some of the other cascades and saw an even bigger waterfall.
We enjoyed the views before heading back to the car park. To find your way back, climb out of the valley and follow the same trail to finish your hike.
On the hike out, I felt amazing! There is a study that shows that cold water immersion can lead to a 2.5x rise in dopamine levels! I definitely experienced this.
So, if you’re looking for an incredible wild swimming spot in Wales, I definitely recommend hiking to the Nant Sere Waterfalls!
This out-and-back hike can be completed in 2.5 hours. You’ll want to add an extra 30 minutes to one hour of time if you plan on going for a wild swim.
Happy hiking!
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Do you have any questions about the Nant Sere Waterfalls? Let me know in the comments.
