7k Run Ystradfellte: Stunning Views on the Four Waterfalls Route

Route Overview & Local Insights

Tucked away in the southern foothills of the Brecon Beacons, the Four Waterfalls walk becomes a technical and rewarding 6.9km trail run starting from the Comin y Rhos car park. This loop is a true trail runner's playground, characterized by lush woodland paths and forest floor sections that can be exceptionally rooty and slick, especially after the classic Welsh rain. While the total ascent is a modest 58m, the terrain is moderately hilly (rated 2) and entirely unpaved, making it perfect for those who enjoy agile footwork and a natural pace. Runners will navigate the ancient gorge of the Mellte River, enjoying the sensory experience of rushing water and damp pine needles underfoot.

Ystradfellte, known locally as "Waterfall Country," sits atop a unique limestone cave system that has carved out some of Britain’s most spectacular cascades over millennia. The area is steeped in Welsh folklore and industrial history, as these very paths were once used by locals and miners transversing the Neath Valley. While the timed Skamper segment focuses on the woodland loop to ensure a consistent flow, runners should absolutely take advantage of the untimed detours to witness Sgwd yr Eira, where you can actually run behind the curtain of falling water. It is a mystical landscape that feels worlds away from the paved roads of the nearby towns.