Beacons View, near Monmouth
Walk through heathland and woodland
Gwaun Hepste car park is the starting point for the Four Falls Trail, the legendary circular trail to the woodland gorges where four of the area’s most spectacular waterfalls are found.
The main paths on the Four Falls Trail are wide and easy to follow but the optional signposted sections to the best views of each waterfall follow narrow, steep paths which are rocky and can be slippery.
Gwaun Hepste is in a popular part of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park known as Waterfall Country.
We want you to return home safely after your visit to Waterfall Country.
Serious accidents do happen to visitors here and there have been several fatalities in recent years.
You are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of any children and animals with you during your visit.
Please note:
For advice and tips to help you plan your visit here go to Visiting our places safely.
The walking trail is waymarked from start to finish.
Look out for the information panel at the start of the trail.
Find out about walking trail grades.
A legendary circular trail through woodland gorges taking in the four most popular waterfalls.
You can also join the Four Falls Trail from the car park at Cwm Porth (Ordnance Survey grid reference SN 928 124) which is managed by the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority.
This is a pay and display car park with an information point and toilets.
For more information, go to the Brecon Beacons National Park website.
There is a slightly shorter, direct route to Sgwd-yr-Eira waterfall from our car park at Dinas Rock.
Nowhere else in Wales is there such a richness and diversity of waterfalls within such a small area as Waterfall Country.
Here the rivers Mellte, Hepste, Pyrddin, Nedd Fechan and Sychryd wind their way down deep, tree-lined gorges, over a series of dramatic waterfalls, before joining to form the River Neath.
Whether you are looking for a whole day adventure or an hour’s stroll you should be able to find a route suitable for you.
Waterfall Country lies largely within woodland jointly managed by Natural Resources Wales and the National Park Authority. Together we manage the paths and help you explore and enjoy this unique area.
Go to the National Park's website for more places to visit in Waterfall Country.
See the top of this webpage for details of any planned closures or other changes to visitor facilities here.
For your safety, always follow instructions from staff and signs including those for trail diversions or closures.
We may divert or close trails whilst we undertake maintenance work or other operations and we may need to close other visitor facilities temporarily.
In extreme weather, we may close facilities at short notice due to the risk of injury to visitors and staff.
You may need permission from us to organise an event or to carry out some activities on our land.
Check if you are allowed to use our land.
Gwaun Hepste car park is 10 miles north west of Merthyr Tydfil.
The postcode is CF44 9JF.
Please note that this postcode may not take you to the car park if you use a sat nav or navigation app.
We suggest you follow the directions below or use the Google map on this page which has a pin on the car park’s location.
Take the A465 from Merthyr Tydfil towards Neath.
After 5 miles, take the A4059 at roundabout towards Brecon.
After 3¼ miles, turn left towards Ystradfellte.
Bear left at next two junctions, following waterfall signs to Gwaun Hepste car park which is on the left.
View this place on the What3Words website.
The Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the car park is SN 935 123 (Explorer Map OL 12).
The nearest mainline railway station is in Aberdare.
For details of public transport go to the Traveline Cymru website.
Gwaun Hepste is a pay and display car park, managed by the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority.
The parking charges are:
The ticket machine only takes cards.
Overnight parking is not permitted.
There are no staff at this location.
Contact our customer team for general enquiries during office hours, Monday to Friday.