Wales · United Kingdom
Black Mountain Pass
A4069Llangadog to Brynamman
A sinuous ribbon over the western Brecon Beacons, all open moor and big sky.
The A4069 climbs out of Llangadog onto the bare flank of the Black Mountain, threading a sequence of open, cambered curves past Herbert’s Quarry before dropping to Brynamman. With almost no walls or hedges, the moor falls away on every side and the corners reveal themselves at distance. Sheep roam freely and summits can be blind, so keep your speed to what you can see and enjoy the rhythm of the road.
The road that started this whole thing for us. Empty, sweeping, gloriously good, Clarkson was right about this one.
Why we picked it
Scenery
Best seasons
Featured in
In these collections
In these Grand Tours
In these guides
Where it runs12.1 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Corners
busiest around mile 7Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%45.1 – 496.5 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Herbert’s QuarryRoadside parking near the summit.8.7 mi in
- Pen Rhiw-dduViewpoint8.2 mi in
- Bryn-têgViewpoint2.0 mi in
Hazards
- Open moorland with roaming livestock
- Blind summits
- Exposed to wind and fog
Sources
“It is widely regarded as the best driving road in Wales.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
Driving the Black Mountain Pass: quick answers
How long does it take to drive the Black Mountain Pass?
How difficult is the Black Mountain Pass to drive?
When is the best time to drive the Black Mountain Pass?
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Black Mountain Pass.
