Pen y Fan same noun "ban", in its plural form "bannau", is found in the Welsh name for the Brecon Beacons: "Bannau Brycheiniog". There is no one standard translation of "Pen y Fan", but 'the mountain's peak' or 'the beacon's summit' are both possible translations. Pen y Fan is formed from various units of the Old Red Sandstone which were laid down during the Devonian period. The lower slopes of the mountain are formed from the sandstones and mudstones of the Senni Formation whilst the upper slopes are formed from those of the Brownstones Formation. The very summit, like that of neighbouring Corn
Pen y Fan Corn Du. It takes its name from a large coaching inn with a pitched slate roof (named after a local landowner, Storey Maskelyne), which was demolished in 1924. The site of the original inn is east of the centre, on the northeastern edge of the Pont ar Daf car park. Buses stop on either side of the A470 outside the centre. The car park at Pont ar Daf, from the Storey Arms centre, is the most popular access point for tourists and walkers to Pen y Fan. The car park, which has space for around 50 cars, is owned by