Pen y Fan Pen y Fan Pen y Fan () is the highest peak in south Wales, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park. At above sea-level, it is also the highest British peak south of Cadair Idris in Snowdonia. The twin summits of Pen y Fan and Corn Du at 873 m (2,864 ft) were formerly referred to as Cadair Arthur or 'Arthur's Seat'. The mountain and surrounding area are owned by the National Trust whose work parties attempt to combat the erosion caused by the passage of thousands of feet up and down this most popular of South Wales' peaks. The
Pen-y-ghent language, exactly as in today's Welsh, "Pen" meant 'top' or 'head', and "y" is most likely the definite article ("the"), exactly as in Modern Welsh "y". These elements are common in placenames throughout the island, and especially in Wales (compare Penyberth 'end of the hedge/copse', or Penyffordd 'head of the road/way', etc.). The element "ghent" is more obscure, however: it could be taken to be 'edge' or 'border'. The name "Pen-y-ghent" could therefore mean 'Hill on the border' (compare Kent). Alternatively, "ghent" could mean 'wind' or 'winds' – from the closest Welsh transliteration, "gwynt" ('wind'). Thus it might mean simply