Fan y Big the edge of its precipitous western face. The view of this face from Cribyn is regarded as very striking. Fan y Bîg has since lost its mountain status. The peak is prominent on the north facing escarpment of the central part of the Brecon Beacons and several footpaths cross the summit. All the surrounding land is open access and so walkers can go where they wish. In poor weather however, the paths are the safest route for access. The peak is often crossed by hikers aiming for Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du, and also forms part of 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