Black Mountain Pass – UK travel guide

Consumer Editor

6 minute read|22nd May 2026

If you are looking for a road trip in Wales, one of its iconic ones is the Black Mountain Pass.

This 20-mile stretch of road has been used on television shows such as Top Gear and offers a dramatic backdrop for visitors.

This UK road trips guide will explain all you need to know about the Black Mountain Pass in Wales.

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Where is Black Mountain Pass?

Wales’s Black Mountain Pass is a dramatic mountain road in the south west of the country, and is regarded as one of the UK’s most scenic drives.

Officially part of the A4069, it runs along the western side of the Brecon Beacons and across the Black Mountain range.

It is a part of the wider Carmarthenshire and Powys landscape.

The route is popular with drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists due to its steep climbs, winding roads, and panoramic views of the surrounding moorlands.

The pass roughly runs from the villages of Llandadog and Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen and lasts around 20 miles.

Its highest point is about 500 metres above sea level, and is one of the regions most popular tourist destinations.

Because of its dramatic scenery and sharp, challenging bends, it is one of the UK’s best-known roads.

Black Mountain Pass start point

The Black Mountain Pass is the most scenic part of the A4069 in south west Wales, and begins near the village of Llangadog in Carmarthenshire, before it climbs into the mountain range, and then ends in Gwaun Cae Curwen near Neath Port Talbot.

Black Mountain Pass map

Here is the map of the route you will need to take to travel along the A4069 and Black Mountain Pass:

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Places to visit on the Black Mountain Pass

The Black Mountain Pass makes up part of the Brecon Beacons National Park – which is a very popular destination for tourists throughout the year.

A great place to start a road trip is to head to Llyn y Fan Fach, a glacial lake that sits beneath a steep cliff.

The village of Llangadog in Carmarthenshire has many pubs, cafes, and little shops to visit.

Similarly, the town of Brynamman offers similar opportunities on a road trip.

Further along the route, Carreg Cennen Castle is perched on a limestone cliff overlooking the Brecon Beacons.

There are also many walking routes that feature dramatic mountain views, waterfalls, and fields with wildlife and picnic areas.

Why is it famous?

The Black Mountain Pass is famous largely due to it being featured on the popular BBC motoring show, Top Gear, back in 2008.

In one of the most memorable segments, the hosts travel along the route along the A4069 and take the sharp hairpin turns with a dramatic backdrop.

The exposure led to several news articles about the history of the road on the BBC website, and has been a popular place for fans of the show to visit and recreate the route that they took.

Aside from its exposure on television, it is well known within the motoring community as a great road trip.

However, its notoriety with more reckless drivers has also seen some serious accidents in recent years. As a result, the most dangerous part of the route (between Brynamman and Llangadog) now has a strict 40mph limit enforced with average speed cameras.

Tro Gwcw (Cuckoo Turn)

Also known as Cuckoo Turn, the Tro Gwgc is the most famous section of the Black Mountain Pass.

It is a dramatic hairpin turn that includes steep elevation and panoramic views of the area.

Famous for its appearance in Top Gear, it is a popular route for tourists to the route.

What else is there to visit on the A4069?

Driving along the A4069 in south west Wales, tourists are spoilt with some incredible views of the nearby area of the Brecon Beacons.

With its many sweeping bends and great vistas, it is a popular place for car and motorbike enthusiasts to experience.

The country’s famous sheep are often seen wondering on the nearby fields (and often on the roads themselves), which provide a great photo opportunity.

There are several waterfalls, reservoirs, mountain walks and quaint villages to stop in.