15yo hiking in wales?

They sound pretty sensible to me, I'd be inclined to let them go on a day hike

If they're planning on a circular route around pen y fan for example it's not hard, there's people all around especially at this time of year.

If they know how to map read and are well prepared with kit they'd have a blast.

Get them dropped off early (the closest car park is full by 8am). If you think of all the alternative activities they could be getting into at this age 😬hill walking is one you and DH need to try and encourage, despite misgivings.

Make sure they know what to do if something goes wrong.

you drive them there, you know their route, which should be an up and back the same way , and what time you expect them back. One route in particular is probably most suitable. It’s not a wild a remote area , it’s a popular hill with families and the like

you only go on an excellent forecast

it’s really tricky because the only way to get experience is to just do it. A small group 15 to 18 of sensible kids should be fine

Yes. I’d be delighted this is how she wants to spend her time.

Would she be interested in joining Army cadets at all? IME they are excellent providers of this sort of thing. My DS did loads of hikes in Brecon (often overnight in darkness) with them.
They have the opportunity to join a 2 week summer holiday and about 6 weekends a year away with them doing all manner of outdoor pursuits. It's a really brilliant organisation, very cheap and looks good on future CVs too.

Bearing in mind that in 3 years they may be away at Uni and could head off into any mountains they choose with no preparation surely it is better to let them build their experience at this age where you can make sure they plan properly and can be close at hand.

I would recommend buying them a Personal Locator Beacon for a couple of hundred quid if you can. This is a satellite driven emergency beacon - you press it and your position is relayed to the emergency services.

Pen y fan in good conditions is very do able. There are other walks in the area if they are confident map readers etc. Start early on in the day.

Do you know any of the other parents, even loosely? Can you ask if any of them are able to help with checking/advice on route etc?

I have told DS he can do this locally, to build up to going to a national park with friends next summer when he will be 15

At 15 I was hiking solo in Snowdonia national park - it was less than 30 mins from home - I only went with an older more experienced cousin when it was my first time on a particularly difficult route.

I used youth hostels and bothy for overnight stops. The hiking and climbing communities are very welcoming to youngsters and there was always someone on the way who would ask if I was managing, had everything I needed and knew my route. Then as I grew more experienced I would be the one asking others the same.

If they are sensible, know how to read a map and pack properly, and the route is not beyond their experience level (don't pick a scramble if they are not used to scrambles for example) then by all means let them go. Make sure they tell you their route, message you on departure and an expected time to arrive at their camp - and message you when they get back. You can then raise the alarm if they get into trouble.

Bear in mind mobile signal can be rubbish on the hills. Satellite phones are great and much cheaper than they used to be

If you can’t check route planning etc then maybe dh can, if he can’t then it would be a no from me simply because the Brecon Beacons can be quite tough in terms of height and climbs and not many people being around.

a pp says her child did ten tors - that is notoriously challenging and requires a lot of training so if a teen had done that I’d consider them at least partially trained.

Google is your friend / there are loads of route reviews

they should be following a black or green line on the map

the wiggly brown lines shouldn’t disappear at any point ( that means very steep ground)

At that age we were getting pissed and getting fingered down the park. I'd fully support your daughter and her lifestyle choices.

I too grew up in the Brecon Beacons and the area is so varied and complex its been used as training ground for military for decades and folk - highly trained, fit adults - regularly get lost there.

No Way would I let my 15 year old go without me (very) nearby!

Also for me this isn’t about age it’s about training and experience.

there’s a reason D of E builds up from shorter expeditions in relatively easy terrain to longer ones in tougher terrain.

it’s possible to go and learn the skills you need on residential eg this sort of thing.

https://www.outwardbound.org.uk/

The son of a friend of mine recently did this. We're in the Netherlands and he went hiking in Austria with two friends for a few days.

My friend also felt a bit nervous about it so she and her husband booked a few days nearby to be on hand just in case.

But when I say nearby, they were within the same driving distance as your DD will be from you!

She's well old enough, I hope your DH changes his mind. These kinds of experiences are so good for young people.

"Brecon Beacons can be tough"

Can it? Pen y Fan is the highest and that's no big deal in the summer.

Just to add that it’s worth researching the signal availability in that area as that would be a factor in my decision making around letting her go ahead

The signal is better higher up.

I paid for my parking on the top of pen y fan as the signal was horrendous at the bottom. OP - if you're using the NT car park take cash.

I would look into your local explorers network. The explorers in our scout group have more autonomy in organising themselves and I don't think they meet weekly. It might be worth seeing what your local group does

I think I would approach this with expanding on the question "my concern is this...."
Then get your daughter to give you the answers to see what could be done to relieve your concerns only then decide whether you think it is still a sensible decision.

• getting lost ... There are various GPS maps, download what 3 words, paper maps - can the group map read

What could a parent do in the town as relief party?
How to stay in contact?
Is there anyone that could follow the same route but 20 minutes behind them so they get to do it "on their own" but there is someone not too far away should they need support.

My just turned 6 year old asked me the other day when she can start walking to and from school on her own as she knows the way how to cross the roads safely. I asked her what she would do if she fell over and hurt her knee. She replied with "I would find an adult to help me" she was told that whilst she would still need an adults help she wasn't old enough/responsible enough to walk on her own. She accepted that as an answer much more readily than a flat no/ you are too young. I think it can be a good way of testing their reasoning and deductions skills - one so you know when they are ready (not that I needed my 6yo to tell me she wasn't ready to walk to school on her own!) but for them to think what skills they need for the next step of independence.