Irish Rangers head to Brecon and brave whiteout conditions to conquer Pen y Fan

Soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment have battled snow, fog and ice as they climbed to the top of Pen y Fan - the highest mountain in South Wales.

Enduring temperatures as low as -8C, the Irish Rangers faced whiteout snowstorms as part of a gruelling eight-week selection cadre.

Pen y Fan, at 886 metres above sea level, is the highest in the region and presents a serious challenge for even the most seasoned adventurers.

• Royal Irish Regiment soldiers dangle from helicopter in daring special extraction drills
• Operation Clockwork: Merlins, Wildcats and Apaches navigate 'hardest environment on earth'
• In pictures: HMS Prince of Wales basks in stunning northern lights display on Ex Steadfast Defender

The cadre tests physical endurance, mental toughness and teamwork under extreme conditions and is designed to select the best candidates for specialised roles within the regiment.

Royal Irish Regiment soldiers are not the only ones to scale Pen y Fan as part of a selection process.

The mountain in the Brecon Beacons also serves as a crucial component of the gruelling Fan Dance, a renowned test of fitness and mental resilience.

The Fan Dance is used in the selection process for the Special Air Service, one of the world's most elite special forces units.

Participants must navigate a 24km march over the Beacons, including the ascent of Pen y Fan while carrying heavy packs.

The infamous march is the world's oldest Special Forces test and is used as the first major indicator of whether a candidate has the physical and mental aptitude to be a member of the SAS.