One of the most famous attractions in the South of Wales, the Brecon Beacons is one of three national parks in the country, and one that is known for its diversity. Easily accessible for those on day trips, short breaks, and holidays, the Brecon Beacons continues to attract tourists with its valleys, waterfalls, woodland and high mountain peaks, some of which are over 1000ft above sea level.
This diverse landscape means there are walks through and around the Brecon Beacons to suit all ages, ability levels, and interests. The national park authority is particularly active in promoting walks around the park, and run their own programme of guided walks. Their walks are graded into access for all, which are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, easy, which are ideal for novice walkers, and finally moderate, energetic walks and strenuous walks. Guides will teach you more about the park, and points of interest along each route.
Another option is to join like-minded walkers at special walking festivals scheduled throughout the year, that are run by local volunteers/experts. One of the biggest is the Crickhowell Walking Festival, traditionally held around February or March each year. For 2011, 70 walks are planned to suit all abilities, and they range from all day treks to themed walks, which could include wildlife talks and birdwatching.
If you choose the self-guided option, the Brecons Way Walk may be your first port of call. This is 101 miles long and would take 8 days in total to complete, though you can do it in separate sections. Recommended stretches of the walk include 9.9 miles from Carreg Cennen to Llangadog, 11 miles from Craig-y-nos to Llanddeu Sant, and 16.4 miles from Llangynidr to Craig Cerrig-Gleisiad. The latter is a walk that takes in Pen-y-fan, the highest mountain peak in South Wales, and one which attracts a large number of visitors in summer, many of whom enjoy ridge walking across Pen-y-fan and nearby peaks like Corn Du.
Pen-y-fan lies within 5000 hectares of the Brecon Beacons that is managed by the National Trust, which also includes the Sugar Loaf, and the Nant Llech Waterfall trail. The Sugar Loaf is a significant peak in the Abergavenny mountain range and a circular walk along it appears in the AA book, Top 100 Walks in Wales. This walk covers grassy tracks in the eastern area of the National Park, and will take approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to complete. The Nat Llech Waterfall Trail comes in slightly shorter at 2 hours, but is packed full of features. The route is a Site of Special Scientific Interest which starts in the Abercraf area and ends where the Nant Llech River meets the River Tawe. One of the main focal points along the walk is Henrhyd Falls, which at 90ft high is one of the highest waterfalls in Wales, and one of a series that was formed by the narrow gorges at the head of the Neath/Tawe Rivers. This is one of two popular routes that the National Park authority has created downloadable audio trails for, the other being the Henllys Vale Miners Walk. This walk takes around 2 hours to complete and passes through the site of the former colliery at Henllys Vale, along with Bryn Henllys Bridge and Kissing Gate.
These are just a few suggestions for popular walks and natural features to visit in the National Park, but they are by no means the only draws in the Brecon Beacons. The built history of the area can be seen in the remains of the many castles that were built in the area, such as Brecon Castle, which is now a hotel, Hay Castle, Craig y Nos Castle, and Abergavenny Castle. You can complete the story of the Brecon Beacons, with a visit to Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery in Brecon, and the Brecon Cathedral and Heritage Centre. Along with heritage attractions, this market town also houses a cinema, theatre, and many art shops/galleries.
For families, Cantref Adventure Farm Park in Powys provides play facilities, special events, and live animal shows to enjoy, while adults could travel a bit further afield to the Penderyn Distillery, the only place in Wales to distil Whisky.
There are two award winning visitor attractions in this area that the whole family will enjoy too: The Big Pit Coal Museum at Blaenafon Torfaen is an interesting interactive attraction, while the Dan-yr-ogof, the National Showcaves Centre, provides great value for money. An entrance fee here includes access to 10 different attractions, including a dinosaur park, farm and Shire horse centre, museum, and the showcaves themselves.
Local events also form an important part of life, and along with farmers markets, Christmas Fayres, and the Black Mountains Mountain Bike Endurance Test, there’s also an eclectic range of music events. The Brecon Jazz Festival has been entertaining visitors for 27 years, while the Georgian architecture in Brecon has inspired a unique Baroque Festival, and the Green Man Festival provides something more current and trendy.
Whatever you decide to do on a visit to Brecon Beacons, you’ll find a wide choice of accommodation to suit all budgets. There are caravan parks available for both static and touring caravans, such as the Black Mountain Caravan and Camping Park, camping available at local farms, guest houses like The Black Lion in Abergavenny, and a range of self catering and bed and breakfast outlets like Penylan Farm Bed and Breakfast, and Birch Tree Farm. Food and drink is plentiful too, with tea rooms, restaurants, and hotels across the National Park serving up anything from Afternoon tea, to Welsh or Traditional British three course dinners.
All this and more is accessible from Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol, and the Midlands, if you’re planning a day trip, while London is 120 miles away for those planning a longer break. With Cardiff Airport an hour away, well signposted road links, and various rail and bus services running to, and around the area, visiting this diverse and scenic part of Wales couldn’t be easier.
