Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales
Fresh air, stunning landscapes, mountains with high peaks, hidden waterfalls and gorges soared over by buzzards and red kites. The Brecon Beacons you will leave feeling refreshed and renewed.
Activities in the National Park include horse riding, mountain biking routes, wildlife walks, fishing and birdwatching. Explore the Fforest Fawr Geopark, south of Sennybridge, the Black Mountains and Ystradfellte.
A busy historical Cathedral town on the banks of the River Usk, Brecon is a delightful mix of Georgian buildings, narrow streets and a riverside promenade. Market days are on Tuesdays and Fridays. It is the hub for many of the activities that take place in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Highlights include the Brecon Jazz Festival held every August. Theatr Brycheiniog is located on the terminus of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal – a 37 mile award winning canal offering boat hire.
A wonderful Georgian town in the Usk Valley with a 13th Century Castle, and a 17th Century river bridge which has13 arches on one side but only 12 on the other. The town lies beneath the flat topped summit of Crughywel, an iron age fort. The remains of a Norman Castle can be seen within the parkland in the town centre. Other interesting features of Crickhowell include the 16th Century St. Edmund's Church Crickhowell is a paradise for walkers with hotels and restaurants developing an enviable reputation for superb food.
Hay on Wye is internationally famous as the ‘town of books’. And is home to the annual Hay Festival of Literature a superb festival with famous writers, musicians, poets and comedians. The focal point of the town is the 17th century manor house which stands on the site of an earlier 13th century castle. Maesyronnen Chapel, located between Hay on Wye and Glasbury, is the oldest unaltered non-conformist meeting place still in use in Wales
An attractive county town with old marketplace, historic inns, a ruined castle and crafts centre. Ideally located for exploring Carmarthenshire and the Brecon Beacons. Visit the Heritage Centre for information on local legends and wildlife.
Former ‘iron capital of the world’ Merthyr Tydfil has a wide range of heritage attractions and museums. Here the narrow-gauge Brecon Mountain Railway runs into the foothills of the Brecon Beacons. Explore woodlands and lakes from the Garwant Visitor Centre to the north.
At the southern end of the National Park, Ystradgynlais is flanked by mountains - The Drum, Cribarth, Farteg and Mynydd Du - and bisected by the Tawe River on its way to the sea at Swansea. An excellent road connects the area to the M4 Motorway 12 miles down the Valley. Man has lived in the area since at least Mesolithic times (7000-5000 BC) and many traces for this era can be seen. Standing Stones such as Maen Llia and Maen Madog, bones and other artifacts attest to human occupation. An ancient stone circle, Cerrig Duon, with its attendant standing stone, Maen Mawr, alongside the young Tawe River, are pointed to by a row or alignment of stones known as the Saith Maen or Seven Stones which lies atop the Cribarth. The early history of the area is explained in the fascinating Dan yr Ogof Caves,just past Abercraf at the head of the valley.
Classic traditional country town on the bluff above the Tywi. An unexpected shopping hot spot – it boasts a tempting array of fashionable galleries and boutiques. National Trust’s, Dinefwr can be visited on the outskirts of the town.
The area’s rich industrial heritage is recalled at the local museum set in Pontypool Park. There’s living canal heritage too – the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal connects the town with Brecon. Good leisure facilities including a dry ski slope. |
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