Brecon Beacons National Park Voyage Tips and guide

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The Brecon Beacons National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog) is a United Kingdom national park in southern Wales. Within an area of 1347 km² (520 sq miles), the park contains some of the most spectacular and distinctive upland formations in southern Britain. Stretching from Hay-on-Wye in the east to Llandeilo in the west, the park includes the Black Mountains, the Central Beacons, Fforest Fawr and the Black Mountain as well as a vast array of moorland, forests, valleys, waterfalls, lakes, caves and gorges.

Several small towns and villages lie within or directly besides Brecon Beacons National Park and can serve well as a base from where to discover the park. For this reason, many have become rather popular tourist destinations with proper facilities for travellers. Good examples include Abergavenny, Brecon, Crickhowell, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Hay-on-Wye (famous for its book stores) and Merthyr Tydfil. Other options are Brynaman, Govilon, the small villages Llangadog, Capel Gwynfe and Bethlehem, Llangorse, Pontneddfechan, Talgarth, Talybont-on-Usk, and the lovely parish of Myddfai.

The Brecon Beacons (or simply 'the Beacons') can refer both to the central range of mountains which stretch east from Storey Arms to Talybont and also to the national park as a whole which contains other extensive ranges as outlined below. The alternative term 'the Brecons' is not used locally and will not win you friends! The mountain area on the east of the national park (extending to the English border) is called the Black Mountains, and the area on the west of the park (towards Llandeilo) is known as the Black Mountain (singular). Old writings suggest that the entire collection of mountain massifs between Abergavenny and Llandeilo was once known as the Black Mountain - which helps to account for some of the confusion that arises with modern naming of the area.

The Brecon Beacons mountain range together with the neighbouring Black Mountains, Fforest Fawr and Black Mountain ranges was designated as the Brecon Beacons National Park in 1957. It was the last of the original ten to gain its status.

The larger part of the area is underlain by Old Red Sandstone rocks which despite the name are generally brown in colour and do contain layers of softer mudstone. It is this layer cake which is also tilted to the south which gives rise to a characteristic stepped appearance to some of the mountain slopes, particularly in the Black Mountains of the east. All of the various ranges have been carved by rivers and glaciers giving rise to steep north facing scarps and longer southerly directed valleys, many of which are heavily wooded. A number of these valleys in the central part of the park have been dammed gving rise to around a dozen picturesque reservoirs.

A band of limestone running east-west through the park brings with it a pock-marked landscape riddled with caves, some of which are amongst the longest in Europe. Along the southern edge of the park, adjacent to the South Wales Coalfield are numerous signs of former industry such as quarries, tramways and limekilns.

The major river within the park is the Usk which rises on the western Black Mountain, gathers waters from the central Beacons and then flows along the southern edge of the eastern Black Mountains. Its valley provides the main east-west route through the park.

Native broadleaf woodland is abundant within the valleys though it's greatly supplemented by conifer plantations in certain areas. A number of rare whitebeam species cling to limestone cliffs in parts of the park; these are generally protected as nature reserves. The global populations of some of these species is only around 25 to 30 trees! The red kite is emblematic of the park, particularly west of Brecon though it's becoming a more common sight in the east too. Herons, kingfishers and dippers are a common sight on the area's rivers which are in the main unspoilt - indeed the Usk catchment has SAC status, the highest level of protection, not least for its fish and lamprey species with there also being a healthy population of otters. Water voles have been re-introduced to Llangorse Lake area.

Being an upland area, the Brecon Beacons get their fair share of rainfall though the eastern Black Mountains are distinctly drier than the western Black Mountain. The stretch of country between Brecon and Hay-on-Wye is the driest part of the park followed by the eastern part of the Usk valley towards Abergavenny. The ranges often form a weather divide with dry weather on say the northern side of the watershed whilst rain falls on the southern slopes.

• Brecon Beacons National Park website

The only airport in Wales is around 35 mi (56 km) by road from Merthyr Tydfil, to the south of the Brecon Beacons. Cardiff Airport (CWL ^IATA) is small, with flights arriving from destinations throughout the UK and western Europe. It is near Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan.

By road, the A4226, A48 then A4232 link Cardiff Airport with the M4 motorway eastbound. Exit the M4 at Junction 32 for the A470 to Merthyr Tydfil and Brecon.

By train, the 304 and 905 buses connect the terminal with Rhoose Cardiff Airport station, for Transport for Wales Valley Lines routes into Cardiff. Change in Cardiff for trains to Merthyr Tydfil, just south of the Brecon Beacons.

By bus, the 304 connects the terminal with Cardiff city centre. Change for the TrawsCymru T4 bus through the National Park between Merthyr and Brecon.

Alternative airports include:

• Bristol Airport (BRS ^IATA) — A medium-sized international airport in South West England. National Express service 216 connects Bristol Airport with Cardiff, for the TrawsCymru T4 route through the Brecon Beacons.
• London Heathrow Airport (LHR ^IATA) — One of Europe's busiest international airports, with flights from around the world. National Express service 201/202 connect Heathrow Airport with Cardiff, for the TrawsCymru T4 route through the Brecon Beacons. It lies on the M4 motorway around 135 mi (217 km) east of Junction 32, for the A470 into the Brecon Beacons.
• Birmingham Airport (BHX ^IATA) — A major international airport in the English Midlands, with good road connections to the Brecon Beacons using M42, M5, M50 then A40.

The Brecon Beacons has poor rail connections with the rest of Wales and the UK.

Convenient railway stations include:

• Abergavenny on the south-eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons, with services from major destinations including Carmarthen, Llanelli, Swansea, Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Chester, Wrexham, Bangor and Holyhead.
• Ebbw Vale Town around 3 mi (4.8 km) south of the mountain range, with local services from several larger destinations including Bridgend, Cardiff and Newport.
• Rhymney south of the Brecon Beacons, with Valley Lines services from Cardiff and Caerphilly.
• Merthyr Tydfil around 2 mi (3.2 km) south of the Brecon Beacons, with Valley Lines services from Cardiff and Pontypridd.
• Ffairfach less than 1 mi (1.6 km) from the mountain's western edge, on the Heart of Wales line with services from Swansea, Llanelli, Llandrindod, and Shrewsbury. Llandeilo and Llandovery are also near the Brecon Beacons on the same line.

Stations are part of the National Rail network in Great Britain. You can buy tickets online at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ or from a range of other online retailers, station ticket offices or station ticket machines.

To connect with trains to the Brecon Beacons from further afield:

• Services operate into Cardiff Central and Newport from London Paddington, Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Bath, Nottingham, Birmingham New Street and Cheltenham.
• Services operate into Hereford from London Paddington, Reading, Oxford, The Cotswolds, Worcester and The Malverns.
• Services operate into Crewe from London Euston, Milton Keynes Central, Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Liverpool, Oxenholme Lake District, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

With more than 500 square miles of national park to explore, you should plan your route according to where you want to go.

The is a major gateway into South Wales, from London, Windsor, Reading, Bath, The Cotswolds, and Bristol. It lies south of the Brecon Beacons, between the coast and the industrial Welsh Valleys, past Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend and Swansea. There are several routes between the motorway with the mountains.

From Newport, use the dual-carriageway for Pontypool and Abergavenny. Big Pit National Coal Museum lies just west of the route - and just south of the Brecon Beacons National Park area. Sugar Loaf rises above the Usk Valley and Abergavenny, 596 metres above sea level with panoramic views across the Black Mountains. From the exit at .

From Cardiff and Pontypridd, the roughly follows the course of the River Taff, through the Valleys. The hills which flank the dual-carriageway increase in size the further you travel from the capital. The route is a direct connection to Merthyr Tydfil, the Beacons Reservoir, Pen y Fan and Brecon. From the exit at .

From Bridgend, the winds through Ogmore Vale, Nant-y-moel and Treorchy, over the Bwlch and Rhigos mountains with sweeping views across the Valleys. It is a slower, more scenic route which climbs and descends steep hills with very tight bends. Hirwaun is at its northern end. Use for Penderyn with its whiskey distillery and Pen y Fan with its views across the National Park. From the exit at .

From Swansea and Neath, the climbs the Vale of Neath to Glynneath, Pontneddfechan and Hirwaun. Heads of the Valleys Road continues to Merthyr Tydfil, Ebbw Vale, Brynmawr and Abergavenny. Use for Penderyn with its whiskey distillery and Pen y Fan with its views across the National Park. Big Pit National Coal Museum lies just southeast of Brynmawr - and just south of the Brecon Beacons National Park area. Sugar Loaf rises above the Usk Valley and Abergavenny, 596 metres above sea level with panoramic views across the Black Mountains. From the exit at .

The leaves the Swansea suburbs for Ystradgynlais, the National Showcaves Centre for Wales in the Brecon Beacons (Dan-yr-Ogof) and Sennybridge. It is a slower route which follows the course of the River Tawe. From the exit at .

From Pont Abraham, the runs west of the Brecon Beacons between Ammanford and Llandeilo. Carreg Cennen Castle lies east of the route, perched on a hill with views across woodland and traditional Welsh farmland. From the exit at .

Routes from the east include:

• from Oxford, The Cotswolds, Gloucester, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth - to Abergavenny, Sugar Loaf, Crickhowell, Brecon, Sennybridge, Llandovery and Llandeilo
• from Ledbury and Hereford - to Hay-on-Wye and Brecon
• from Hereford - to Abergavenny, Ebbw Vale, Merthyr Tydfil and Hirwaun

From The Midlands, use then for Ross-on-Wye, then towards Abergavenny.

Routes from the north include:

• from Builth Wells - to Brecon, Pen y Fan and Merthyr Tydfil
• from Builth Wells - to Llandovery and Llandeilo

Routes from the west include:

• from Fishguard (including Stena Line ferries from Rosslare,  Ireland), Haverfordwest, Tenby, Carmarthen - to Llandeilo, Llandovery, Sennybridge, Brecon, Crickhowell, Sugar Loaf and Abergavenny
• from Carmarthen - to the for onward connections into southern parts of the Brecon Beacons
• from Aberaeron and Lampeter - to the

Access to the park and its tourist offices is free though there are parking charges at some locations.

• 51.7782-3.55481 Sgwd yr Eira Waterfall, Penderyn (from Lamb Hotel on A4059 at Penderyn, follow the road and then footpath to the river). This is the waterfall you can walk behind, as it has a shallow cave behind the curtain of water. A must see if you are visiting South Wales. The path from the Lamb has been renewed and easy to follow, The waterfall is a 30 minute walk from Penderyn. The steps down to the river are steep and need care. Can be combined in a single walk with several other waterfalls nearby. free. 
• 51.884-3.43692 Pen Y Fan (from Storey Arms on A470, an hour's walk along marked paths). The highest peak in Southern Britain, at 2,907 ft (886 m), is a popular walk for locals and visitors alike. Fantastic views, and an exhilarating walk. Can be included in a circular walk known as the horseshoe taking in the adjacent peaks of Cribyn and Corn Ddu. no charge. 
• 51.8814-3.708483 Black Mountain. Area in the western section of the park (not to be confused with the Black Mountains in the east). Fan Brycheiniog is the highest peak at 2,631 ft (802 m). The area has much evidence of glacial activity and there are two magical lakes Llyn y Fan Fach and Llyn y Fan Fawr.  
• 51.902-3.9054 Y Garn Goch. Iron Age hill fort. (updated Jun 2017)

• Gorge Walking. 

• 51.763139-3.5215041 Penderyn Distillery, Pontpren, Penderyn, CF44 0SX (just north of Aberdare), ☏ +44 1685 810650, [email protected]. Shop: daily 9AM-5PM. Tours: daily 10AM-6PM, on the hour. Masterclass: Sa 10:30AM-1PM, Su 1PM-3:30PM. Visit the first commercial distillery in Wales of the modern era! On the standard tour, you learn about their history, see the distilling process, and sample a dram or two of their award-winning whiskies. Whisky fanatics may prefer the 2 hr 30 min 'masterclass' option, which looks into the manufacture process in more detail and also offers expert-led blind-nosing and tasting. Tour: adults £12.50, seniors £9.56, teenagers (14-17 yr) £4.50. Small discount for booking online. Masterclass: £60 pp. (updated Jan 2020)

• 51.869-3.1721 Green Man Festival, Glanusk Park, Crickhowell. An annual alternative music festival typically held in mid-August.  

• Whisky - although more closely associated with its Gaelic cousins in Scotland and Ireland, whisky was distilled in Wales for many centuries. However, the industry was long dead by the 21st century, that is until the Penderyn distillery was opened in 2004. They make a broad range of fine single malts, many of which have scooped up prestigious international awards. Their main line includes the rich and fruity gold "Madeira", so called because it's finished in ex-Madeira wine barrels, but their "Icons of Wales" series of limited-edition whiskies are worth consideration too. Penderyn can be drunk in many of the local pubs, or you can visit their distillery and shop; see 'Do' for main listing.

• 51.7823-3.49591 Beili Helyg Guest House, Cwm Cadlan, Penderyn, CF44 0YJ (from Penderyn, follow Cwm Cadlan road from Lamb Hotel for 1.5 miles, you'll see sign and yellow grit bin at the gate on your left), ☏ +44 1685 813609, [email protected]. Fantastic little B&B with 3 rooms, all en-suite. Very comfortable beds, friendly hosts, delicious breakfasts. Ideally placed for waterfalls and mountains, Walkers and cyclists welcome. £80 per double room per night. 
• 51.825-3.6841672 Craig y Nos Castle (Craig y Nos Castle), Brecon Road, Penycae, Ystradgynlais SA9 1GL, ☏ +44 1639 731167. A boutique hotel in a stunning location in the foothills of the Black Mountain, part of the western Brecon Beacons.  

Britain's mountains are not especially high, but they can be dangerous and people do get injured and lost frequently. The weather can change rapidly, especially above 2,000 feet.

• Wales' capital city, Cardiff, is a place to head should the weather turn wet: good museums and a castle to explore. There are a huge variety of shops in the city centre, many of which are located in covered arcades.
• Swansea and the Swansea Bay region complements the Brecon hills with wide, sandy beaches; also the excellent leisure centre and National Waterfront Museum will keep the whole family amused.
• Llandovery is a lovely old market town on the edge of the Beacons.