Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)

A mountain national park in South Wales, famed for Pen y Fan, Waterfall Country and dark starry skies, with the book town of Hay-on-Wye and the market town of Brecon as bases.

The Brecon Beacons (Welsh name: Bannau Brycheiniog) is a mountain national park in South Wales. Established in 1957, it covers about 1,344 km² and stretches some 70 km from east to west, made up of the Black Mountains in the east, the central Beacons, the Fforest Fawr uplands in the west and the Black Mountain at the far western end. The western half is also a UNESCO Global Geopark, and the whole park is an International Dark Sky Reserve. There are three main ways to enjoy it. Hillwalking: Pen y Fan (886 m), the highest peak in South Wales, is one of the most popular mountain walks in Britain, and in the east there are also the Sugar Loaf and the Skirrid. Waterfalls: the limestone gorges of 'Waterfall Country' in the south are packed with falls, and you can walk behind the curtain of Sgwd yr Eira. Towns and historic sites: the market town of Brecon on the northern edge with its cathedral and canal, the book town of Hay-on-Wye in the north-east, the foodie town of Abergavenny in the south-east, and ruins such as Carreg Cennen Castle and Llanthony Priory. The best time to visit is May–Sep, when days are long and trails are dry; in spring the hillsides are full of lambs, and in autumn the bracken turns red. Mountain weather changes very quickly, so bring a windproof, waterproof jacket even in summer; in winter the summits may see snow and strong winds. Getting there: Brecon is about 1 hour's drive from Cardiff and about 3 hours from London; public transport is limited, so driving is most convenient. Base yourself in Brecon or Crickhowell and allow 2–4 days.

Top sights

• Pen y Fan – At 886 metres, this is the highest peak in South Wales. Its flat-topped summit and sharp northern slopes make it the most classic view in t…
• Waterfall Country (Four Falls Trail & Sgwd yr Eira) – Limestone gorges full of waterfalls. The Four Falls Trail links four waterfalls, and at Sgwd yr Eira you can walk behind the curtain of wat…
• Hay-on-Wye – A “book town” on the border of Wales and England, with more than twenty second-hand bookshops, and home to the famous Hay Festival every ye…
• Carreg Cennen Castle – A castle ruin perched on a 100-metre limestone cliff. Its wild, austere scenery makes it one of the most romantic castles in Wales.
• Brecon Cathedral – A Welsh cathedral that began as a medieval Benedictine priory, with its stone tower and an ancient font as the highlights.
• Dan-yr-Ogof Caves (National Showcaves Centre for Wales) – Wales's national show caves, with three cave systems, a dinosaur park and an Iron Age farm, making it a good family day out.
• Brecon Mountain Railway – A narrow-gauge steam tourist train running along a reservoir shore and through the valleys south of the Brecon Beacons, ideal for families…
• Llanthony Priory – The ruins of a medieval Augustinian priory in a deep valley of the Black Mountains, its pointed-arch walls framed by grassy slopes, peacefu…
• Sugar Loaf – A cone-shaped hill beside Abergavenny, rising to 596 m, with an easy climb from the upper car park and wide 360-degree views.
• Llyn y Fan Fach – A glacial lake beneath the sheer cliffs of the western Black Mountains, home of the legend of a lake fairy, with a spectacular ridge walk a…
• Henrhyd Falls – The highest waterfall in South Wales, a roughly 27 m curtain of water dropping from a gorge cliff, made famous as a filming location for Th…
• Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal – A quiet canal running through the national park along the Usk valley, where you can hire narrowboats or kayaks and walk or cycle the towpat…
• Craig-y-Nos Castle & Country Park – The Gothic Revival castle of 19th-century opera diva Adelina Patti, with a country park beside the river.
• Crickhowell – A charming small town on the River Usk with many independent shops, a medieval stone bridge and the Table Mountain hike, making it a good b…
• Tretower Court and Castle – A late-medieval Welsh gentry house standing beside a Norman round tower, with a restored hall and gardens that bring 15th-century life to l…
• Llangorse Lake – The largest natural lake in South Wales, with a medieval artificial island site in the middle, good for rowing, fishing and stargazing.
• Abergavenny & Abergavenny Castle – A town at the southeastern gateway of the national park, known for its food festival and markets, with Norman castle ruins and a museum in…
• Skirrid Fawr – The 'holy mountain' northeast of Abergavenny, its summit split into a jagged shape by a landslide, with a short ridge trail and wide views.
• Gospel Pass & Hay Bluff – Wales's highest road pass, a single-track road winding through the Black Mountains, with Hay Bluff overlooking the Wye valley beside it.
• Porth yr Ogof – A huge cave mouth where the River Mellte disappears into the hillside, one of Britain's widest cave entrances and a starting point for Wate…
• Talybont Reservoir – A long, narrow reservoir surrounded by forest, with a string of woodland waterfalls in the gorge upstream, a quiet walking area.
• Black Mountain Pass (A4069) – A winding road over the western Black Mountains, with a series of hairpin bends and wild moorland views, praised as one of Britain's most b…
• Brecon – A market town on the northern edge of the national park, with Georgian streets, a canal wharf and museums, and the main base for exploring…
• Waterfall Country & Sgwd yr Eira – A cluster of gorge waterfalls on the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons, where a path at Sgwd yr Eira lets you walk right behind the curta…

Where to eat

• Felin Fach Griffin – A red-brick country gastropub on the A470 north of Brecon, listed in the Michelin Guide, serving seasonal produce from…
• The Bear, Crickhowell – A coaching inn on Crickhowell's High Street dating back to 1432, considered one of the best pubs in the Brecon Beacons…
• Brecon Tap – A beer-and-pie house in the centre of Brecon, serving homemade pies with mash and gravy alongside Welsh ales and cider.
• The Three Horseshoes, Groesffordd – A highly rated pub in the village of Groesffordd east of Brecon, praised for its lamb, homemade pies and Sunday lunch.
• Dinas Castle Inn (The Dragon's Back) – The highest pub in the national park at over 300 metres, the starting point for the Dragon's Back trail, with hearty ho…

Itineraries

• Wales Grand Loop 14-Day Self-Drive Itinerary – A self-drive loop from Cardiff covering the South Coast, West Coast, Snowdonia, and the Borderlands, connecting major n…
• South Wales Mountains, Coast & Castles – Starting from Cardiff, explore the Brecon Beacons, Gower Peninsula, and Tenby, balancing city, mountains, and beaches.