The national park created in 1957 as the Brecon Beacons now uses its Welsh name, Bannau Brycheiniog. It stretches about 70 km from the Black Mountain in the west to the Black Mountains on the English border, and its centrepiece is Pen y Fan (886 m), the highest mountain in southern Britain.
The south of the park hides Waterfall Country, a cluster of wooded gorges near Ystradfellte, while the market towns of Brecon, Crickhowell and Abergavenny offer good food and old inns. The whole park is an International Dark Sky Reserve, and the book town of Hay-on-Wye sits on its north-eastern edge.
Highlights
- Pen y Fan: a classic half-day ridge walk with huge views.
- Waterfall Country: walk behind the curtain of Sgwd yr Eira.
- Brecon: a cathedral, a canal and a market town centre.
- Crickhowell: an award-winning high street below Table Mountain.
- Carreg Cennen: a ruined castle on a sheer crag.
- Dark skies: some of the best stargazing in Britain.
Quick facts
| Where | South-central Wales, north of Cardiff |
|---|---|
| Highest peak | Pen y Fan, 886 m |
| From Cardiff | About 1 hour by car |
| Ideal stay | 2–3 days |
| Best for | Hill walking, waterfalls, food, stargazing |
| Getting around | Car is easiest; T4 and other buses |
How long to stay & where to base yourself
Two or three days is ideal. Brecon is the central base, Crickhowell and Abergavenny suit food lovers in the east, and the village of Pontneddfechan is handy for the waterfalls. Day trips from Cardiff work too.
