Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
well as the highest mountain in southern Britain (Pen y Fan, 886m/2,906 ft.) and the
wilderness area of the Black Mountain.
However, the National Park extends farther to the west, taking in the mountain
cliff-top castle of Carreg Cennon, near the market town of Llandeilo, and going as far
east as the Black Mountains (different from the Black Mountain) between Aber-
gavenny and Hay-on-Wye, and as far south as Pontypool, and the outskirts of Merthyr
Tydfil.
The Brecons are the great outdoors, a place where you can not only walk but also
cycle (there are plenty of places to rent bikes), go pony trekking, and explore the
historic villages and towns that dot the area. You will be amazed by the different
scenery around every twist and turn of the road.
Essentials
GETTING THERE
There is a daytime bus service (
&
01443/692060;
www.
sixtysixty.co.uk) between Cardiff and Brecon, via Merthyr Tydfil, which takes 1
1
⁄
2
hours. On summer Sundays and bank holidays, the
Beacons Bus
network brings
visitors from Cardiff (with a bike trailer) and other towns and cities such as Swansea
and Hereford to Brecon, then tours the area before heading home (see www.brecon
beacons.org). There are trains from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil, and connections from
the Midlands to other stations. If you're driving from Cardiff, head north on the
A470.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Tourist Information Centre,
in Brecon Cattle
Market (
&
01874/622485;
www.brecon-beacons.com), is open daily, summer
9:30am to 5:30pm; winter, Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5pm and weekends 9:30am
to 4pm.
Exploring the Area
Brecon
is a busy little market town at the meeting of the Usk and Honddu rivers,
and the perfect base for exploring the area. Georgian buildings line the narrow
streets, which are home to traditional butchers and greengrocers as well as more
mode-ish cafes. The town was established around a castle and priory built by William
the Conqueror's half-brother Bernard de Newmarch in 1093. The castle is now the
Castle of Brecon hotel, and it's worth popping into the gardens where there are some
ruins. The priory, on Priory Hill, was renamed
Brecon Cathedral
(
&
01874/623857;
www.breconcathedral.org.uk) in 1923. It has an imposing tower, a heritage center in
the tithe barn next door, and lovely
Pilgrim Tea Room
in the grounds. The cathedral
is open daily 8am to 6:30pm (free). The
Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery,
Captain's Walk (
&
01874/624121;
www.powys.gov.uk), is an old-fashioned
museum in the former Shire Hall, still with Victorian courtroom, and with a collec-
tion including a 1,200-year-old canoe and contemporary Welsh art. It's open year-
round Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (also Apr-Sept Sun-Mon noon-5pm); £1
adults, children free.
The
South
Wales Borderers Museum
at The Barracks (
&
01874/613310;
www.rrw.org.uk) is a real boys' toys place, with the finest collection of weapons in
Wales. There's also the Zulu War Room, recounting the battles in which the regiment
fought, including Rorke's Drift, which was turned into the 1964 movie
Zulu
with
Michael Caine. It's open year-round Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm (also Apr-Sept
Sat and bank holidays 10am-4pm); £4 adults, children free.
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