Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Much of the Beacons is formed from limestone, creating some of the most out-
standing caves in Europe. Most are hidden, open only to experts, but the
National
Showcaves Centre
for Wales,
Abercraf (
&
01639/730801;
www.showcaves.
co.uk), opens up this world to the public, including children. A series of caves winds
through the hillside, revealing underwater rivers, pools, waterfalls, and stalactites and
stalagmites. There's Cathedral Cave (two big waterfalls cascading into a lake to the
sound of classical music), Bone Cave (a spooky place where 42 human Bronze Age
skeletons were excavated), and the Dan-yr-Ogof caves, with their winding paths pass-
ing countless stalactites and stalagmites. You can easily spend a day here, particularly
if you have children, who will love the life-size dinosaur models, museum, fossil col-
lection, shire horses, special breeds farm, standing stones, play barn, and picnic area.
Tours last about 2
1
⁄
2
hours. The complex is open from Easter until October, daily from
10am to 3pm (later in high season); £14 adults, £7.50 children 3 to 16.
Waterfall Country
is the area on the southern edge of the park, between the
villages of Hirwaun, Ystradfellte, and Pontneddfechan. There are many walks, but
opposite the tourist office in Pontneddfechan (with an exhibition on the area,
maps, and hiking gear) is a path that climbs steeply up alongside the splashing
river. The walk (a joy for energetic youngsters) takes you past a number of falls,
until you emerge on a grassy plateau with picnic tables. Halfway up, follow the
river Hepste a short distance to Sgwd Y Eira, the “waterfall of snow,” a wide, low
fall with a path behind the water. A few miles to the west is
Henrhyd
waterfall
(follow the signs at Coelbren on the A4221), which, with its 24 m (80 ft.) drop, is
the highest in South Wales. Again you can walk behind the water after an exciting
walk from the parking lot taking you across the river Nant Llech, up steep steps,
and along a narrow path. For good waterfalls information, visit the independent
website www.brecon-beacons.com.
There are plenty of other attractions. Try the several-hour hike up
Pen y Fan
(from
the parking lot at Storey Arms, on the A470). There's also the steam-powered narrow-
gauge
Brecon Mountain Railway,
from Merthyr (
&
01685/384854;
www.
breconmountainrailway.co.uk). One of the most stunning sights is
Carreg Cennen
Castle
(
&
01558/822291;
www.cadw.wales.gov.uk), near Trapp at the park's west-
ern tip, sitting at the top of a limestone crag with a 90-m (295-ft.) drop on one side.
Or explore the
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
from Brecon's canal basin, by
hiring an electric boat (carries six passengers) from
Beacon Park Boats
(
&
01873/858277;
www.beaconparkdayboats.com). Have lunch at a waterside pub
then take your boat across the
Brynich Aqueduct.
For walkers and cyclists there's
the 55-mile
Taff Trail
(www.tafftrail.org.uk), which links Brecon with Cardiff. It's
mostly traffic-free, including a stretch along the canal and past Talybont Reservoir,
and can be joined in many places for a short stroll.
Entertainment & Nightlife
The Brecon Beacons is all about the great outdoors, and apart from walking and
cycling there's golf at Cradoc's 18-hole championship course with views over Pen y
Fan. There's fly fishing for trout and salmon in the River Usk (see www.brecon
beacons.org) and riding at stables such as
Cantref Riding Centre
(
&
01874/
665223;
www.cantref.com), off the A40 just east of Brecon, with options including
day rides up into the hills. Or you could try pheasant shooting on the
Glanusk
Estate
(
&
01873/810414;
www.glanuskestate.com) and clay-pigeon shooting at
Woodland Park
(
&
0781/1189413;
wpshoot.co.uk).
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