What to see and do in Bannau Brycheiniog - and why it changed its name
A local's guide to the 10 must-see places in the South Wales national park.
Image credit: Shutterstock/gazadavies93
A local's guide to the 10 must-see places in the South Wales national park.
The Brecon Beacons National Park launched its new name – Bannau Brycheiniog in 2023. Park bosses used its 66th birthday to announce the name change, drawing on its Welsh heritage.
A new logo was also revealed, with the well-known emblem of a burning beacon replaced by an image depicting the park’s most famous mountain, a river, a crown and a star.
The name may have changed but the stunning attractions are the same - mountains, wooded valleys, waterfalls, protected dark skies and pretty bustling towns.
BBNP Chief Executive Catherine Mealing-Jones explains that Bannau Brycheiniog had always been the Welsh name for the park, and now this is being brought to the fore, rather than the English version.
“Reclaiming our old name reflects our commitment to the Welsh language, but we understand people are used to calling the park by the name everyone’s used for 66 years, so we don’t expect everyone to use Bannau Brycheiniog, at least straight away,” she explains.
Bannau Brycheiniog is pronounced ‘ban-aye bruch-ay-nee-og’, with the ch making the same sound as in ‘loch’. The new name means ‘the peaks of Brychan’s kingdom.’
Brycheiniog was named after 5th Century King Brychan, and was an independent kingdom in the early Middle Ages – its borders roughly match those of the national park today. With a new name and image, now is the perfect time to visit Bannau Brycheiniog, which attracts more than four million visitors every year.
Bannau Brycheiniog is home to a mix of mountains and moorland, standing stones, castles, waterfalls and wildlife.
I've called Bannau Brycheiniog my home for more than 25 years and these are my favourite places to visit.
This is the highest mountain in the south of the United Kingdom. Pen y Fan is awe inspiring and a visit to the National Park isn’t complete without at least seeing it, alongside its neighbouring peaks of Cribyn, Corn Du and Fan y Big.
There are vantage points from laybys on the A40, east of Brecon, and the A470, south of Brecon. But if your fitness and the weather allow, then nothing beats a hike up to the summit.
On a clear day you’ll enjoy views to the Severn Estuary and the mountains of mid Wales. The easiest route is very popular, so set out early as the car parks fill up quickly, especially at weekends and holidays.
Exploring the canal is a wonderful way to spend a few hours. You can walk or cycle along the tow path or take to the water in a hire boat, paddleboard or canoe.
Visit the Fourteen Locks Canal Centre for all the info about the canal and to see one of Britain’s most impressive staircase lock systems. Goytre Wharf, near Abergavenny, has a café and you can hire boats and canoes.
If you fancy a walk, there’s a lovely out and back route from Brecon Basin to the historic Brynich Aqueduct.
No visit to the park would be complete without a visit to Waterfall Country. It’s one of the most beautiful and popular parts of the park, with steep, tree-lined gorges and stunning waterfalls.
You can enjoy a variety of walks here, from ones which are suitable for wheelchair-users, to the most Instagrammed waterfall, Sgwd yr Eira, where you can walk along a path behind the waterfalls.
It is an easier path than it looks but be careful as it is slippy – I’ve walked it a few times and find using a walking pole really helpful. Once again, arrive early as the car parks fill up quickly.
This is a gem of a town to visit, especially if you are a book lover.
It’s known as the second-hand book capital of the world and every year attracts thousands to the Hay Festival which sees writers, politicians, comedians and musicians perform. I think Hay-on-Wye is worth a visit at any time of year. It’s not just bookshops, but cafes, clothes shops and a great deli.
The park is famous for its hills and mountains, and this steam train is a wonderful way to travel into the heart of the mountains while letting the train take the strain.
The Brecon Mountain Railway starts at Pant, Merthyr Tydfil and the journey takes you alongside two reservoirs before climbing to Torpantau in the heart of the Central Beacons mountain range.
You can head out on a walk from here, before catching a later train back. Or else stop on the way back at Pontsticill where there’s a café and views across the reservoir to the peaks.
A pretty market town in the Usk Valley with a host of independent shops, cafes and pubs. I love spending a Saturday morning wandering along its High Street.
Must visits include Book-ish, the current independent bookshop of the year, Nicholls a country clothing and lifestyle store and The Bear, a 500-year-old coaching inn, with a choice of real ales. There’s also a gallery featuring local artists and lovely riverside walks.
You’ll need to drive a few miles along a winding country lane to reach Llanthony Priory, but I think it’s worth it.
The ruins of a 900-year-old Augustinian priory sit in jaw-dropping surroundings overlooked by the ridges of the Black Mountains. There’s a hotel and pub within the priory grounds and a car park and toilets which are free to use. Llanthony Priory is also one of the best locations to go stargazing in the UK.
Spectacularly perched on a sheer cliff face, right in the west of the park, Cerreg Cennen Castle is worth a visit if you are in the west of the park.
The castle dates back to the 13th century and besides taking in the stunning views, you can visit its dungeons too. There’s a friendly tearoom with great cakes and a farm which is home to more than 50 Longhorn cattle.
This is the largest natural lake in south Wales and for me, a lake of two-halves.
On the north shore of the lake, you’ll find parking and loads of water sports, including dinghy, windsurfing, canoe and paddle board hire.
On the south side you’ll find a hide among the wildflower meadows and reed beds, where you can watch wildlife and birds – there are otters here but they are very shy. This is my favourite side of the lake for a walk, but it can get boggy in wet weather.
This woodland garden, north of Abergavenny, was the Royal Horticultural Society’s Partner Garden of the Year, for 2022.
Nant y Bedd has hosted Gardeners World, Alan Titchmarsh and national and international journalists. Owners Sue and Ian have spent 40 years creating this 10-acre organic garden and woodland, which boasts a rope bridge, gorge, treehouse and natural swimming pond.
Bannau Brycheiniog also hosts award-winning restaurants including the Michelin-starred Walnut Tree, the Felin Fach Griffin and The Gaff. There are farmers’ markets selling local produce, walking festivals, including ones at Crickhowell and Talgarth, and music festivals including Brecon Jazz and Green Man.
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