Holiday rentals in Brecon

A handsome garrison town in the heart of Mid Wales, Brecon sits at the confluence of two pretty rivers, the Usk and the Honddu, surrounded by breathtaking countryside. The Brecon Beacons mountain range stretches west and east from the town, with Pen-y-Fan, its highest peak, only six miles away.

A walk through Brecon’s old, narrow streets in its centre feels like time travel through Welsh history: you’ll take in the ruins of its 13th-century castle; Georgian, Tudor, and Elizabethan houses; and the serenity of Brecon Cathedral. In summer, the town also has a reputation as a lively cultural hub. Music festivals bring in fans of jazz, classical, and independent music, while its monthly farmers’ markets and bookshop cafes are beloved by locals.

Other rural idylls nearby promise wildlife, woodland, and beautiful expanses of water: Llangorse Lake and Talybont-on-Usk, with its waterfalls, are less than 15 minutes’ drive away. Within half an hour, you’ll also find the bustling, pretty market towns of Hay-on-Wye, Crickhowell, and Abergavenny.

Brecon comes alive in August when the Jazz Festival takes over the town. It has done so since 1984, playing host to internationally famous musicians and upcoming stars. Later that month, the Green Man Festival takes place 20 minutes down the hilly A40 at Glanusk Park, bringing music-lovers to Brecon’s streets, shops, and cafes. October plays host to another musical weekend, the Brecon Baroque Festival, but autumn is also a perfect time to explore the nearby peaks and valleys, as the trees and grasslands light up with vivid orange, red, and purple leaves. Winter also reveals the drama of the mountains, waterfalls, and woodlands in fabulous repose. After a day outdoors, head back to town for some warming mulled wine or hot chocolate in one of Brecon’s welcoming pubs.

Y Gaer

Housed in the town’s elegant Grade II-listed Shire Hall, Y Gaer (The Fort) is Brecon’s new cultural hub and art gallery. It showcases the depth and variety of Welsh art from the 18th century to the present day, including stunning portraiture by Josef Herman and Augustus John.

Brecon Basin and the Monmouthshire & the Brecon Canal

Brecon’s pretty canal begins here near the Theatr Brycheiniog, which has a lovely poetry trail, popular with children. It then travels 35 miles through woodland to the Welsh Valleys town of Pontypool. The Taff Trail also begins here, which will take you all the way to Cardiff: a flatter route for walkers and cyclists wanting time away from the mountains. In spring and summer, take a narrowboat along the locks to see the lime kilns just outside town, and spot moorhens, mallards, and dragonflies.

Brecon Cathedral

A beautiful, medieval building in the quiet, northwestern corner of Brecon, this cathedral’s gentle majesty extends to its contents. These include a stained-glass window commemorating a lone soldier who fought at the Battle of Agincourt (200 archers from Brecon fought alongside Henry V), and a 12th-century font with astonishing decorations of a Green Man. Within the enclosed cathedral walls, you’ll also find an exhibition on cathedral life and popular tearooms.