Holiday rentals in Brecon Beacons

Encompassing more than 500 miles of dramatic mountains, escarpments, valleys, and incredible views, the Brecon Beacons National Park is one of Wales’ national treasures. It stretches from the antique-and-foodie lovers’ town of Llandeilo in the west to the haven for book lovers, Hay-on-Wye, in the east, right on the border with England. Further south, the park stretches to the former industrial heartlands of Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypool, taking in heritage railways, lakes, and canals.

If you’re heading to the Beacons for walking, Pen y Fan is the Beacons’ highest mountain, near the handsome market town of Brecon. Nearby, Corn Du and Cribyn are popular too. If you want quieter hikes, there are plenty more peaks to explore, from Fan Brycheiniog to to the west, with stunning views of nearby ridges, to the jagged double-headed oddity of Ysgyryd Fawr to the east, from which you can see the River Severn sparkle. Pretty towns like Abergavenny, overlooked by the Sugar Loaf and the Blorenge, and Crickhowell, sitting under Table Mountain, offer gentle urban respite from rural adventures.

The Brecon Beacons are glorious to visit all year round, although only professional walkers would be advised to tackle the toughest trails and peaks in the winter, and then with canny regard to the weather. Spring brings walking festivals to the pretty towns of Crickhowell and Talgarth, while in May, the Hay-on-Wye literary festival descends, as do internationally renowned authors to the many bookshops in the town (there are 24 at the last count). August brings music to Brecon with the internationally popular Jazz Festival, and to Glanusk Park, a few miles outside Crickhowell, for the award-winning Green Man music festival, while Abergavenny hosts its chef-filled food festival in September. Hay holds another literary weekend in late November, before Christmas beds in — although the hills and the market towns are still there, and still open, for your enjoyment.

Gospel Pass

Right at the eastern edge of the Beacons is the highest road pass in Wales. It rises from the Llanthony Valley (home to a stunning 12th-century abbey) and the artists’ hamlet of Capel-y-Ffin, to a single track with handy passing places for cars up to the high peaks of Hay Bluff and Twmpa. The views to the west are astonishing, taking in the whole span of the Beacons on a clear day.

Stargazing

The Brecon Beacons is an International Dark Sky Reserve, one of only 18 confirmed in the world. This means it possesses an exceptional quality of nocturnal environment for stargazing. If there aren’t any clouds in the late afternoon, cancel your evening plans, and enjoy uninterrupted views of constellations and the Milky Way.

Waterfalls

To the southwest of the Beacons are the waterfalls of Pontneddfechan, trailing from the gorgeously named Afon Mellte (Lightning River). Paths take visitors alongside wooded, steep-sided gorges: the gradients are flat, but wear sensible shoes. Further north, the pretty village of Talybont-on-Usk offers a more challenging hike in a glacial valley. Craft galleries and cafes nearby help you wind down gently afterwards.