In the bare and grassy Moorland Park, lakes, scattered forests and pasture in the valleys, mountains, castles, and charming villages, located 37 km north of Cardiff. The park is known for its remote reservoirs and canals, waterfalls, and caves.
The park is centered on the Brecon Beacons hills range in southern Wales, and it stretches between Llandeilo in the west to Hay-on-Wye in the northeast, Merthyr Tydfil in the south and Brecon in the north.
Enjoy one or more of the 17 parks and gardens, with the Craig-y-Nos Country Park being one of the most popular for a waterside picnic or a leisure stroll.
The park has rich flora and fauna including Ravens, peregrine falcons, wheatears, ring ouzels, and the rare merlin breeds. The moorland is grazed by Welsh wild mountain ponies and Welsh mountain sheep.
Enjoy variety of outdoor activities including hiking, cycling, mountain biking, and horse riding.
The lakes, rivers and canals offer water sports activities such as fishing, sailing, windsurfing, rafting, kayaking and canoeing. For the extreme activity’s fans, the park offers rock climbing, paragliding, hang-gliding, and caving.
For information regarding activities, locations, and opportunities we would suggest consulting the park website, www.breconbeacons.org, and the the Brecon Beacons Mountain center near the village of Libanus on the A470 road.
Merthyr Tydfil is a town used as an entry point to the Brecon Beacons National Park on its southern outskirts, 37 km north of Cardiff.
Many hiking and cycling trails start here including the Brecon Mountain Heritage Railway traveling 8 km into the park. Near town visit the Museum and Art Gallery in the 19th century Cyfarthfa Castle mansion.
The Brecon Beacons National Park has many waterfalls within its area, the most famous being the 7 meters high Henryd Falls at Coelbren. Visit the Waterfall Country, west of Merthyr Tydfil, near the village of Pontneddfechan, with its deep gorges, and the three waterfalls of Sgwd Clun-Gwyn falls, Sgwd y Pannwr falls, and the Sgwd yr Eira falls.
At Blaen-y-Glyn falls, you will enjoy numerous streams creating a magnificent cluster of beautiful waterfalls. Access to these falls is from the Natural Resources Wales car parks at Upper and lower Blaen-y-Glyn. There are few beautiful trails that leads to the various waterfalls. Consult the park website and visitors center for the entry points, difficulty level, and time length.
The Brecon Beacons National Park has many exciting caves including four of the five longest limestone cave systems in Britain.
The main must-see attraction is the National Showcaves Center of Wales, at Abercrave, including the 16 km cave network of Dan yr Ogof with its magnificent Stalagmites, Stalactites, passages and chambers.
The center also includes the Bone Cave, Cathedral Cave, a replica Iron Age village, ancient stone circles, a dinosaur park, and the Shire Horse Centre. Official site: www.showcaves.co.uk
The Brecon Canal is a small network of rural and tranquil canals, running through the Brecon Beacons National Park, 56 km from Pontymoile Basin to Brecon Basin.
The wonderful scenery of the hillsides and meadows, the tranquil boating, the rich wildlife, and the charming villages on the way, make the canals a recommended attraction for boating, or strolling and cycling along its route. Canoes, narrowboats, and small motorboats can be hired at several points on the canal including Brecon Basin, Llangynidr, Gilwern and Goytre Wharf.
Canal trips are operated from Goytre Wharf and Brecon Basin.
