Things to do in Brecon Beacons
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Beacon Park Boats
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal runs along the foot of the Blorenge mountain, southwest of town. You can take to the water with Beacon Park Boats which rents out electric-powered boats (up to six persons). In a day, you can cruise south to Goytre Wharf, or north to Llangattock and back.
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Blue Boar
This bar-cum-restaurant specialises in hearty, home-cooked fare and has an inventive range of dishes, from light bites, such as hummus and pitta bread to traditional Welsh stew.
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Andrew Morton Books
Andrew Morton Books offers a staggering selection of fiction, nonfiction and local interest books. There's another branch at 10-11 Lion Yard.
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St Mary's Priory Church & Tithe Barn
Relatively modest-looking, St Mary's contains a remarkable treasury of aristocratic tombs within. It was founded at the same time as the castle (1087) as part of a Benedictine priory, but the present building dates mainly from the 14th century, with 15th- and 19th-century additions and alterations. In the northern transept is one of the most important medieval carvings in Europe – a monumental 15th-century wooden representation of the biblical figure of Jesse.
The priory's 13th century tithe barn has recently been restored and converted into an excellent heritage centre and a food hall focusing on locally sourced Welsh products.
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Blorenge
Abergavenny sits amid three glacially sculpted hills - Ysgyryd Fawr (Skirrid; 486m) to the northeast; Sugar Loaf (596m) to the northwest; and the Blorenge (559m) to the southwest. Each has rewarding walks and fine views of the Usk Valley and the Black Mountains. Although the summit of the Blorenge is closer to town than Sugar Loaf - the round trip is only 5 miles - it is a much steeper and more strenuous outing, and good walking boots are recommended.
Cross the bridge over the Usk on Merthyr Rd and immediately turn right and follow the lane past the cemetery and under the main road. Cross the B4269 road in Llanfoist and follow the lane beside the church until it bends lef…
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Brecon Cathedral
Perched on a hill above the River Honddu, Brecon Cathedral was founded as part of a Benedictine monastery in 1093, though little remains of the Norman structure except the carved font and parts of the nave. It's a lovely church and very visitor-friendly; seven information points provide information about key features.
In the cathedral grounds is a Heritage Centre, cafe and gift shop housed in a restored 15th-century tithe barn.
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Sugar Loaf
Abergavenny sits amid three glacially sculpted hills - Ysgyryd Fawr (Skirrid; 486m) to the northeast; Sugar Loaf (596m) to the northwest; and the Blorenge (559m) to the southwest. Each has rewarding walks and fine views of the Usk Valley and the Black Mountains. Easiest of the three is the cone-shaped Sugar Loaf, which offers a 9-mile return trip from the centre of town to the summit via heath, woodland and the superb viewpoint of Mynydd Llanwenarth.
You can cheat by driving to a car park about halfway up on Mynydd Llanwenarth; from here it's a 4-mile round trip. Head west on the A40, and at the edge of town turn right for Sugar Loaf Vineyards, then go left at the next tw…
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Gap Road
There are lots of opportunities for both on-road cycle-touring and off-road mountain-biking around Brecon; the National Park Visitor Centre at Libanus has information on routes, some of which begin at the centre itself.
The classic off-road route in the Brecon Beacons is the Gap Road, a 24-mile loop from Brecon that takes in a high pass through the hills close to Pen-y-Fan, a descent through Talybont-on-Usk and a final easy return stretch along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Ask for details at Brecon tourist office or the National Park Visitor Centre.
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Nantyffin Cider Mill
One of Mid-Wales' gastronomic pioneers, this 16th-century drovers' inn takes great pride in using local produce to create simple, unfussy dishes that allow the quality of the ingredients to shine through. The dining room is a stylish blend of bare stone, exposed roof beams, designer chairs and white table linen, set around the original 19th-century cider press. Nantyffin is a mile northwest of Crickhowell on the A40.
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South Wales Borderers Museum
The South Wales Borderers Museum commemorates the history of the Royal Regiment of Wales, which is based in Brecon. Many of the soldiers are Gurkhas, often to be seen in their civvies around the town. The highlight is the Zulu War Room - the regiment's predecessor fought in the 1879 Anglo-Zulu war in South Africa, inspiration for the 1964 film Zulu starring Michael Caine.
The fascinating collection of artefacts recalls the defence of Rorke's Drift, when 150 Welsh soldiers held out against 4000 Zulu warriors.
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Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery
Behind the stolid neoclassical exterior of the former Shire Hall is the impressive Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery. Exhibits include 1200-year-old dugout canoe found at Llangorse Lake, a complete Victorian assize court complete with a stilted recording of court pronouncements, and that favourite of Welsh museums, a re-created Welsh kitchen. Also featured are the archaeology, history and natural history of the Brecon area, and an art gallery with changing exhibits.
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Abergavenny Castle & Museum
Not much remains of Abergavenny Castle except for an impressive stretch of curtain wall on either side of the gatehouse on the northwest side. The castle keep, converted into a hunting lodge by the Victorians, now houses a small museum devoted to the history of the castle and the town.
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Foxhunter
An old Victorian pub with flagstone floors and wood-burning stoves that's been given an elegant contemporary makeover, the Foxhunter brings an adventurous approach to fresh, seasonal produce with dishes such as sautéed duck liver and foie gras on toasted brioche, brown trout with beurre blanc, sorrel and wild garlic, and (in season) deep-fried wild elvers (baby eels from the River Wye) with wild garlic mayonnaise.
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White Swan
A traditional village inn that offers a candle-lit dining room with old wooden floors, a bar with comfortably worn leather sofas and armchairs, and a beautiful garden terrace. The White Swan is a great place to relax after a walk along the canal or a hike in the Brecon Beacons. The menu emphasises Welsh lamb, beef and venison, with daily fish and vegetarian specials. Llanfrynach is 3.5 miles southeast of Brecon off the B4558.
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Welsh Airsports
The Blorenge, rising above Abergavenny to the southwest, is one of Britain's finest paragliding and hang-gliding sites. In fact, it is so important that the Southeast Wales Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Club purchased the mountain in 1998. Several records have been set from here, and the mountain regularly hosts competition events. Welsh Airsports offers instruction in paragliding seven days a week, weather permitting.
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Bear Hotel
A fine old coaching inn with low-ceilinged rooms, stone fireplaces, blackened timber beams and antique furniture, the Bear serves top quality bar meals as well as having a more formal restaurant. The menu ranges from heart-warming home cooking (sausages and mash with onion gravy, faggots with peas and chips) to the finest black beef steaks and Welsh seafood. The Bear is in Crickhowell, 6.5 miles west of Abergavenny.
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Usk Inn
This appealing, Victorian country inn, close to the Brecon Canal, serves hearty local fare such as twice-cooked lamb shank with minted rosemary jus; ricotta cheese and basil ravioli with creamy tomato and spinach sauce; and seafood dishes such as swordfish fillet with a sesame crust. There's also an excellent three-course Sunday lunch served noon to 15:00. The Usk Inn is 6 miles southeast of Brecon on the B4558.
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Old Black Lion
As traditional and atmospheric as they come, this inn looks 17th-century but parts of it date from the 13th – expect low ceilings and uneven floors. The accumulated weight of centuries of hospitality is cheerfully carried by the current staff. The food is many leagues beyond pub grub: think stuffed Guinea fowl, or pork loin with black pudding (mains £12 to £18).
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Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Brecon is the northern terminus of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, built between 1799 and 1812 for the movement of coal, iron ore, limestone and agricultural goods. The 33 miles from Brecon to Pontypool is back in business moving tourists around, and the busiest section is around Brecon. The canal basin is 400m south of the town centre.
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Hardwick
The Hardwick is a traditional pub-style restaurant with an old stone fireplace, low ceiling beams and terracotta floor tiles. Ex-Walnut Tree alumnus Stephen Terry has created a gloriously unpretentious menu that celebrates the best of country cooking; save room for the homemade ice cream. The Hardwick is 2 miles south of Abergavenny on the B4598.
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Walnut Tree
Established in 1963, the legendary Walnut Tree remains one of Wales' finest restaurants despite a change of ownership, with a Michelin star to prove it. Fresh, local produce dominates, and with wood pigeon and hare on the menu last time we visited, we wouldn't be all that surprised if some of it was once scurrying around the backyard. The Walnut Tree is 3 miles northeast of Abergavenny on the B4521.
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Market Hall
The 19th-century Market Hall is a lively place, hosting a general market (food, drink, clothes, household goods) on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, a flea market (bric-a-brac, collectables, second-hand goods) on Wednesday, regular weekend crafts and antiques fairs, and a farmers market on the fourth Thursday of each month.
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Black Mountain Activities
In Glasbury, 4.5 miles southwest of Hay, Black Mountain Activities offers other activities such as climbing, caving and mountain biking with prices from around £55 per person per day. They do hire out mountain bikes (half/full day around £15/around £25) as well as canoes (half/full day £20/£30).
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Granary
This most popular café-style place in town is bustling and welcoming with streetside tables and a country-kitchen interior. It's child friendly and has an imaginative menu of daily snacks and light lunches, including lots of vegetarian choices: hard to beat for a meal that won't break the bank.
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Bridge Café Bistro
A great little bistro with a rustic, farmhouse kitchen look, the Bridge serves simple, home-cooked dishes using fresh, seasonal, organic produce, from onion soup to lamb stew, falafel to mushroom stroganoff. It also serves organic beer, wine and cider, and Welsh-made Brecon gin and Penderyn whisky.
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