Stay in the Brecon Beacons

Stay in the Brecon Beacons

The Brecon Beacons, or Bannau Brycheiniog, is one of those places that changes depending on when you arrive. Morning mist sitting in the Usk Valley. An afternoon ridge walk with views all the way to the Black Mountains. A clear night sky with more stars than you thought possible.

Accommodation here ranges from stone farmhouses on the edge of the national park to small hotels in Brecon itself. There are cottages tucked into valleys near Crickhowell and Llanwrtyd Wells, glamping sites with views of Pen y Fan, and campsites where you wake up to birdsong and nothing else.

Brecon is the main town, with independent shops, a good cathedral and pubs that do proper food. From there, the Taff Trail runs south through woodland and along the canal. Llanwrtyd Wells, the smallest town in Britain, hosts events that range from bog snorkelling to a real ale festival. The villages between, like Sennybridge and Defynnog, are quieter still.

The national park holds some of Wales's best walking. Pen y Fan is the highest peak in southern Britain. The waterfalls at Ystradfellte draw walkers all year. And the Dark Sky Reserve here is one of only a handful in the world, which means on a clear night in winter, the sky is something you do not forget.

Whether you want a week in a farmhouse with a woodburner or a couple of nights in a B&B between walks, the Brecon Beacons has accommodation that fits. Most places book ahead for school holidays and long weekends, so checking dates early is worth doing.