The Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons National Park takes its name from the Brecon Beacons mountain range but also includes three other mountain ranges – the rugged Black Mountains of the England/Wales borderlands, the massive expanse of grassy treeless hills forming Fforest Fawr and the Black Mountain to the west of Fforest Fawr. Together these four mountain ranges blend together as a series of windswept panoramas ranging from rugged border landscapes to gently undulating hills rising into craggy limestone outcrops or falling to meet tranquil reservoirs over an area of 1347km or 520 square miles.
The name originates from the warning beacons lit on high ground forming a chain of inland lights using fire signals to provide warnings of raids or invasions.
The highest mountain is Pen y Fan which rises 886m (2907’) into a flat-topped summit beside its slightly lower neighbour, Corn Du.
The Brecon Beacons National Park has a long history with evidence of Neolithic occupation by man dating from 5000BC. Throughout the most rural areas are piles of stones marking cairns or burial chambers which would have been constructed using a stone framework and then covered with a mound of earth. Standing stones can also be found although their purpose remains unclear but they could mark burial chambers of important chiefs or simply be early direction markers – 2 are in perfect alignment: the 9’ Maen Madoc pillar stone on the Sarn Helen Roman Road and the Maen Llia at the head of the Llia Valley.
Outside the boundaries of the Brecon Beacons National Park and on its outskirts, some towns and villages boundaries have been successful highly industrial areas. Blaenavon and the Blorenge near Abergavenny were key areas during the industrial revolution with a network of tramroads linking Big Pit mine, Blaenavon Ironworks which utilised the cutting edge technology of the day and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal which provided today’s equivalent of courier transport systems. Today Big Pit Mine is open to visitors and, via tours led by ex-miners, offers a real insight into life working in a pit while both Big Pit and Blaenavon Ironworks are World Heritage Sites.
However, most visitors simply come to enjoy the stunning scenery, breathtaking landscapes and panoramic views which can be enjoyed all year round, on foot, horseback, bicycle, barge, canoe or by road and several routes are referred to in this guide. Enjoy the rich golden shades in autumn, spectacular winter sunsets reflecting orange on the snow-capped mountain peaks, bouncy lambs and blooming daffodils in springtime or bask in the long warm days of summer in an unbeatable setting with space to breathe.
Guides Available
The Best of the Brecon Beacons Area Guide
This Guide to the Best of the Brecon Beacons explores the Brecon
Beacons National Park and the towns and villages on the outskirts, starting at
the the redundant wharves on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal which, formed
the main 'express' transport link between the coal mines and lime kilns
supplying the Ironworks at the heart of Blaenavon.
Leaving the industrial past behind we cross the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal via the road bridge at Talybont-on-Usk to Talybont Reservoir - the first in a chain of eight leading into the Heart of the Beacons, alongside the highest peaks of Pen y Fan and Corn Du.
From here we call at the Brecon Beacons National Park
Mountain Centre before moving on to the former coaching towns of Sennybridge and
Trecastle, at which there are remains of a Roman Fort and a quiet lane to Usk
Reservoir, the largest reservoir within the Beacons and a popular spot for
angling.
To the south is Waterfall Country where the Rivers Mellte and Hepste converge near Ystradfellte to produce some of the best waterfalls in the country, tumbling over limestone cliffs in woodlands a natural phenomenon caused by the geology of the area.
To the west and standing high on a limestone crag overlooking
the Cennen Valley, is Carreg Cennen Castle near Llandeilo is described as the
most romantic castle in Wales. Its idyllic setting today belying the
former turbulence of the centuries of bloodshed between the Welsh and
English.
The bustling market town of Brecon enjoys water frontages - facing onto the confluence of the River Usk and River Honddu which enters the town beside a former mill - which it once powered. The winding streets and passageways
If you're interested in UK heritage and history, combined with scenery and waterfalls, then this is the Guide for you whether you plan to visit the area, relive memories of a past visit or simply explore the area from home.
Brecon Beacons Photographic Journey
This photographic tour includes images of soaring mountains, tranquil reservoirs, ruined castles, tumbling waterfalls amongst rugged landscapes and breath-taking views.
120 pages of colour images
Available on computer CD
Perfect gifts or holiday souvenirs!
Please click HERE to order your copies.
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