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Walking in the Brecon Beacons National Park

By Dave Roberts   

on May 18, 2020    No ratings yet.

Walking in the Brecon Beacons National Park

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About Walking in the Brecon Beacons National Park

Within an hours drive of Wales’s capital city and other major cities, walking in the Brecon Beacons National Park (Bannau Brycheiniog in Welsh) offers the nearby city dwelling population a stunning outdoor escape. We’ve collated the best hill walks in the Brecon Beacons into one handy article.

The Brecon Beacons have four main areas, which include the Black Mountain (singular) (Mynydd Du in Welsh) which is found in the west, The Black Mountains (plural) (Y Mynyddoedd Duon in Welsh) which are found in the east. Then you have Fforest Fawr (or Great Forest) and the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) completing the centre of the park.

Out in the west of the Brecon Beacons is what’s known as waterfall country. Among them are some famous falls such as Sgwd yr Eira which is said to be the most photographed in the area, or if you’re into Hollywood try the setting for the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises known as Henrhyd Falls, which is one of the tallest and most accessible of waterfalls in the area. These are just some of the many magical cascades to be discovered along the wonderful Waterfall walks in the Breacon Beacons.

The area was designated as a national park back in 1957, but the Brecon Beacons also has an area that received International Dark Sky Reserve status in February 2013. In fact it was the first International Dark-Sky reserve in Wales, and no wonder with minimal light pollution and big skies it’s a heaven for star watchers and moonlight walkers alike.

Other walking highlights in the Brecon Beacons include; the classic Brecon Beacons horseshoe ridge walk up Pen y Fan from Cwm Taf Fechan, the popular Sugar Loaf with its formidable viewpoint, the Taff Trail along the Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal and of course any visit will need to include a walk up it’s most famous and highest summit Pen y Fan, with routes such as the Pen y Fan and Corn Du or the well trodden Pen y Fan from Storey Arms. Check out our All the walks up Pen y Fan article for a full rundown.

Walking in the Brecon Beacons National Park – All the Routes and Articles