Everything you need to know- Guide to the Brecon Beacons

The basics

First of all… Where is the Brecon Beacons National Park? Looking at a map, the Brecon Beacons are in the south east of Wales, just over the English border.

You’ll be there in an easy 3 and a half hours if you’re driving from London, or 3 hours 45 minutes from Manchester. That’s hardly anything when you remember that you’ll have an entire 900km² of breath-taking mountains, forests and moorland right on your cabin doorstep.

How to prepare

When it comes to Brecon Beacons weather, you need to be ready for whatever the heavens throw at you! We recommend you pack enough layers so you’re comfortable in both glorious sunshine and torrential downpours… And everything in between.

One thing’s for sure — you’ll want to be free to just explore the great outdoors and see where the adventure takes you. This means hiking boots are a must, whatever the season!

Places to visit in the Brecon Beacons 

There’s one thing that can’t go without mention, and that’s the waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Head to Waterfall Country to see them for yourself — there’s walking options for everyone, with plenty of family-friendly routes as well as more challenging hikes if you’re feeling adventurous! Find out more about Brecon Beacons waterfalls and lakes here.

In terms of family-friendly places to visit in the Brecon Beacons, we recommend Cantref Adventure Farm, which has loads of events and animals to see, plus an indoor play area which is perfect for rainy days. Dan Yr Ogof is also well worth a visit — there’s an incredible network of underground caves, and a Dinosaur Park on site too! For little ones that get tired walking, try riding along the Brecon Mountain Railway, a heritage steam train that runs right through the National Park.

If you’re planning a fun group day out, visiting a Brecon Beacons castle is a great idea. Abergavenny Museum and Castle has stunning views and makes a great spot for a group picnic. Or, you could head to Caernarfon Castle (link to blog), and tie in a tour around Pant Du Vinyard which is only down the road! 

Looking for date night ideas? Surprise your special someone with tickets to a show at Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. You can enjoy a stroll along the canal on your way to the theatre, and eat out at a local restaurant too. Speaking of delicious Welsh food… Whether you’re after traditional pub grub the whole family will love, the perfect cosy tearoom or high-end romantic restaurants, here are some of our favourite places to eat in the Brecon Beacons. 

Look up!

The Brecon Beacons National Park is an International Dark Sky Reserve, meaning it’s up there with the best spots in the UK and beyond for stargazing. With so many of us living in areas with light pollution, this really is something to be cherished.

So sit back, listen to wildlife and look up at the stars… All from the warmth of your bubbling outdoor hot tub. Or, why not take a trip to the Brecon Beacons Observatory? It’s just by the National Park Visitor Center in the north of the National Park, not far from the lovely market town of Brecon.