Out & about, events & activities in the area
There is lots to do in the Brecon Beacons from visiting the historic market town of Brecon, the famous book town of Hay on Wye and the small village of Talgarth to various activities including horse riding, canoeing and mountain biking. Take a walk up Pen y fan - the highest mountain in South Wales or a trip around Llangorse lake.
Where to eat
There are lots of great places to eat in the area. Our local is the award winning Felinfach Griffin. Wonderful food, much sourced from their own organic kitchen garden. Pre-booking is advised. In the summer months you can even walk there (2.5 miles - .1 hour + across fields, along lanes, and over a fence!)
Chapters in Hay-on-Wye, a Michelin Green Star restaurant from our friends Charmaine and Mark McHugo - is super special, make sure you book
15 minutes drive is the village pub and restaurant the Three Horseshoes at Groesffordd and 12 minutes drive is Hills Brecon, marketed as 'home of the Best Burgers Ever'
In the Black mountains The Bulls Head Craswall (45 minute drive) is worth a trip - A traditional Drovers Inn and Farmhouse by Wild by Nature
The working watermill at Talgarth is definitely worth a visit with brunch in the cafe Trigg's at the Mill. Be early to pick up sourdough and pastries at the onsite Pobl Bakery.
Lunch at the historic kitchen garden at Gwernyfed Walled Garden is a must.
For good pub fare the Red Lion at Llangorse is highly recommended.
Farm shops, delicatessens, markets, food producers
Our local farm shop is Alfie Dans Market Garden with a simple honesty shop in the barn of the Griffin pub, Felinfach
https://www.alfiedansmarketgarden.co.uk/
Further afield is the wonderful Penpont Farm shop
The best market around is the weekly Thursday market in Hay on Wye - they also have a Saturday market on the first Saturday of the month. https://www.haymarkets.co.uk/
The Brecon Farmers and Makers Market is every second Saturday of the month.
The Talgarth Farmers Market is held every third Saturday of the month.
Hay on Wye is a destination for the fantastic Hay Deli, Castle greengrocer, butchers, and suppliers such as Alex Gooch sourdough and Artistraw Cider.
Brecon features a small deli (with limited product range), and butchers.
Talgarth has the artisan Pobl Bakery in the mill, butchers with deli and Claire's Wholefoods.
Where to walk
There are hundreds of walks to be had in the area. Here's some of our top picks for inspiration:
Llandefalle Common - a leisurely hour round trip straight from the shepherd's hut front door looking over spectacular scenery of the Brecon Beacons & Black Mountains, spot Red Kites, Curlews, and Lapwings with a deafening chorus of Skylarks in the summer!
Brycheiniog Forest and Cefn Clawdd moorland - ten minutes drive away for walking trails through coniferous woods opening out to views across moorland
Hay Bluff - a short but bracing walk from the car park on Hay Bluff to the trig point with fantastic open views - this is the hill that you look out onto from the hut! - a 40 minute drive away
The Begwns - a 40 minute drive north to this National Trust owned common with places for picnics by the Roundabout or Monks Pond. 360 degree views over the surrounding area.
The Waterfalls - the four waterfalls walk is always a favourite at Ystradfellte - book in advance for a pub lunch at the Red Lion Inn Penderyn | Tafarn Llew Coch Penderyn. - approx 45 minute drive away
Llangorse Lake - Park at Llangasty Church (worth a visit in itself) and walk around the south shore of the lake to the bird hide and beyond to Llangorse, the Crannog and cafe - 25 minute drive away
Mynydd Llangors and Mynydd Troed from the summit of the pass at SO 160 283 (limited parking) for amazing views across Llangorse Lake and the Brecon Beacons. (You can see Mynydd Troed in the distance from the farm)
Llyn y Fan Fach - spectacular scenery at this lake overlooked by Picws Du. Nearby is a red kite feeding station and along the way is Usk Reservoir - approx 1 hour drive away
Wild open moorland of Llandbedr Hill where you can walk past ‘Twm Tobacco’s Grave” along the Dancing Ground (where according to legend the fairies were last seen dancing in Wales) and on to Rhulen Hill until you drop down through the small and historic hamlet of Painscastle where you can stop for lunch at the Roast Ox Inn.
Where to Go
There are so many places to explore from the local market towns of Brecon and Hay-on-Wye to trips further afield into Herefordshire and Monmouthshire
Highlights include:
The famous book town of Hay-on-Wye with a huge variety of independent shops, the Globe Music venue, cinema and of course the Literary festival held at the end of May each year.
The market town of Brecon with Cathedral, canal basin, theatre and cinema.
Talgarth with its restored flour mill and restaurant. Occasional cinema nights with 'flicks in the sticks'.
Gardens to visit
Nearby gardens of note include:
Nant y Bedd, a 10 acre organic garden and woodland at 1200 ft in the Black Mountains https://nantybedd.com
Hergest Croft Gardens - Set in the heart of the Welsh Marches, a 70 acres garden with the National Collection of maples and birches as well as over 90 champion trees. www.hergest.co.uk
Hampton Court Castle, Hope under Dinmore, designed by Simon Dorrell - featuring an organic Kitchen Garden, Dutch Garden, South Garden with island pavilions. Pleached lime avenues lead through to the 160 year old Wisteria Arch. The Magnolia Path leads onto the Maze with hidden Sunken Garden.
Rhodds Farm Garden, Lyonshall, Herefordshire
Rhodds Farm – a garden in Herefordshire
Walled Garden Treberfydd, Beautiful plant nursery, in an old walled garden, specialising in hardy plants grown in Wales which are structural, unusual, edible, herbal or fragrant.
HAY LITERARY FESTIVAL
HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN FESTIVAL
https://howthelightgetsin.org/hay/
ROYAL WELSH SHOW
http://www.rwas.wales/royal-welsh-show/
GREENMAN FESTIVAL
BRECON JAZZ FESTIVAL
ABERGAVENNY FOOD FESTIVAL
http://www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com/
BRECON BAROQUE FESTIVAL
http://www.breconbaroquefestival.com/
HAY WINTER FESTIVAL
Activities
HORSE RIDING
Ride your horse or pony into the heart of the National Park following the trail of the Welsh Mountain Ponies.
The Brecon Beacons Welsh Pony Trails will take you into the heart of the Brecon Beacons where you will be able to marvel at the beauty of the mountain scenery.
Your experienced guide will take you off the beaten track to enjoy remote parts of the Brecon Beacons where you will picnic by a bubbling mountain stream or shady woodland clearing and get a bird’s eye view of the valley below.
Horse Riding Lessons, Pony Trekking & Holidays in Wales
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Looking for a fun way to explore the Brecon Beacons & Black Mountains National Park? Then hiring a Mountain Bike might just be the thing for you!
At Black Mountain Activities not far from Cefnmachllys they have been hiring mountain bikes for over 20 years. They have a fleet of 21 speed ‘Trek’ Mountain bikes with front suspension and disk brakes, available in a variety of frame sizes suitable for both adults & children (12 years +).
ROCK CLIMBING
The perfect way to spend a few hours in the great Welsh outdoors!
Rock Climbing & Abseiling is a fantastic activity for both kids and adults.
Here in the Brecon Beacons, we are spoilt for choice with such a wide range of exciting and challenging climbing routes on our doorstep, allowing companies the flexibility to tailor their climbing sessions to suit you.
Local Rock Climbing & Abseiling days are designed as a Taster Day and are ideal for beginners with little or no experience, who just want to have a go.
https://www.blackmountain.co.uk/tour/rock-climbing-abseiling/
CANOEING
River Wye Canoe Hire
The Wye is by far one of the most beautiful rivers in the British Isles and one of the few you can navigate by canoe, without restriction, for well over 100 miles.
Based in Hay the company - want to canoe? offer you the chance to embark on a relaxing river adventure from several different points along the way, with an array of different routes to choose from, all with their own unique sights, sounds and smells.
From its source at the Welsh mountains at Plynlimon, the water meanders through miles of picturesque countryside and diverse wildlife, passing the bustling market towns of Hay-on-Wye, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth; the city of Hereford, and the charming, picture-postcard villages of Glasbury, Symonds Yat and Tintern, before joining the River Severn at Chepstow.
Along your journey, you can expect to see a number of spectacular and fascinating characters in their natural habitats, including kingfishers, herons, cormorants, swans and otters – all from the prime viewpoint of your canoe.