Why called brecon beacons

The site was home to an enormous iron foundry, the Big Pit coal mine, and surrounding limestone quarries that once fed the iron industry. The lake also features the remains of an Iron Age crannog, or human-made rock island, on the northern shore. Historians believe the ninth-century King of Brycheiniog may have sheltered here from marauding Vikings.

The park is just an hour from Cardiff International Airport. Buses also run to these main centers and offer connections to smaller communities inside the park. Anytime is a great time to visit Brecon Beacons, but literary lovers from around the world flock to Hay-on-Wye, a town with some 40 bookshops, for the Hay Festival in late May and early June.

On holidays and summer Sundays, visitors can take advantage of the Beacons Bus, which is based in Brecon and runs routes around the park. Visitors can hop on and off at their convenience.

All rights reserved. Share Tweet Email. Read This Next Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London Love them or hate them, there's no denying their growing numbers have added an explosion of color to the city's streets.

The views from the peak are unforgettable. Take precautions before setting off and during your expedition such as taking plenty of water, carrying waterproofs and insulative clothing. The labyrinth of caves of Dan-yr-Ogof are some of the very best to visit in the UK. First discovered as recently as , the caves have been adapted for visitors who can now walk through the caves on level walkways. See the cathedral, the rasher of bacon, the angel and the alabaster pillar where a stalactite and stalagmite met in the middle.

There is a shire horse centre and a dinosaur park on the surface as well to make your day out at the show caves. Guides take you below the surface to the mines where all the machinery is still in situ. You can learn all about the life of the Welsh coal miner all the way up to the early s. You can only imagine the hardships these castle walls have endured, its battle-hardened faces still guard a sheer clifftop location. The farm below breeds longhorn cows which can be seen in the fields below the fort.

With a wide range of interesting meals made with locally grown ingredients. Formal dining is a real treat and this is a welcoming establishment to enjoy the best in Welsh and English cuisine, alongside one or two exotic additions. Book ahead to avoid disappointment; The Walnut Tree Inn gets full weeks in advance during busy periods. This is the way to enjoy a pint of ale or a glass of wine with a plate of quality food. Delicious Welsh fare awaits! Sometimes you need a light lunch or a cooked breakfast during the course of a day out.

The joy of eating out is that you can each have something different, and also cafes in the Brecon Beacons are often located in amongst beautiful settings. So browse the shelves and tuck into a salad and literary classic just for the fun of it. The Brecon Brecons is frontier land for extreme sports hobbyists — whether you are heading to the region for some serious mountain biking, climbing, hiking and trail running, there are training schools and vast swathes of Welsh wilds to command.

Beyond that, you can go try caving, gliding, hang gliding, archery, kayaking and a whole host of other activities in the Brecon Beacons. Tutors offer training to visitors of all abilities, so consider a visit during your holiday in the Brecon Beacons. Connect with us on Social Media. Covid Latest Info. Mid Wales Venues. Working with MWT. Plan your visit. Legal Bits. You are accepting third-party cookies. Some of the traditions which helped and shape our landscapes and our everyday lives have faded with time; others continue today.

Our night skies are remarkable. And our rocks tell their own story. In the UK, national parks are areas of exceptional natural beauty which benefit from special protection and management, with great…. While the industrial age…. The Brecon Beacons are sown with extraordinary stories.