Whether you are wildlife-watcher, photographer, hardcore athlete or take-your-timer, the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog or 'The Bannau' for short) draws admirers from near and far. Thought to have been named after the ancient practice of lighting signal fires on mountain tops, the Brecon Beacons claims South Wales’ largest mountain, Pen y Fan, as well as the impressive Black Mountains.
Naturally popular amongst hikers and mountain climbers, the park has a huge variety of activities on offer. With so much to do, you can literally explore the park from every angle, whether it’s underground, on the water, up a height or with your feet firmly on the ground. It even has a number of castles, museums, heritage sites and adventure farms so you can take in everything at your own pace and learn all about the area.
To get started, a walk in Brecon Beacons is the perfect opportunity to get a feel for the park and lose yourself (figuratively, of course) in the landscapes. Don’t think it’s all about hill climbing, though. From wooded gorges to tumbling waterfalls to walks through wide, open planes, there is a huge array of impossibly beautiful scenes. For a walk with a view, climb up Sugar Loaf mountain and be treated to 360-degree panoramic views of the Beacons, Pen Cerrig-calch, the Black Mountains, Hatterrall Hill and Skirrid. Or, for a great picnic spot, pick up the 2.5km Craig-y-Nos circular walk and rest your feet by a glassy lake.
That said, using two feet isn’t the only way to get around the park and two wheels and four hooves are popular alternatives. With plenty of bike hire companies and trekking schools, you can choose your favourite means and get out and about in the fresh country air. Boasting over 600 miles of bridle paths and tracks and innumerable biking trails, there will always be something new for you to uncover. Discover and rediscover the networks of routes and fall deeper in love each time.
If you fancy yourself as a bit of a daredevil or are looking for more of a challenge, the Brecon Beacons has countless opportunities for you to test your strength, stamina and skill. Book yourself a rock climbing or abseiling session with experienced professionals or go underground to explore the flipside of the park. Hiding a number of jaw-dropping caves and mines underneath its lush, green hills you can achieve a totally new perspective. For adventures on the water, the park is also home to waters graded from 1 to 6 in difficulty for kayaking, so both novices and pros can dig in.
Naturally, the best way to get to know the Brecon Beacons is by discovering it first-hand. Spend your days out and about and then return to your luxury home from home. What could be better?
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