Introduction
Brecon exists primarily as a gateway, and what it's a gateway to justifies everything. The Brecon Beacons National Park, 520 square miles of moorland, escarpments, waterfalls and ancient woodland, begins effectively at the edge of the market town and extends south and west across some of the most dramatic landscape in Britain. Pen y Fan's distinctive flat summit is visible from the high street on a clear day.
The town itself is small but good. There's a cathedral that goes back to the 12th century, a covered market, several cafés worth knowing about, and a jazz festival in August that transforms the whole place for a weekend. It's not a destination in its own right in the way that, say, Tenby is, but as a base for the Beacons, it's excellent.
The Four Waterfalls Walk south of Brecon has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, and justly so. The walk through ancient woodland to four separate waterfalls is genuinely extraordinary, and relatively accessible. Come mid-week if you want fewer people.
Getting There
Brecon has no train station, the nearest is Abergavenny (18 miles, with services to Cardiff and London) or Merthyr Tydfil (15 miles). Stagecoach buses run between them and Brecon. By car it's 30 miles from Cardiff (under an hour), 18 miles from Abergavenny. The drive through the Beacons on the A470 is one of the best roads in Wales.
Areas to Know
- Brecon Town Centre. High Street, the cathedral, The Hours café and Hills bar
- Pen y Fan. The main Beacons peak; Storey Arms car park is the main trailhead
- Pontneddfechan. Starting point for the Four Waterfalls Walk
- Llangorse Lake. The largest natural lake in South Wales; water activities and camping
- The Canal. Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal running south from the town; gentle towpath walks
