Local Activities & Attractions in the Brecon Beacons National Park
The bridge at Crickhowell
The Hall Farm barn sits beneath the Sugar Loaf mountain, a perfect opportunity not to be missed, to follow the hill sheep walk, a renowned and popular route to the top of the Sugar Loaf peak attracting many cyclist and walkers year after year.
The Hall Farm Barn is situated in a unique location, surrounded by traditional market towns such as Abergavenny, known as the ‘Gateway to Wales’, Crickhowell, Brecon, Hay-on-Wye and the Usk valley. Offering picturesque countryside, canals and castles, all areas are rich in history, heritage and hospitality.
To one side of the valley lies the Brecon Beacons National Park, with the prominent Beacon peaks. Across to the Black Mountains, easily accessible leading to charming areas such as Grwyne Fawr reservoir, Table top mountain, Bluebell wood, Llanthony, Longtown, St Margaret and the Golden Valley.
Hacking, trekking and horse riding
Black Mountain Holidays Trail rides - riding lessons and more. Proprietor: Howard Crighton Castle Farm, Capel-y-Ffin, Abergavenny NP7 7NP • Telephone: 01873 890650 • Fax: 01497 821058
Cantref Riding & Trekking Centre - Treks into the Brecon Beacons and riding lessons for all abilities. Open all year. Cantref Brecon, Powys, LD3 8LR 01874-665223
Llangorse Riding Centre - off road trekking, riding and hacking for all abilities. Indoor climbing wall and abseiling onsite. Open all year. Penybryn House, Gilfach Farm, Llangorse, Brecon, Powys, 01874-658272 Fax 01874-658280
Court Farm - pony trekking in the Black Mountains, email: CourtFarm@llanthony.co.uk
Cycling
Brecon Cycle Centre - located in the town of Brecon and able to offer everything from bike hire and activity packages to sales and repairs. 9 Ship Street Brecon Powys LD3 9AF Tel/fax 01874 622651.
Bikes and Hikes - Biking, Hiking and a range of other outdoor activities. Keith and Arlene, The Elms, 10 The Struet, Brecon, Powys, UK, LD3 7LL. Phone/ Fax 01874 610071. Email: bikes-hikes@brecon.co.uk
Golf
Cradoc Golf Club - situated alongside the spectacularly beautiful scenery of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Cradoc Golf Club, Penoyre Park, Cradoc, Brecon, Powys, LD3 9LP Tel: (01874) 623658. Fax: (01874) 611711
Wernddu Golf Club - An undulating parkland course with magnificent views over Abergavenny and the Black Mountains. A long front nine and shorter back nine provide a challenging round of golf for golfers of all standards. Driving range, 18 hole golf course and pitch and putt. Easy access, Old Ross Road, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. NP7 8NG Tel: 01873 856223. Fax: 01873 852177. Email: info@wernddu-golf-club.co.uk
Fishing
Day or week licenses and permits can be easily obtained from any local Post Office.
Big Well Fly Fishing - is a good day out, excellent hospitality and amazing location. About half an hour away by car. If tuition is required it is advisable to ring beforehand.
Ideas for young families
If the weather is wet, the youngsters will have great fun at two local play-barns, Brynich play-barn (tel. 01874 623840), and Cantref play barn (tel. 01874 665223).
Ideas for the more adventurous
Black Mountain Activities - Rock climbing, abseiling, high ropes course, gorge walking and white water rafting are just some of the activities here. Tel. 01497 847897.
Llangorse Rope Centre - a wonderful destination for using an indoor climbing centre, and the new addition to the activities “Sky Trek” is guaranteed to thrill you (tel. 01874 658272).
Other places to visit
Events
- Crickhowell Walking Festival– 26 February to 6 March 2011
Resource and information centre: 01873 811970 - Smallholders Event and Garden Festival at The Royal Welsh Showground— 21 and 22 May 2011
- The Hay Festival - 27th May - 6th June 2010
- International Horse Trials and Country Fair held at Glanusk June 30 to July 3 2011
- Abergavenny Cycling Festival and Iron Mountain event takes place at Abergavenny 8-11 July, web site: www.abergavennycyclingfestival.co.uk
- Glanusk Polo 9th July
- Llanthony Show - 7th August 2010
- The Green Man Festival - 19 August 2011, a festival of music psychedelic, indie, dance, Americana, and five stages of folk, as well as a full programme including Art, literature, film, comedy, healing zone, ceilidhs and Welsh Poetry telephone enquiries 01873 812105 or Fiona@thegreenmanfestival.co.uk
- The Brecon Jazz Festival– 12 - 14 August 2011
- The Abergavenny Food Festival - 17th & 18th September 2010
- The Royal Welsh Show— Monday 18 to Thursday 21 July 2011 featuring the best of all things Welsh from animals to food to art
Events at the Wales Millennium Centre / Canalfan Mileniwm Cymru
- 17 April Frisky and Mannish
- 24 April Jimmy Carr
- 25 -30 Corrie
- 4 -7 May Scottish Ballet: Alice
- 20 May Cosi FanTutte
- 28 May and 5 June Turandot
- 31 May Summer Evening concert
- 6-11 June Footloose
- 12 June Michael Ball
- 14 -18 June Avenue Q
- 23 -25 June Midnight Tango
- 28 June Yes Prime Minister
- 4 -9 July Jekyll and Hyde
- 11 July royal New Zealand Ballet
- 25 July Grease the Musical
- 18 -20 August Guangdong Acrobatic Troupe: Swan Lake
Wales Millennium Stadium
- 12 March Wales v Ireland
- 21 May Heineken Cup
- 14 June Take That
- 4 June Wales v Barbarians
- 13 August Wales v England
- 20 August Wales v Argentina
We can accommodate if you require a place to stay for these events.
Restaurants & eating out
- The Bear Hotel tel: 01873 810408
- The Gliffaes tel: 01874 730371
- The Dragons Head tel: 01873 810350
- Cripple Creek tel: 01291 690256
- The Llanwenarth tel: 01873 810550
Groceries & food shopping
There are many grocery shops, local butchers in the nearby towns Crickhowell and Abergavenny. The nearest supermarket is Waitrose approximately five minutes away in Abergavenny.