Walks and Attractions in the Brecon Beacons

The best way to explore the Brecon Beacons is on foot. Walking through its rugged landscape allows you to truly appreciate the beauty and scale of this extraordinary natural landscape. After a day of walking across the hills and breathing in the clear, fresh air of the Brecon Beacons, you’re guaranteed to feel a sense of freedom, and rebirth.

Featured below are some of the best walking routes this region has to offer, which we hope will help you start your Welsh adventure.

Storey Arms to the Visitor Centre, 6.5 miles, 3 hours

Taking you straight through the dramatic heart of the Brecon Beacons, this beautiful walk begins and ends at local bus stops (located on the T4 route from Cardiff or Brecon), making it the perfect choice for visitors travelling by public transport. The walk begins at the Storey Arms Outdoor Education Centre, where you can try your hand at rock climbing, orienteering and hill climbing.

Along the walk you’ll pass the tallest and second tallest peaks in South Wales, Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du, before entering the Craig Cerrig-Gleisiad National Nature Reserve, one of the most beautiful spots in the Brecon Beacons. Keep your eyes open for the rare peregrine falcons that have been known to nest in the protected area.

The walk ends at the National Park Visitor Centre where you’ll find toilets and refreshments.

Nearby holiday rental properties include, Hampshire & Cass Foundation Mountain Centre which sleeps up to 46, Penstar Bunkhouse which sleeps 20 and Penpont which can accommodate up to 17.

Talgarth circular walk, 7 miles, 3.5 hours

If you have a head for heights, this is the perfect walk for you. Taking you to Castell Dinas, Wales’ highest castle, and through the lofty Black Mountains. This walk offers you the chance to take in the sweeping views of a spectacular local landscape. Stop for refreshments at the Black Mountains Gliding Club and watch the adrenaline seekers sail through the skies, high above the rugged terrain.

The walk begins and ends in the pretty town of Talgarth where you’ll find a selection of shops and places to eat.

If you want to stay close to Talgarth, you can choose from Trefecca Barns which sleeps 2-13, the Brecon Bunkhouse which can accommodate up to 28 and Trebarried Mill which has 7 bedrooms and sleeps up to 18 people.

The Sgwd yr Eira trail, 4 miles, 2 hours

This picturesque trail, which is located in the south west corner of the park, feels a million miles from the big skies and towering mountains of the northern Brecon Beacons. Largely made up of limestone, this beautiful area is crisscrossed with rivers and waterfalls.

The most dramatic falls in the area are Sgwd yr Eira, the ‘Fall of Snow’, there is easy access on foot direct from the Dinas Rock Car Park. Along the way you’ll pass the dramatic Sychryd Gorge and the Old Gunpowder Works which were built in the 19th century. When you reach the falls, you can walk right behind its 18m high curtain of water and get a unique view of the natural feature.

Book the Clyngwyn Bunkhouse and Shepherds Hut (sleeps 2 to 27) or Absolute Adventure, in Powys (sleeps up to 46) if you want to stay nearby.

The Brecon Beacons Circuit, 11 miles, 4-6 hours

If you only have a few days to explore the region and want to see the best of the Brecon Beacons, then this walk is the one for you. Taking in many of the park’s most famous sights and attractions, the 11-mile circuit begins and ends at the Storey Arms. Along the way you’ll see the Tommy Jones Obelisk, Pen-y-Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales, and The Gap, a pronounced opening in the mountain range that offers one of the few crossing points for those travelling north to south across the Brecon Beacons. There are plenty of other great routes up Pen-y-Fan if conquering the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons is on your bucket list! 

Due to the length of this circuit, and the terrain you’ll cover, you’ll need to be reasonably fit to take on the walk. It’s also a good idea to take some food and water along for the adventure as refreshments not readily available.

Stay within easy reach of this picturesque walk by booking the Coed Owen Bunkhouse (sleeps 16 to 26), the Dan-y-Gyrn Bunkhouse (sleeps 8 to 12) or the Penstar Bunkhouse (sleeps 20).

If all this has got you in the more to get out, get active an explore the Brecon Beacons, why not book your holiday home today and start planning an outdoor adventure of your own?