Things to do in Brecon Beacons National Park

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Welsh history and natural beauty with our Three Castles and Welsh Mountains tour, a must for history lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. Starting in the vibrant city of Cardiff, you'll catch a drive-by glimpse of the imposing Cardiff Castle, home to the Romans during their occupation of Wales and an iconic symbol of the city’s medieval past. We then whisk you away to the Castell Coch, a 19th-century marvel designed by the renowned architect William Burges. Nestled in the wooded hills, this gothic revival masterpiece is known as the 'fairy-tale' castle thanks to its tapered turrets and conical rooves. Next, we head to the awe-inspiring Caerphilly Castle, a 13th century fortress, and the largest castle in Wales - aptly surrounded by beautiful lake water defences and boasting dramatic towers. Take your time exploring its rich history, including the famous leaning tower that rivals Pisa! Enjoy some free time and a relaxing lunch break in the town of Caerphilly, whilst admiring the views of one of Wales’ most impressive medieval structures. After lunch, the journey continues through the breathtaking landscapes of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Marvel at the sweeping views of rugged mountains, rolling hills, and vast open spaces, home to wildlife and ancient legends. This area is known for its outstanding natural beauty and is one of Wales' best-loved national parks. Finally, we arrive in the charming market town of Brecon. Here, you can choose to take a leisurely walk along the tranquil canal side which has often been voted Britain's prettiest canal, or pay a visit to the historic Brecon Cathedral, a peaceful sanctuary that dates back over 900 years. With a mix of history, architecture, and natural wonders, this tour offers a perfect snapshot of Wales’ finest treasures.

Experience our tours with a maximum of 8 passengers per group. Settle into a comfortable van and escape Cardiff city to explore the medieval history of Wales. Discover the best attractions of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons), one of the three national parks in Wales. Enter the National Park to visit Henrhyd Falls, the tallest and most spectacular waterfall in South Wales, known for its role as a filming location for the final scene of Batman: The Dark Knight Rises as the entrance to the Batcave. Next, Proceed to the heart of Bannau Brycheiniog and enjoy a short stop at the second oldest tree in Wales, a stunning yew tree that is 3018 years old, making it one of the oldest trees in Britain. Stop in Brecon, where you can admire the canals—voted the prettiest in Britain—or simply enjoy a stroll through the town's quaint streets, filled with independent shops, bakeries, coffee spots, and souvenir shops. Continue to the town of Merthyr Tydfil to tour Cyfarthfa Castle, located in a picturesque park. During the journey, learn about the Industrial Revolution period in Wales. Next Marvel at Caerphilly Castle, the largest in Wales and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a stroll around this magnificent fortress, or relax with an ice cream in the town. End your day at Castell Coch, a fairy-tale castle nestled in the woods. Take a walk around this beautifully preserved building, discover the fascinating history behind it. Relax in the vehicle as you journey back to Cardiff, where you'll be dropped off at the designated location. Throughout January, we will stop only at Caerphilly Castle, as Castell Coch is closed during this time of year. Participants engage at their own risk, with adults or parents determining if the event is appropriate for them. Participation levels in any event are solely personal decisions. We suggest securing a personal activity insurance plan to guard against potential income loss in the unlikely event of an accident during a walk. Please note that this itinerary is an example, and the route taken may vary due to weather or other conditions.

Discover the highlights of South East Wales on this full-day trip from Cardiff. See sights such as the ancient Roman remains of Caerleon, the ruins of the Abbey of Tintern, the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. Meet your guide in Central Cardiff and set out to your first stop, Caerleon Roman town. See the remains of the Roman amphitheatre, and the legionary barracks. Follow the Wye Gorge towards Tintern and stop briefly to visit Tintern Abbey, a sight made famous by painter JWM Turner. Continue up through the gorge and the spectacular Forest of Dean to Monmouth and Rockfield. Next, enter the Brecon Beacons National Park in the beautiful Black Mountains, visiting the hidden church of St.Issu. Stopping in the little market town of Crickhowell for lunch (not included). Brecon Town, home of the Army in Wales, with its canal and Cathedral. Enjoy the fresh mountain air and the fast running waters of a beautiful mountain stream. Enjoy the breath-taking views of Pen y Fan and Corn Ddu, South Wales' highest peaks, check your reflection in the reservoirs of Talybont and Pontsticill. In Merthyr Tydfil, cradle of the Welsh industrial revolution, discover the beginnings of train travel, following the river Taff for our return to Cardiff in the late afternoon. Example Itinerary, weather and other conditions can dictate route taken.

Join a local guide on a simply amazing circular hiking route in the Waterfalls area of the Brecon Beacons National Park. See the six main waterfalls of the national park as well as some smaller falls and cascades, and admire the scenic valleys and the forest landscapes. You will travel in a modern and luxurious fully electric vehicle, limited to a maximum of seven passengers, in the company of your driver guide, Andy, who is a Mountain Leader and a Green Badged Tourist Guide, an ambassador for many areas of Wales and a Visit Wales Pro. Oh, and amongst other things tourism and adventure, he’s also been chair of Brecon Beacons Tourism and a Brecon Beacons National Park Warden. Meet your guide at the National Museum Cardiff. Then it's off to Pontneddfechan and the start of our hike. We will visit each waterfall as you learn about the local area from your guide. You'll gain 400m of height on the 15km hike which is often over rough, muddy and broken ground. For our hiking troubles, we get amazing scenic views of the park and wonderful memories of sparkling waterfalls. Immerse yourself in the landscape as you get the chance to walk behind some of the waterfalls. Perhaps you will take an invigorating swim in the final pool to finish off the tour! With the waterfalls area being popular it's paths can become very crowded indeed. However, the path we will take for most of the day only ever has a handful of walkers and midweek we'll have much of the hike to ourselves! We have been delivering walks at this location for over thirty years and our knowledge of the area, its industrial heritage and its natural environments will be ours to share with you as you take in the best valley walks in Brecon Beacons National Park! During the months of May to September there is a cafe half way round, but do not depend on this for sustenance unless advised by us to do so. It's a pop up and so is often closed due to weather conditions so we always advise taking a good packed lunch along with a flask of something warm. Know before you go This tour will take place rain or shine You will climb 400m, but this is gently done Andy may bring his dog with him. If this is an issue for you please let us know Although most levels of fitness can be accommodated please be sensible when booking and know your own ability Please Note A reasonable level of fitness is required for all of our walks. As our walks are open to all, clients who are considerably slower than average may be asked at a suitable and safe point on the hike to head back to the start. This is to ensure that those that have booked and are of average fitness will continue to enjoy the day without risk. If walking with us please know that the weather can change and at times we do need to keep moving, especially in winter, to remain warm and safe.

The cost of this tour includes entry to all the locations visited. We will have an hour or more at each attraction with travelling time making up the rest of the nine hours. Our lunch location will be at a small cafe in Tintern. You will travel in a modern and luxurious fully electric vehicle, limited to a maximum of seven passengers, in the company of your driver guide, Andy, who is a Mountain Leader and a Green Badged Tourist Guide, an ambassador for many areas of Wales and a Visit Wales Pro. Oh, and amongst other things tourism and adventure, he’s also been chair of Brecon Beacons Tourism and a Brecon Beacons National Park Warden. Caerleon Roman Amphitheatre is our first stop. A fine example of a spot once used for combat and games and perhaps even is the fabled round table from the King Arthur legend. We then visit the two museums in Caerleon, the National Legionary Museum and the Roman Baths. Next stop is Chepstow Castle, which is is magnificent. Once inside its walls, you'll feel yourself taken back in time and perhaps imagine being a Lord or Lady from times past. Tintern Abbey is glorious! Its ruins are a testament to a troubled past but now, in the Wye Valley, it is quiet and contemplation that is most often experienced. Caerphilly Castle is quite remarkable! It has a leaning tower, just like Pisa. A rather fine example of a moated castle with much of its towers and walls intact. Castell Coch is our final destination and it's a beauty. Renovated by the Victorians, it is gorgeous both inside and out. Know Before You Go This tour will take place rain or shine There is leisurely walking on this tour including optional spiral staircases in the castles We will visit spots with the most astounding views and many interesting features on our journey. You will be able to spend time with the guide at each location, as they walk and talk about Wales, its history and culture or you are free to self-explore. We will return to Cardiff around 6 pm and likely a little earlier.

Follow a local guide on a hiking route in the Brecon Beacons National Park. See the six main waterfalls of the park as well as some smaller falls, and admire the scenic valleys and the forest landscape. Meet your guide in Pontneddfechan and embark on a round-trip hiking route. Visit each waterfall as you learn about the local area from your guide. You'll gain 400m of height on the 15km hike, and get amazing scenic views of the park. Immerse yourself in the landscape as you get the chance to walk behind some of the waterfalls. Perhaps you will take an invigorating swim in the final pool to finish off the tour. Please Note A reasonable level of fitness is required for all of our walks. As our walks are open to all, clients who are considerably slower than average will be asked at a suitable and safe point on the hike to head back to the start. This is to ensure that those that have booked and are of average fitness will continue to enjoy the day without risk. If walking with us please know that the weather can change and at times, especially in winter, we do need to keep moving to remain warm and safe.

We have been delivering canyoning and group walks at this location for over ten years. We have a deep knowledge of the area, its heritage, and its natural environments and we will share this with you as you take in the best valley walks in Brecon Beacons National Park! The waterfalls are absolutely stunning, regularly covered by TikTok influencers of late, so we want to share them with you! Waterfall Country is located on the south-westerly edge of the Breacon Beacons, this area is amongst the most beautiful and popular parts of the National Park. The rivers Mellte, Hepste, Pyrddin and Nedd-fechan wind their way down deep, tree-lined gorges, over a series of dramatic waterfalls, before joining to form the River Neath. This area is of international importance and it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This is a 9 mile walk walked over 9 hours.

Day 1: You leave Manchester and head straight for the border of Wales. Your first stop of the day is Conwy. This little town deserves to win awards for most picture-perfect harbour town. There’s a castle perched by the sea, the ‘world’s smallest house’, and lots of little restaurants boasting the best fish and chips. After you’ve soaked up the sea air, you cross the world’s first modern day suspension bridge across the Menai Straits and onto Anglesey Island. Prior to its construction, cattle farmers would have to persuade their herd to swim across the Menai Straits on their way to market. We head for the most westerly point of North Wales to marvel at the South Stack Lighthouse, sea cliffs, and nature reserve. But that’s not all. You stop in the lovely seaside town of Beaumaris, and also visit the town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll for a quick photo stop. Then you travel back over the bridge and along the coastline to Llandudno, your overnight stop. Day 2: This morning when you head off, your first stop is to Betws-y-Coed. This beautiful little village is known as the gateway to Snowdonia National Park. Next, sit back and watch Snowdonia’s mountains fly by as you continue onto Harlech Castle. This is one of our favourite castles in the whole of the UK. It boasts epic sea views and an amazingly war-torn history that involves a lot of dynamite. You then venture to one of the most charming and unique villages in Wales, Portmeirion. This town is the brainchild of Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis. He wanted to demonstrate how a naturally beautiful location could be developed without spoiling it. The result is a stunning piece of the Mediterranean transported into North Wales. You have free time here to explore and grab a bite to eat. You head back to Llandudno for the evening. Day 3: After breakfast, your first stop is to the Llanberis Slate Museum*. The history of the second largest slate mine on the planet will stay in your memory for a long time. For your lunch stop today, we head to Llangollen. Situated along the River Dee, this little town will steal your heart. Next you’re off to one of England’s most historic towns, Chester. There’s a lot to do here, but we’d advise you just head to the Cathedral, you could spend a whole week in this fine building and not get bored. You arrive back in Manchester in the early evening.

This is a fully inclusive tour with ALL admissions to the various attractions paid for in advance by us. Our Valleys tour is a guided tour from central Cardiff taking in the industrial heritage of the valleys. You will travel in a modern and luxurious fully electric vehicle, limited to a maximum of seven passengers, in the company of your driver guide, Andy, who is a Mountain Leader and a Green Badged Tourist Guide. South Wales is geologically 'lucky', having all of the elements required to fuel the industrial revolution, iron, coal, limestone and silica rock. From the 1750's iron boom through the 1850's to the 1980's when coal was king, South Wales was a hive of activity, smelting, mining and developing technologies to improve production. This tour has been designed to look at this history, its effects upon the landscape and people who laboured so hard and also at those who profited from that labour. We'll also have a glimpse of the scenic beauty of the Brecon Beacons National Park which lies to the north, on the fringes of the coalfields, and how the mining communities are recovering, post the closure of the mines in the 1990's. Itinerary Pick up from National Museum Cardiff. Fourteen Locks: is the most spectacular flight of canal locks in South Wales. A scheduled ancient monument situated in this idyllic part of Newport. It lies on the Crumlin Arm part of the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal. Surrounded by striking landscape, it is one of the most beautiful scenic waterways. Cwmcarn Forest Drive: In the vehicle we will meander around the twisting bends and allow the enchanting forest to immerse us in tranquillity where you can leave the rest of the world behind. We will park up at one of the seven car parks to absorb the breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the tour guide will give you more information about the area. Guardian of the Valley: a sculpture commemorating the Six Bells Disaster: On 28 June 1960 an underground explosion at 'Arrael Griffin' colliery led to the deaths of 45 miners. Fifty years later, after tireless work by the community and local organisations, a steel sculpture by Sebastien Boyesen, over 60ft high, was dedicated to those who died. Abertillery: a traditional-style town centre mainly developed in the late 19th century and as such has some interesting Victorian architecture. We will be here for lunch. Mountain Road: We’ll take a drive from St Illtyd to Abersychan along a beautiful mountain road with open views of the Brecon Beacons to the North, the road we travel is 1200 feet above sea level. Big Pit: a real coal mine and one of Britain's leading mining museums. Enjoy exhibitions in the Pithead Baths and Historic colliery buildings AND the world-famous Underground Tour: go 300 feet underground with a real miner and see what life was like for the thousands of men who worked at the coal face. Back to Cardiff, drop off at National Museum.

This is a truly iconic Beacons day out and one that Andy is master of! Andy will be guiding you on a classic but lesser walked route to Pen y Fan's summit. Andy includes adventures throughout! Following the Taff up to it's source, this route we'll have to ourselves, some may get wet feet so good boots a must and waterproof socks are a good investment. Then it's the steep climb to Corn Du and onto Pen y Fan, taking in the views, seeking out the fossil beach, getting some fine instagram worthy snaps. It's then off piste once again and we'll have the mountain to ourselves as we hilariously slide own steep slopes on our bums. This is a truly hysterical experience! Old waterproof trousers are good here - Andy cannot be held responsible for wearing out your bum padding ;) We'll explore Llyn Cwm Llwch and discuss its mysteries before heading up to the sad memorial of Tommy Jones where Andy will relay the true facts of this case. A final mountain, Yr Gyrn, is peak bagged as we descend to the start point. Where Pont ar Daf Car Park, Libanus, Brecon LD3 8NL More info Height Gain : 600m Distance : 11km Time : 6hrs Please Note A reasonable level of fitness is required for all of our walks. As our walks are open to all, clients who are considerably slower than average will be asked at a suitable and safe point on the hike to head back to the start. This is to ensure that those that have booked and are of average fitness will continue to enjoy the day without risk. If walking with us please know that the weather can change and at times we do need to keep moving, especially in winter, to remain warm and safe. What to bring Walking boots Warm layers and waterproofs essential Packed lunch Join Us!