21 BEST Things To Do in the Brecon Beacons (2024)

The Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (also known as the Brecon Beacons in English) is Wales’ second largest national park which straddles the middle and south of the country from Brecon down to the South Wales Valleys.

With stunning scenery, quaint towns, and some of the county’s best waterfalls, the Brecon Beacons is one of the best places to visit in Wales, especially if you love nature and the outdoors.

As a Welshman, I’ve spent countless summers exploring the national park. In this article, I’ve curated a list of my favourite places to visit and things to do in the Brecon Beacons.

Best Things To Do

1. Visit Waterfall Country

© Wales Guidebook

© Wales Guidebook

An area to the southwest of the Brecon Beacons National Park is known as Waterfall Country due to the staggering number of waterfalls in a small area where several rivers run through gorges in the national park.

There are up to six possible trails to take, from moderate to more challenging routes.

It’s very easy to discover these waterfalls by yourself if you have a car, but you can also take a guided waterfall tour with Wales Outdoors where you’ll visit eight secluded waterfalls in the area.

2. Explore the charming bookshops of Hay-on-Wye

© Wales Guidebook

© Wales Guidebook

Hay-on-Wye is a quaint market town on the northeastern tip of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It’s best known for housing an unusual number of bookshops for a small town (I counted at least 14), earning it the nickname ‘the town of books’.

There are general bookshops, antique bookshops, and some that are dedicated to a certain genre. Even if you don’t read, it’s a unique experience wandering around the bookshops, many of which are hidden in secret corners or decorated according to their genre.

Bookshops aside, there are lots of other things to do that you can enjoy a full day out here.

At the centre of the town is Hay Castle which has a fascinating history dating back to the 13th century. Inside, there’s a shop and cafe on the ground floor and for a small fee you can explore other parts of the castle including an exhibition on the second floor.

I also took the Hay Castle tour which runs twice daily. If you’re a history buff like me, you’ll enjoy this tour which delves deep into the town’s history, although it might be a bit of information overload for children or those with a short attention.

There’s also lots to do in the surroundings of Hay, including horse riding, guided hikes, and cycling. See my full guide to Hay on Wye for more information.

3. Discover medieval castles

© Wales Guidebook

Wales is known as the ‘castle capital of the world’ with more castles per square mile than any other country. So no visit would be complete without stopping by at a few.

I’ve already mentioned Hay Castle, but there are several other striking castles you can visit too:

4. Join a stargazing experience in an International Dark Sky Reserve

© Matt Gibson / Shutterstock

The Brecon Beacons is one of three International Dark Sky Reserves in Wales, making it the ideal place for stargazers. On a clear night, you can see the Milky Way, bright nebulas, and major constellations — all without a telescope!

There’s even a chance to experience a magical meteor shower, which is perfect for spectacular astrophotography opportunities. While enjoying the starry night, you can take in the sounds of the many nocturnal animals that live in the national park, including bats, nightjars, and owls.

There are a few ways you can experience beautiful night skies in the national park. My top recommendation is to take the stargazing experience with Dark Skies Wales. Portable telescopes will be provided and you’ll be joined by an expert astronomer who will tell you want to look for.

If you enjoy hiking and stargazing, you can combine your two hobbies and join a qualified mountain leader on the Sunset and Stars Guided Hiking Trip. The trip leaves from Brecon before sunset and returns after dark.

Finally, if you’d prefer to plan your own itinerary, I have put together a guide to the best stargazing spots in the Brecon Beacons.

5. Go underground at the National Showcaves for Wales

© Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales

At the National Showcaves Centre for Wales in the southwest of the Brecon Beacons, you can go underground to explore three unique caves.

The main cave, Dan-yr-Ogof, is the longest underground cave system in Wales. It’s decorated with thousands of incredible stalactites and you’ll spot several beautiful formations, such as the heavenly Angel and the Allibaster Pillar.

The second cave is the tunnel-like Cathedral cave which overflows with waterfalls, underground lakes, and a breathtaking cavern known as The Dome of St Paul’s.

The final cave (and very underrated) is the Bone Cave which has a fascinating history dating back to the bronze age. Over 42 human skeletons were unearthed in its chambers, along with fine bronze-age jewellery and Roman pottery.

You’ll also find interesting exhibits that show how people used to live in these caves and the challenges they faced.

6. Tour an award-winning distillery at Penderyn

© Penderyn Distillery

Penderyn is the home of Welsh whiskey and produces award-winning malt whiskies and spirits. Distilling whiskey was a lost art in Wales until 1990 when a group of friends established the first distillery in Wales in over a century; Penderyn was born.

At the distillery, you can take an hour-long guided tour where you’ll learn how the whiskey is made. The tours run multiple times per day – online booking is advised.

Of course, no whiskey tour would be complete without sampling some of the products. You’ll get to enjoy a few drinks in the Tasting Bar afterwards.

If you’re a real whiskey enthusiast, they also run masterclasses several times per month. lasting 2hr30, these offer a much more in-depth look at the making of Welsh whiskey and the equipment used. You’ll learn how to properly taste whiskey and experience a blind nosing activity.

7. Fly through an old coal mine at Zip World Tower

© Zipworld

Zip World have finally opened a site in South Wales. Zip World Tower is located at the old Tower Colliery coal mine just south of the Brecon Beacons.

The highlight is the Phoenix seated zipline which allows four people to zip side-by-side. You’ll reach speeds of up to 70 mph which makes it one of the fastest zip lines of its kind. There are two sections, one which is almost 1km long!

There are several other activities here including the Tower Climb which is an obstacle course 30m in the air, the Tower Coaster which is a 1km long roller coaster where you control the speed, and the Tower Flyer which is a mini zip line adventure if you’re not quite ready for the Phoenix.

I recommend booking this well ahead of time to ensure you get the time slots you want. They also have an onsite cafe for anyone wanting to watch.

8. Go kayaking or paddleboarding

© Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales

The Brecon Beacons might be a long way from the ocean, but the lakes and rivers of the national park provide plenty of opportunities to get your feet wet with watersports ranging from windsurfing to kayaking.

If you want more inspiration, Canoe Wales has details on access points that are perfect locations to get out on the water with downloadable PDFs for each route.

9. Visit the Big Pit National Coal Museum

© Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales

© Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales

The Big Pit National Coal Museum is a museum about coal mining which was one of the most important industries in Wales during the Industrial Revolution. The museum is housed in the buildings and tunnels of a real coal mine.

The highlight of visiting the Big Pit is the underground tour. You’ll go 100m underground to learn about what life would have been like when the mine was active.

The museum and underground tours are free (aside from the parking charge). The tours are on a first-come first-served basis. However, you can book a dedicated time slot in advance for £5 if you want to avoid the queue.

10. Hike to the summit of Pen-y-Fan

The Brecon Beacons is full of great hiking trails so there’s always a new route to discover.

The good news is that there’s a relatively easy route to the summit. Park at Pont ar Daf car park and follow the route to the summit before descending back down the same path. The round trip can be done in under 3 hours.

However, this route has the nickname ‘the motorway’ as it gets very busy, especially during summer. There are several other paths to the summit. So if you want to avoid the crowds, you can attempt one of the harder routes.

If you’d like to learn more about the national park during your hike, join park warden Andy on the organized Pen-Y-Fan sunset hike which runs throughout the year.

Of course, there are countless other hikes in the Brecon Beacons, here are a few:

11. Explore the market town of Brecon

© Wales Guidebook

© Wales Guidebook

Brecon is the largest town in the Brecon Beacons and fairly centrally located making it the best place to base yourself in the national park. Plus, there’s plenty to do in the town itself.

You can learn about one of the British Army’s finest regiments at the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh. On display is a huge collection of military artefacts such as weapons and medals, along with the popular Zulu war room with miniature models of key battles. This is one of my favourite museums in Wales.

Another great museum is Brecknockshire Museum where you can learn about the history and culture of the former region of Brecknockshire (modern-day Powys). This museum is free and surprisingly good for a council-run venue, a perfect rainy-day activity in the Brecon Beacons.

Sitting right in the middle of the town you’ll find Brecon cathedral, a small 17th-century cathedral that you can visit. But unlike any church or cathedral I’ve seen in Wales, it’s both an active religious building and a restaurant. I saw some people eating lunch while others pray!

12. Visit Llanthony Priory

Llanthony Prioryis the ruins of a former Augustinian priory that’s thought to date back to the beginning of the 12th century. It was thought to be one of the grandest buildings in this region at the time.

The ruins are very picturesque and have even caught the eye of J. M. W. Turner who painted them in the 18th century. The ruins are one of the best spots for stargazing in the national park too.

There’s a car park beside Llanthony Priory so it’s very easy to get there, it’s free too!

What the photos don’t show you is that there’s a hotel built into the side of the abbey ruins. Their onsite Cellar Bar is a great place for some refreshments.

13. Step back in time at Blaenavon Ironworks

© Crown copyright (2023) Cymru Wales

© Crown copyright (2023) Cymru Wales

The iron-ore and coal-rich hills of Blaenavon, just south of the Brecon Beacons, helped fuel the Industrial Revolution and have earned the landscape a spot as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The site of the old Balenavon Ironworks is well preserved and has been turned into a museum where you can see some of the old furnaces and go inside the old workers’ cottages which have been recreated as they would have looked in the 19th century.

The site is now managed by CADW and is free to members.

Not far away is the newly openedBlaenavon World Heritage Centrewith displays and videos about the role of Blaenavon in iron and coal production over the years.

14. Cruise down the Brecon and Monmouth Canal

© Wales Guidebook

The Brecon and Monmouth Canal runs through the national park from Brecon to Abergavenny and onwards down to Pontypool. Once an important transport route, it’s now open for tourists and a great alternative way to experience the Brecon Beacons.

There are several ways to enjoy the canal. For a quick trip, you can take the public boat with Dragonfly Cruises which run daily between March and October. These start and end in Brecon.

But if you fancy jumping in the driving seat, you can hire a private boat from Brecon Park Boats. You can take a day trip onboard one of their small electric self-drive vessels, or live on the waterway for up to a week by hiring a luxury 5-star narrowboat.

15. Gallop through the countryside on horseback

© Cantref

The Brecon Beacons is a great place to start if you’ve never been horse riding before. With stunning terrain, it’s the perfect way to see parts of the National Park that are otherwise hidden.

Most of the riding and trekking centres have a wide range of routes and horses to choose from, with over 600 miles of bridle tracks and paths. Cantref Riding centre gives visitors the choice to spend half a day or a full day trekking, which includes stopping for a delicious hot lunch.

Tregoyd Mountain Riders offer tailor-made riding holidays on the trails of the Black Mountains. With experienced guides to accompany guests on their trek, it’s a perfect eco-friendly way to take in all that the National Park has to offer.

16. Experience a Welsh festival

© Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales

All year round, the Brecon Beacons holds several outdoor festivals celebrating the very best of what the National Park has to offer. Well known for walking festivals, Crickhowell and Talgarth features a great variety of guided walks with a traditional Welsh ceilidh, a Twmpath.

One of the top festivals in Wales for book lovers is the Hay Festival of Literature and Art, more commonly known as the Hay Festival, which takes place in the charming market town of Hay-on-Wye. With delicious food on offer and exciting musical events, this festival thrives on discussing contemporary literature with some of the world’s greatest writers, poets, and philosophers.

A remarkable four-day event, the Green Man festival has become the biggest music festival in Wales with some recent headliners such as Mumford and Sons, Van Morrison, and Band of Horses. For jazz enthusiasts, The Brecon Jazz festival held around August has played host to many famous jazz musicians from around the world.

17. Go fishing

With first-rate brown trout accessible from the River Usk and outstanding grayling on the River Wye, fishing is one of the most popular activities in the Brecon Beacons¹ (source: Brecon Beacons).

The largest natural lake in Wales, Llangorse Lake is famous for opportunities to catch pike and eels. The towpath at Talybont is accessible for wheelchairs and the best entrance to the Brecon canal where anglers can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere while catching some trout or carp.

Many locations for fishing can be found all over the National Park. However, remember that in the UK and Wales, you need a rod license to fish with a rod and line. Fishing permits must also be obtained in some areas.

18. Conquer new heights with rock climbing and abseiling

At the Brecon Beacons, visitors are spoilt for choice with a wide variety of climbing routes and different challenges for climbers and abseilers. Sheltered crags, old quarries, and stunning vistas make climbing possible all year-round.

Rock climbing sessions offered at Inspire2Adventure can be tailored to each individual’s needs as a fantastic activity for both adults and children. An instructor will guide you through the technique of traversing along the rock wall and then put your new skills into action with a vertical rope climb.

After mastering the art of rock climbing, it’s only natural to finish the day with some abseiling. An instructor is on hand to help ease climbers into their first abseil to finish off this thrilling experience. An all-weather indoor option is also available.

Parkwood Outdoors Dolygaer is an award-winning activity centre that offers a fantastic range of activities including climbing and abseiling. With on-site accommodation to suit everyone, Parkwood Outdoors is perfect if you want to take more time to improve your climbing skills.

19. Learn survival and foraging skills

Rich in woodland and wildlife, the National Park is where many from the SAS army go to learn about survival and now you can too with a bushcraft survival skills tour. Learn how to construct brushwood shelters, lighting a fire without matches, and navigate with a map, it’s a great way to hone your wilderness skills.

The national park has experts on hand who can teach you the ways of survival with the survival skills experience from Blue Ocean Adventures. However, keep in mind that there is a 4-person minimum to book as they are private tours.

Alternatively, why not try out foraging where you can learn how to find your own food just like our ancestors did. The forests, waters, and hedgerows around the National Park are abundant in edible wild foods.

Brecon Beacons Foraging run a monthly foraging tour on the last Sunday during summer. These courses include a rambling forage walk to collect ingredients, followed by lunch made from your freshly picked finds.

20. Ride a vintage train on the Brecon Mountain Railway

© Wikimedia / Stuart Yeates

Open between April and October, the Brecon Mountain Railway follows the route of the original Brecon and Merthyr railway that closed in 1964. With views stretching out across the valley, it’s a fun way to enjoy the wonders of the Brecon Beacons.

Travelling 3 miles from the main station in Pant, the journey takes you through the Brecon Beacons National Park, onto Pontsticill, and along the length of the Taf Fechan reservoir. The train moves at an easy pace, giving visitors ample chances to take some spectacular photographs of the scenery. In addition, train enthusiasts will love that the all-weather observation carriages are pulled by original, vintage steam locomotives.

At the summit in Torpantau, visitors experience breathtaking views before returning down to Ponsticill. At the station, you can either visit the workshop and see how the locomotives and carriages are repaired or stop for afternoon tea at the licensed tearooms.

21. Go canyoning or gorge-walking

Canyoning and gorge walking are outdoor activities where you make your way through canyons and rivers by swimming, jumping, climbing, and even abseiling.

With so many gorges and canyons, you won’t be surprised to find out that the Brecon Beacons is one of the best canyoning spots in Wales, particularly around Pontneddfechan which is within the area of the park known asWaterfall Country.

Although very similar, canyoning is usually more extreme whereas gorge walking tends to be slightly easier. But there is no hard and fast definition of each.

One of the top tours to try is gorge walking with Blue Ocean Activities & Adventures where you’ll join a small group of up to 10 people along with an experienced guide who will lead you and ensure you have all of the relevant safety equipment. You just need to bring your own sturdy waterproof shoes (suitable for ages 10+).

See more canyoning and gorge walking tours here.