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Welcome to Mid Wales & The Brecon Beacons Welcome to the Brecon Beacons National Park


Situated in mid-Wales, the Brecon Beacons National Park is just an hour from Cardiff and less than three hours from London. With its distinctive mountains, internationally acclaimed geology, deep, dark starry skies, rich wildlife, diverse recreational opportunities and waterfalls that take your breath away - whether you want action packed or a slower pace of life - you’ll fi nd we have it all. Yes OK, maybe it rains a lot but that’s why it’s so green.


Visitors come from all over the world to enjoy the National Park. You can tuck into a pub lunch after a gentle stroll on our scenic hills, canoe or fi sh in one of our rivers, take advantage of the lack of light pollution and stay up late to stargaze - all whilst enjoying friendly hospitality in one of our pretty B&Bs. If it’s festivals you’re after then you can just about take your pick - for music lovers we have the Green Man Festival or Brecon Jazz, for book lovers we have the Guardian Hay Festival and for food lovers we have the Brecon Beacons Food Festival or the Summer Fayre. All here, all year round - all we’re waiting for is you. Visit our website at www.breconbeacons.org or pick up a National Park Visitor Guide from your nearest Tourist Information Centre.


Visitor Centres


The National Park Visitor Centre (known locally as The Mountain Centre) Libanus, Brecon, Powys, LD3 8ER. Tel: 01874 623366.


Open every day except Christmas Day with an Information Centre, exhibition, gift shop and restaurant in a beautiful setting with Pen y Fan as a backdrop. Perfect for families with children and a wonderful way to start or end a walk on Mynydd Illtyd common. Finish off the day with a smashing home-cooked meal - in fact the Welsh Black beef pie is famous in these parts! Toilets and car parking are available.


Llandovery Tourist Information & Heritage Centre The Heritage Centre, Town Centre, Llandovery. SA20 0AW. Tel: 01550 720693.


Open 9.30am-1pm and 1.45pm-5pm every day Easter to October 2010. Information Centre, exhibition and gift shop. Toilets and car parking are available.


The Ambassador will have completed specialist courses on the National Park and what it has to offer. Many local tourism businesses have already signed up to the National Park Ambassador Scheme which is funded by the EU Interreg IVB project as part of Collabor8.


Eat local


The Waterfalls Centre Pontneathvaughan Road, Pontneddfechan, nr Glynneath, SA11 5NR. Tel: 01639 721795.


Open 9.30am-1pm and 1.30pm-5pm every day between Monday 6th


April -Sunday 1st


November. Information centre, shop, Fforest Fawr Geopark and waterfalls exhibition.


Abergavenny Tourist Information & National Park Centre Tel: 01873 853254


Open Easter - Oct 10.00am-5pm and November - Easter 10.00am-4pm. Information centre, exhibition and shop.


Guided Walks & Events in 2010


There are loads of guided walks and events happening in the National Park this year. To view the full programme log on to: www.visitbreconbeacons.com or you can request A4 fl yers or a full visitor guide by calling 01874 620480 or by emailing:


enquiries@breconbeacons.org. Here are a just a few of the highlights this year.


Sunday 13th June Open Farm Sunday Llanthony Court Farm


A great day for the whole family to experience farm life. Walk amongst calves, lambs and foals in the spectacular landscape surrounding Llanthony Priory. For more information please visit: www.farmsunday.org


Friday 16th July The Tempest


Dubbed ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ this is outdoor theatre entertainment at its very best. The Festival Players Theatre Company returns to the grounds of the National Park Visitor Centre to perform with energy and brilliance, a richly costumed production of Shakespeare’s fi nal poetic comedy. To book tickets please call 01874 623366.


Saturday 28th August Bwlch with Altitude Challenge


Are you looking for a great walking day out? A challenge with a twist? You might not automatically imagine a


12 mile circular walk around stunning Llangorse Lake and a quiz together, not to mention delicious cake and a BBQ to fi nish off the day. But that’s exactly what’s on offer if you decide to take up the Bwlch with Altitude


Challenge. To book your place call 01874 730215or to fi nd out more visit www.bwlchwalks.co.uk


Friday 17th September to Sunday 19th September Rural Skills Weekend - Penpont Estate


A weekend countryside feast of rural and traditional skills featuring courses and crafts from a bygone era. Crafts on offer include dry stone walling, bee keeping, fencing, ploughing, stained glass, animal husbandry, cider making, sheep care and much more. For more


information visit www.workingruralwales.org. To book tickets please call 01544 340212.


BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK


Many of the local businesses in the National Park will offer you locally produced food and drink. You can buy lovely local produce while you are here at the Farmers’ Markets (on the second Saturday of every month in Brecon) or at one of the Food Festivals or Summer Fayres - please see the dates shown opposite. Further details are also available from the National Park web site, Visitor Centres, or direct from some of the many farm shops or suppliers in the area.


‘Park in your Heart’ Ambassador Scheme


The new Ambassador Scheme logo lets you know that your host has signed up to an exciting new tourism scheme designed to give you - the visitor - valuable insider knowledge of the Brecon Beacons.


Beacons Bus 2010


Public transport in the Brecon Beacons is really making a name for itself in 2010. You can reduce your carbon footprint by taking the Beacons Bus from South Wales (including Newport and Cardiff) any Sunday or Bank Holiday this summer. With new routes being added all the time and a trailer to put your bike on (check route for availability), you can nip up for the day in the Park - no problem. Welsh senior citizens can use their bus passes and travel FREE! As part of the new National Park Knowledge courses that we offer local transport providers, Brecon taxi drivers can give you top tips, short historical tours and great insider advice on the Park if you’re visiting.


Mountain Biking


A brand new edition of Mountain Biking Routes in the National Park is now out - including some top cycling tips from Olympic Road Race Champion gold medallist Nicole Cooke. Pick up a copy at one of our Visitor Centres today.


To fi nd out more information please visit www.breconbeacons.org


mtbBreconBeacons 14 Mountain Biking routes in the Brecon Beacons National Park


Calling all Walkers!


Plan your trip to the Brecon Beacons with the brand new Park Explorer at www.breconbeacons.org/explorer


 Gorgeous photographs 


 See the views before you choose your route


 Design your own itineraries


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Proceeds go towards route repairs


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