Brecon Trip mid-July 2025 - 4 nights/5 walks (2 short, 3 long)

Stay in Brecon (or surrounding villages if you have a car).

Why and how four nights with five walks? By having a short walk on the Thursday starting around 14.00 or 15.00 hours (after the arrival of people off the first off-peak trains from London), we maximise time walked vs money spent. That short walk, the Brecon Circular, is a great introduction to the area as it gives views to the Beacons Range and the Black Mountain, both walked during the trip. It also has a one hour woodland and river loop tacked on at the end that is a very rewarding walk in itself for any later arrivals.

Disclaimer: the last bus from Abergavenny Station to Brecon leaves at 19.20 from the bottom of Station Road, necessitating a train from Paddington no later than 16.48.

Order of Walks – Arrivals Day: see above. Departure Day: the shortest walk that enables a relaxed return to London including going back to Brecon first to pick up any luggage. The other three: variety in areas and putting the one that least depends on buses onto the Sunday where buses are less frequent.

 

Draft Schedule based on current train and bus timings:

Thursday 10^th July:  SWC 306 Brecon Circular via Y Gaer Battle and Pen Y Crug 

18.1 km (11.3 mi), with 484m ascent/descent, 5/10. With shorter and longer options.   

Along the Usk River and then through fields and woods to the remains of Y Gaer (CICVCIVM Roman Fort), follow the Ysgir River north up the valley and onto Battle Hill, a modest grassy ridge from where you nevertheless have extensive views of all the spectacular mountain areas around Brecon. A descent through woods and across pastures leads to the remains of Pen-y-crug Iron Age hillfort with its extensive views of the central Brecon Beacons, and also views to a number of neighbouring hillforts.

 

Friday 11^th July:  SWC 279 The Black Mountain (Y Mynydd Du) from Glyntawe 

21.9 km (13.7 mi), with 1062m ascent/descent, 8/10.

Line T6 (Brecon – Swansea) to/from Glyntawe, Field Study Centre (out at 09.08, return on 15.42, 16.24, 17.29, 18.32 or 19.30). Picnic lunch. 

A spectacular ridge walk to Fan Brycheiniog, Fan Foel and Waun Lefrith. Return via a glacial valley below the ridge, or remote moorland, shakeholes and a waterfall. Many shorter options, the shortest being a different walk number altogether: SWC 86 Black Mountain (Fan Brycheiniog and Fan Foel) from Glyntawe.

 

Saturday 12^th July:  SWC 333 Crickhowell Circular via Table Mountain and the three Pens 

20.4 km (12.7 mi), with 973m ascent/descent, 8/10.

Line 43/X43 (Brecon – Abergavenny) to/from Crickhowell, Square (out 08.50, return on 15.13, 16.31, 17.31, 18.29 or 19.38). Picnic lunch.

Table Mountain and an airy ridge walk in the Black Mountains across three tops with a scenic descent. Many shorter options, but also the 10/10 Big Loop via Waun Fach.

 

Sunday 13^th July:  SWC 278A Beacons Traverse - Talybont-on-Usk to Brecon or Storey Arms or car parks in the area

 22.6 km (14.0 mi), with 942/928m ascent/descent, 8/10.

Line X43 (Brecon – Abergavenny) to Talybont-on-Usk, White Hart (out 08.51). Return bus for the long versions to Storey Arms or Youth Hostel: T4 at 16.23 or 18.23 (stops near the YH 3 minutes later). Picnic lunch.

Ascent out of the lush Usk Valley onto the Waun Rydd upland peat bog – offering superb views, then past a WWII airplane memorial then continue to the two least frequented of the Central Beacons four table-top peaks (Fan y Big and Cribyn) via a clear path around a steep sided glacial valley, part of one of the best ridge walks in South Britain, featuring some spectacular views in all directions in good weather. It is exceptionally exposed to the elements though and also requires one steep descent, but this can be circumvented. Descent to Brecon via a benign ridge back into the valley. Shortcuts: Either descend from the ridge earlier back to Brecon or turn left off the Waun Rydd to a car park (needs two cars). Longer: add Pen y Fan and maybe Corn Du, then descend to Brecon or the Storey Arms bus stop or even the Brecon Beacons Youth Hostel and the bus stop there.

 

Monday 14^th July:  SWC 280 Henrhyd Waterfalls (Sgwd Henrhyd) from Craig y Nos 

From 13.4 km (8.3 mi) with 296m ascent/descent, 3/10.

Line T6 (Brecon – Swansea) to/from Glyntawe, Craig-y-Nos Castle (out at 09.08, return on 13.19, 14.19, 15.41, 16.23, 17.28, 18.31 or 19.29). Pub lunch possible (assuming one of them is open on a summer Monday), but in any case: café at the end. 

Rewarding walk through Craig y Nos Country Park and above the Tawe River or via the Cribarth limestone plateau, then up a scenic wooded gorge to South Wales' highest waterfall. Shorter options but also a mildly tougher one.