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10 hidden adventures in Brecon Beacons
Discover the secret gems that can be found on the Welsh capital’s doorstep.
When it comes to iconic adventure spots in the UK, not many places can rival the Brecon Beacons. The south Wales national park has it all, whatever your passion, and is ripe for exploring year-round. Unlike other mountainous areas of the British isles, such as Snowdonia or the Lake District, it’s not actually a million miles from civilisation, too, and its location just north of Cardiff makes it perfect for an adrenaline-fuelled day trip (or longer if the mood takes you).
So skip the tourist traps, pack your tent and get ready to take on some of the area’s best off-the-beaten-track adventures...
1. Rock climbing on Dinas Rock
Although not as renowned as Snowdon for its scrambling and craggy peaks, there are still plenty of rock climbing routes for all abilities to take on in the south Wales national park. And if you’re after a day full of variety, then look no further than Dinas Rock.
The limestone cliff on the southern edge of the park has more than 250 different recognised climbs – from bouldering in the car park through to a handful of grade 8 ascents – and is a great introduction to climbing outdoors if all of your sessions to date have been on a wall inside. Pack yourself plenty of chalk and get ready for an exhilarating day on a cliff face.
2. Caving in one of Europe’s best spots
The opening of the Porth Yr Ogof cave
© mattscutt / Getty
As beautiful as the lush green mountains and valleys are, there’s even more to explore beneath their surface. The various networks of caves in the Brecon Beacons are some of the most important in Europe, and offer up some great locations for a spot of potholing.
Caving can be dangerous (and even deadly) if inexperienced, so it's best to join an organised trip if making your first adventure underground. Porth Yr Ogof is a good example of this. An active river cave, there are a variety of passages and crawls to attempt that shouldn’t leave first-timers feeling too claustrophobic, but that's not to say it's risk-free. The cave has claimed 11 lives since 1957, so sessions run by the likes of Adventure Britain are a good place to start if not already a confident caver.
But for those up for a challenge (and who know the ropes), then make a beeline to the Ogof y Ci (or Cave of the Dog in English). The cave starts with a tight, wet 60m crawl to get to the main passage, and includes a squeeze known as ‘the polo’ to navigate as you make your way around.
3. Wild camping on top of Table Mountain
Get amazing views from Table Mountain from the comfort of your bivvy bag
© Phill Stasiw / Mountain Bike Wales
Although you’re not technically allowed to wild camp in the Brecon Beacons, there are plenty of spots that are far enough from the main tracks where you will be secluded enough to avoid any complaints.
“I did a lovely wild camp up on the top of Table Mountain, which is just above Crickhowell,” said Polly Clark, owner of Mountain Yoga Breaks. “It’s a short-but-steep walk up past a bunkhouse called Perth Y Pia (Magpie’s Roost). You get a great sunrise and views over the Sugarloaf.”
4. Gorge walking by Ystradfellte Falls
No trip to the national park is complete without a visit to Waterfall County, and this is the spot for gorge walking. Few places in the UK can compete with the range of scrambling, waterfall climbing and rapid riding on offer, but there is one spot that stands above the rest.
The rivers around the Ystradfellte Falls region are packed full of surprises, and there are a total of five streams – from two main arteries to some smaller alternatives – on offer. The Afon Sychryd is the quietest of the bunch, and has gentler falls and gorges to warm up on before taking on the bigger spots in the area.
5. Bikepacking along the Taff Trail
Keep an eye out for signs to make your way from Cardiff to Brecon
© Flickr
Brecon is a prime area for a spot of bikepacking, with plenty of intriguing wild camping locations and the odd bothy to crash in after a day of exploring on two wheels. But why not make a bit of an adventure out of your trip to the Beacons as well?
The Taff Trail links the Welsh capital with the town that gives the Brecon Beacons its name, and is a 55-mile ride that takes you from the hustle and bustle of the city right through to the park’s lush peaks. The route winds its way northwards alongside quietways, canal paths and forest tracks, loosely following the river Taff (hence the name) to its end. Most gravel or adventure bikes should be able to handle the mixed terrain, but just prepare yourself for a steady gradient for the majority of the ride.
6. Hill walking the Black Mountain
The view of Llyn y Fan Fawr tells you you're halfway along the walk
© Flickr
Pen y Fan is the obvious spot for hill walking in the Brecon Beacons, what with it being the highest spot in the national park. But there are other hidden gems to tackle if you want to avoid the crowds.
For those who like their walks with a side of wilderness, the Black Mountain in the west (not to be confused with the Black Mountains in the east of the park) is home to some of the wildest trails in the park. “This is in the lesser visited part of the Brecon Beacons,” adds Clark. “The ridgeline there taking in Picws Du and Fan Brycheiniog is a great walk and you will see few people.”
This 7-mile route takes you up and across the ridge along a section of the Beacons way, before returning to the start via the picture perfect Llyn y Fan Fawr. And who knows? If you’re feeling adventurous and the weather’s on your side, you could even run it, stopping off halfway for a quick dip.
7. Kayaking on the Usk and its gnarly tributaries
There are two main rivers for kayaking in Brecon – the Usk and the Wye – and both have their charms. Both are only open to kayakers between November and February though due to restrictions in the summer months because of fishing, so if you want to avoid the crowds, it’s best to head to their tributaries (the smaller streams that flow into them).
For those looking for an introduction to white water rafting, a stretch of Usk between Sennybridge and Aberbran Bridge is a great place to start. The 5.5-mile run has three ledge drops and sections of rapids that will leave you wanting more.
And for the serious kayakers out there, the grade three stretch of Afon Grwyne Fawr from the Grwyne Fawr reservoir to the point it meets the Usk is a rollercoaster of a ride jam-packed with wave trains, weirs and drops.
8. Cooling off in the Caerfernell’s plunge pools
Technically, you’re not allowed to swim in any of the reservoirs in the Brecon Beacons, but there are plenty of other good spots if you know where to look.
“There are some awesome plunge pools in the waterfalls beyond the Talybont reservoir,” says Clark. To get to them, join the trail just south of the reservoir here and head north along the Caerfernell to find a series of gushing waterfalls and burbling pools.
9. Stargaze at the Crai Reservoir
It wouldn’t be surprising if your tent’s roll mat was looking rather inviting after a full day of activities. But you might want to brew yourself a coffee and prepare yourself for a long night, with the Brecon Beacons listed by Rough Guides, and ourselves, as one of the top spots for stargazing in the world.
It has achieved this status thanks to a concerted effort to minimise light pollution, creating Wales’ first ‘Dark Sky Reserve’ in the process. On a clear night, it’s possible to see the Milky Way and meteor showers, while sightings of the Northern Lights aren’t unheard of.
Head to Crai Reservoir when there is a new moon and few clouds, and prepare yourself for an experience like no other.
10. Mountain biking the Black mountains
Prepare yourself for a wet ride in Brecon whatever the time of year
© Phill Stasiw / Mountain Bike Wales
Brecon is also a fantastic spot for mountain biking, with countless trails to tackle. But a classic is a 28-mile ride in the heart of the wilderness. “It starts just above Crickhowell and takes you onto the Black mountains,” says Clark. “The ride is very wild and mountainous, the terrain varies from grassy climbs to loose and rocky descending, but finishes with a stunning single track descent back down towards Llanbedr. On a dry day it's amazing… in the wet a little slick.”
And if all that sounds a bit too much for one day, there’s a bothy by the Grwyne Fawr reservoir to turn it into a two-day excursion. “It’s tiny though so be prepared with a spare tent or bivvi incase other people are there!”
