Wales - Brecon Beacons Horse Riding Travel Guide

The Brecon Beacons provides the most stunning location for the best hiking in Wales. A paradise for walkers and outdoor lovers of all abilities. There are masses of paths and trails for walkers, runners, cyclists, mountain bikers, horse riders and wildlife-watchers. Your horse riding holiday is located close to the Black Mountains of the Brecons

The Black Mountains

The northeast part of the Brecon Beacons National Park is dominated by the Black Mountains, a group of old red sandstone hills, the highest of which is Waun Fach. They're cloaked in grass and heather and laced with rivers. They are defined by Hay-on-Wye, Talgarth, Llangorse, Crickhowell and Abergavenny, the Black Mountains form a natural border with Herefordshire, England.Apart from Waun Fach (811m), the range has many peaks that are well known to walkers, including Black Mountain (703m), Hay Bluff (677m), the Sugar Loaf (596m) and Ysgyryd Fawr (486m), also known as The Skirrid. In the past, the area was quarried for sandstone which was used as a building material in the surrounding counties. Culturally, this is a lively area, known for its busy market towns, galleries, food scene and festivals.

Things to do and see

For non-riders in the group, there are plenty of outdoor activities in the Brecons.

Cycling, leisure or extreme - There are six recommended moderate, traffic-free cycle touring routes in the Brecon Beacons National Park. They're perfect for a half day or full day cycle ride and a great way for you and your family or friends to get out into the beautiful countryside.
Walking trails that suit everyone, from serious outdoor enthusiasts to gentle family walks. Go up into the high country, carved by ice millennia ago. Or explore deep, wooded gorges where rivers are still shaping limestone rocks as they tumble down spectacular waterfalls. There are lakes and forests too, beauty spots and secret places.
Star Gazing – The Brecon is Wales’ first Geopark and one of only seven Dark Sky Reserves in the world.
Big Pit – National Coal Museum, discover Wales’ rich mining heritage in this amazing award-winning interactive museum complete with underground tour. Located at Blaenafon Torfaen, NP4 9XP tel:029 20573 650
Blaenavon Ironworks and Blaenavon World Heritage Centre are worth a visit for a fascinating insight into the life and times of workers during the early years of the Industrial Revolution.
Carreg Cennen Castle - a spectacular location. Its stout, weatherbeaten ruins crown a sheer limestone crag overlooking the remote Black Mountain (Mynydd Du) and the River Cennen in the western corner of the Brecon Beacons National Park, around four miles southeast of Llandeilo. Carreg Cennen Castle, Trap, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire SA19 6UA, tel: 01558 822291,
Brecon Mountain Railway Steam Train. Take a trip on the Brecon & Merthyr junction railway which takes you through beautiful scenery into the Brecon Beacons National Park along the full length of the Taf Fechan Reservoir to Dol-y-Gaer. At Pontsticill you can visit the cafe, admire the view across the water to the peaks of the Brecon Beacons and go for a ramble alongside the reservoir. There is also a play area here for children. Pant Station, Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan, CF48 2DD tel: 01685 722988
Llangorse Lake is the largest natural lake in the southern half of Wales and was created by glaciers during the last Ice Age. For those wishing to have a go on the water there are permits for water sports including sailing, rowing and canoeing available at the Lakeside Shop.
Llanthony Priory - explorethe beautiful ruins of the Priory situated in the picturesque Vale of Ewyas, close to the Black Mountains. These haunting remains are all that survives of one of the greatest buildings of medieval Wales. Nearest town is Llanfihangel Crucorney.

Where to eat and drink

The Felin Fach Griffin famous, award winning inn and restaurant in between Brecon and Hay on Wye. Six time winner of the Good Pub Guide's Dining Pub of the Year for Wales, and winner of a Good Hotel Guide Cesar award for Wales as Welsh Inn of the Year. Strong flavours, well sourced ingredients, organic kitchen garden. Well known for draught real ale selection and previous winner of Pub Wine List of the Year. Felin Fach, Brecon, Powys LD3 0UB tel:01874 620111
Honey Café – breakfasts, light lunches . Bronllys, Powys, LD3 0LH tel: 01874 711904

How to get there

The Brecon Beacons National Park is within easy reach of the M4, M50 and A40.

We strongly advise travelling by car as the riding centre is remote and accommodation can be up to a 20 minute drive away. Specific postcodes for your riding accommodation will be sent to you before you travel.

From London and Bristol, take the M4 across the Severn Bridge, leaving at Exit 24 for Monmouth. Take the A449, exiting at Raglan for the A40 and Abergavenny. Take the A40 through Abergavenny and Crickhowell. At the roundabout before Brecon, take the 3rd exit for the A470 for Hereford.

From the North leave the M5 at junction 8 for M50 to Roos on Wye and Wales and head to Abergavenny. Take the A40 through Abergavenny and Crickhowell. At the roundabout before Brecon, take the 3rd exit for the A470 for Hereford.

Train

Abergavenny is the nearest station, but it is a 40 minute drive from us. You can hire a car from the station through Whittal Williams.

To reach Abergavenny from the south of England or west Wales, take a train to Newport (from Paddington or Bristol) and change. Abergavenny is only three stops and about twenty minutes up the line.

From the north, trains go hourly to Abergavenny from Manchester and Crewe.

For timetables and fares, contact National Rail Enquiries tel 08457 484950. Book ahead for the cheapest tickets.

Bus

Travel to the Brecon Beacons National Park from South Wales and Hereford by bus.

Regular services run to the National Park daily. The T4 runs from Cardiff to Newtown via Brecon. The T6 runs from Swansea to Brecon.

Taxi

A2B Taxis 01874 658899

Evans Taxis 01874 711402

Dee’s 01874 731012