Outdoor Activities

You are truly spoilt for choice.

• Golf – www.breconbeacons.org/golf
  • Cradoc Golf Club – www.cradoc.co.uk
    This 18 hole course with great views surrounds you at Far Cottage.
    Shop, buggy hire, driving range (floodlit), putting area, clubhouse with bar and restaurant.
  • Brecon Golf Club – www.brecongolfclub.co.uk
    3 miles. 9 hole course on the western outskirts of Brecon.
  • Builth Wells Golf Club – www.builthwellsgolf.co.uk
    17 miles north. 18 hole course.
  • Summerhill – www.welshgolfcourses.com
    20 miles north east. 9 hole course at Clifford, near Hay on Wye.
  • Llandrindod Wells Golf Club – www.lwgc.co.uk
    24 miles north. 18 hole course.
• Cycling – www.cyclebreconbeacons.com
  Cycle from Far Cottage, or there are hundreds of bridleways as well as quiet country roads to choose from.
  There is everything from challenging mountain trails, gentle bridleways, and quiet roads for road/race cyclists.
• Walking – www.breconbeacons.org/walking
  Walk from Far Cottage and scale our local hill (The Crug, pronounced Creeg) for great views, an hour and a half round trip. The Beacons themselves are popular of course, but there are hundreds of other walks to suit all abilities and weather conditions. If you want a completely flat walk, the Canal towpath is the place to be.
• Canoeing – www.breconbeacons.org/canoeing-kayaking-stand-up-paddleboarding-whitewater-rafting
  Bring your own craft, or hire. There are rivers, lakes and canals to suit all abilities and conditions.
• Horse Riding – www.horseridingbreconbeacons.com
  A friend in Cradoc takes out hacks or offers lessons, either in small groups or privately. Or there are several Riding Centres in the area.
• Gliding – www.blackmountainsgliding.co.uk
  Based near Talgarth (10 miles), the Black Mountains Gliding Club operates mainly at weekends. Launches by aerotow; ridge and wave lift in most wind directions.
• Bird Watching – www.breconbeacons.org/birds
  34 miles north near Rhayader is Gigrin Farm – www.gigrin.co.uk
  A Red Kite Feeding Station (shop, hides, walks) which attracts many species of birds, well worth a visit.
• Fishing – www.breconbeacons.org/fishing
  Rivers such as The Wye and Usk. plus lakes, canals and reservoirs.
• Watersports – www.llangorselake.co.uk
  Llangorse Lake is the largest inland lake in South Wales – 9 miles south east. Hire canoes, kayaks, fishing boats, rowing boats, peddaloes. Also offers sailing and water skiing.
• Multi Activities – www.activityuk.com
  Indoor climbing/activities (good for a bad weather day) and horse riding based at Llangorse Multi Activity Centre, 10 miles south east.
  Caving – www.breconbeacons.org/caving
  Taster sessions, courses for improvers and opportunities for independent cavers.
• The National Showcaves Centre for Wales – www.showcaves.co.uk.
  For ‘non cavers’, this is a good ‘taster-caving’ experience, 23 miles south west.

Annual Events

• Hay-on-Wye Festival – www.hayfestival.com
  16 miles, late May/early June
• Brecon Jazz Festival – www.breconjazz.com
  3 miles, mid August
• Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells – www.rwas.co.uk
  18 miles in Builth Wells, July
• Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells – www.rwas.co.uk
  18 miles north in Builth Wells. Hosts many shows, fairs, rallies and events throughout the year.
• Brecon County Show, The Watton – www.breconcountyshow.co.uk
  3 miles, August
• Abergavenny Food Festival – www.aberagavennyfoodfestival.com
  23 miles, October

Brecon Town Centre

There are a considerable number of outdoor shops for a small town, plus an indoor market and other locally owned shops. Supermarkets are Morrisons, Co-Op and Aldi. A stroll by the river makes a pleasant short walk, as does the canal towpath starting from Theatre Brycheiniog.

• Theatre Brycheiniog, Canal Wharf – www.brycheiniog.co.uk
  Includes a lovely cafe/restaurant overlooking the canal basin – The Tipple and Tiffin
• Brecon Cathedral, Priory Hill – www.breconcathedral.org.uk
  Shop, museum and cafe on site.
• Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh, The Watton – www.royalwelsh.org.uk
• Brecon Leisure Centre, Penlan – brecon-leisurecentre.powys.gov.uk
  Swimming pool, bowling alley, sports halls, cafe etc.

More relaxing Activities

• Canal Boat Trip – www.dragonfly-cruises.co.uk
  From the Canal Basin adjacent to the Theatre in Brecon
• Small (electric) boat and canoe hire – and www.beaconparkdayboats.co.uk
  From the Canal Basin adjacent to the Theatre in Brecon
• Brecon Mountain Railway – www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk
  From Pant near Merthyr Tydfil, 18 miles
• Tretower Court – www.cadw.wales.gov.uk
  Fortified Manor House near Crickhowell, 16 miles
• Llantony Priory – www.cadw.wales.gov.uk
  Part ruined Augustinian Priory, north of Abergavenny approx. 30 miles
• Brecon Beacons national Park Visitor Centre – www.beacons-npa.gov.uk
  Visitor Centre with cafe, exhibitions, views, near Libanus, approx. 10 miles
• The Old Railway Line Garden Centre – www.oldrailwaylinenursery.co.uk
  Fabulous Garden Centre plus gift/fine food shop, restaurant. At Three Cocks, 12 miles.
• Gardens and Parks – www.breconbeacons.org/historic-parks-gardens
  There are many to choose from, including:
  • 20 miles south west – Craig-y-Nos Country Park/Castle – www.craigynoscastle.com
  • 33 miles west – Dinefwr Park – www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dinefwr
  • 36 miles west – Aberglasney gardens – www.aberglasney.org
  • 40 miles west – National Botanic Garden of Wales – www.gardenofwales.org.uk

Also there are a number of smaller private gardens open to the public at various times:
www.visit-brecon-beacons.co.uk/gardens

Longer Days Out

• Big Pit National Coal Mining Museum – www.museumwales.ac.uk/bigpit
  26 miles south east, near Blaenavon. A real working mine until 1980, now a museum where you can head underground to the coal face.
• The ElanValley – an hour’s drive north, west of Rhayader. Reservoirs/dams (supplying Birmingham’s water), stunning scenery, walks, bike rides, visitor centre etc.
• Cardiff – 45 miles south, a spectacular drive over the Brecon Beacons high pass. Shops, history, culture, harbour/bay area, castle, Millennium Stadium, sports etc.
• National History Museum of Welsh Life – www.museumwales.ac.uk/stfagans
  At St Fagan’s near Cardiff, 43 miles south.
• Powis Castle – www.nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle
  Medieval Castle, fortress and grand country mansion with superb gardens, near Welshpool approx. 65 miles.
• The Races at Chepstow – www.chepstow-racecourse.co.uk
  55 miles south east.

The Coast – Cardiff Bay, Penarth and Barry Island to the south, or west to Swansea and the Gower Peninsula, or Carmarthenshire, Pembray Park, the Laugharne Estuary, Tenby and many places in between, are each do-able in a day.