Brecon Beacons National Park

The remote, windswept wilderness of the Brecon Beacons National Park lies just north of the capital and is renowned for harboring some of the most enchanting countryside in Wales. Dominated by the central Brecon Beacons range and the eastern Black Mountains, the mountainous park offers a surprising variety of terrain, from the highest peak at 886 meters, to the shaded woodlands of the Great Forest Geopark. The National Park was also awarded International Sky Reserve status in early 2013, a unique honor that alludes to its dark skies and popularity among stargazers.

A vast range of outdoor activities draw day-trippers to the Brecon Beacons National Park and hiking, mountain biking and horse riding are all popular pastimes, along with fishing and kayaking on the River Usk. Visitors can tackle the famous Beacons Way, one of Wales’ most acclaimed long distance walking routes; brave a canyoning trip around the Ystradfellte waterfalls; explore one of Europe’s longest cave networks; or try their hand at paragliding over the hilltops.