I'm an active member of the RMNP regional group of NPN and I'm posting here to request your assistance in planning a trip to Brecon Beacon National Park.I will be spending the last week of March with my wife's family at a cottage near Hay-on-Wye. It is primarily a family trip rather than a photo trip but I'm going to try to spend at least a sunrise or a sunset out shooting each day. Unfortunately I have never been here. Does any one here have any experience with this area and can they help point me in the right direction to make the best use of my limited time? My primary interest is landscape rather than avian.
Hi Erik,
I live about an hour and a half or so from the town of Brecon which is in the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
I'm to the SW probably the opposite end of the park from where you'll be staying.
The park is massive, well, to us it is anyway, coming from the States you'll probably see it as tiny lol.
Sunrise at Llangorse Lake can produce some lovely photos, especially if there's some mist over the water.
Best place is the NW corner, where all the blue rowing boats are moored, the opposite end to the church, you park right by the lake, it's free and you only have to walk 100 feet at the most from the car to the pontoons where the rowing boats are tied up.
If you're feeling fit there's Pen Y Fan, the highest mountain in S. Wales but it's one heck of a walk to the top and the climate up there can be very different from what it is at the base car park.
Park by the Storey Arms pub, it's right on the side of the road and there's a large free car park, plus another just a few hundred yards down by the public toilets.
Then further towards my end there's one of the best collection of large waterfalls you'll find anywhere in Wales, at Ystradfellte in the Neath valley, there are footpaths along the waterfall valleys but you will need a few days to see them all.
Don't go there if the rivers are in flood though, you won't get the best shots then and it's also dangerous after heavy rain.
Also just above the village of Ystradfellte there's a Limestone Pavement with a few lone hawthorn trees that make great subjects at both sunrise and sunset.
Google the names I've given you and also I've uploaded some photos taken at those places in my gallery, have a look.
Hope I've been of some help, you know where I am if you want to know anything, I'm no expert on places in the park but I know people who are and can find out details for you.
You'll love it here, the people will be very welcoming but I can't say the same for the weather lol, let's hope you're lucky.
It's been a long time since I was there (student days!), so memory maybe a bit hazy now - but you should take a drive down the country roads south from Hay towards Hay Bluff, Capel Y Ffin and Llanthony. There's an old ruined Priory at Llanthony which had a small cafe/pub in the cellar.
There are also some smaller mountain roads south west of Llangorse Lake - head south west from Talybont-on-Usk and it'll head you up into the Beacons towards Torpantau and Pontsticill reservoir. Geoff mentioned Ystradfellte... some great walks there, from either end of the waterfalls. You can also continue on from Ystradfellte north towards Heol Senni google streetview
If you've more time to spare, then a popular spot is the chain of reservoirs further north west at Elan Valley (near to Rhayader).
For what it's worth, allow yourself plenty of time and don't expect to get any distance very quickly, the roads are not freeway/interstate grade . The smaller roads are often single track and are twisty.
Hope you have a good time... and don't forget some waterproofs!
Posted by bill meikle on January 16, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Hi Erik, looks like you are getting some good advice here! Last time I was walking on the Beacons it was wet and windy and I almost got hypothermia so take the weather seriously even though its low altitude! Right now we are having mild weather, rain and now some flooding. Have a great trip and let me know if you will be up in Scotland.
Thanks for the advise so far! It is greatly appreciated! Bill, it doesn't look like we will make it up your way on this trip. If I find a way to change that I'll let you know. Thank you as well for your input on the weather. I'll try to come prepared.
Posted by David Sewell on January 17, 2011 at 5:14 AM
Hi Erik,
In addition to the above, you might like to try Mynydd Illtud, to the southwest of Brecon. You can drive right up into the upland area, and there is a great Mountain Centre where they serve wonderful hot chocolate on a cold/wet day! I would also recommend the Wye valley along the A470 or B4567 between Builth Wells and Boughrood, as well as the hills to the east of these roads. A little further north is the Elan Valley with Gigrin Farm nearby. I know you say you are not a birder, but to visit Elan Valley and not go to see the red kites at Gigrin Farm would be to miss one of the most spectacular wildlife sights in the UK.
You are going to a great part of the UK. However long you are coming for, it won't be enough time.
David
Posted by Mike Smith on January 18, 2011 at 2:02 AM
For a day trip a suggestion is to centre yourself at Crickhowell which has pretty well everything - an old marklet town with the Bear Inn dating back to the 14th century, Table moutain/Crug Hywel the old iron age fort where Crickhowell gets its name is 1 mile out of town and looms over the town, if you walk further up the hills from there are fine views across to Pen Y Fan etc in the far distance North west or in the opposite direction South East across to the conical shaped Sugarloaf mountain over Abergavenny. Plus there is an old road bridge over the river Usk with odd number of spans on each side of it, the Brecon canal and the remains of an old castle (admittedly not much left now!)
A short de-tour if you are going to Talybont on Usk and half way between Crickhowell and Talybont is Llanggynidr, turn left just before Bwlch where there is an ancient medieval stone drovers road bridge over the river Usk plus this is a very reliable site for Dipper which nest under the bridge arches
March weather may do you no favours, most of the Brecon Beacons are rolling flat topped hills and quite feathureless in grey sky sky conditions.
Discussion
6 repliesI'm an active member of the RMNP regional group of NPN and I'm posting here to request your assistance in planning a trip to Brecon Beacon National Park.I will be spending the last week of March with my wife's family at a cottage near Hay-on-Wye. It is primarily a family trip rather than a photo trip but I'm going to try to spend at least a sunrise or a sunset out shooting each day. Unfortunately I have never been here. Does any one here have any experience with this area and can they help point me in the right direction to make the best use of my limited time? My primary interest is landscape rather than avian.
Many thanks!
Erik Stensland
I live about an hour and a half or so from the town of Brecon which is in the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
I'm to the SW probably the opposite end of the park from where you'll be staying.
The park is massive, well, to us it is anyway, coming from the States you'll probably see it as tiny lol.
Sunrise at Llangorse Lake can produce some lovely photos, especially if there's some mist over the water.
Best place is the NW corner, where all the blue rowing boats are moored, the opposite end to the church, you park right by the lake, it's free and you only have to walk 100 feet at the most from the car to the pontoons where the rowing boats are tied up.
If you're feeling fit there's Pen Y Fan, the highest mountain in S. Wales but it's one heck of a walk to the top and the climate up there can be very different from what it is at the base car park.
Park by the Storey Arms pub, it's right on the side of the road and there's a large free car park, plus another just a few hundred yards down by the public toilets.
Then further towards my end there's one of the best collection of large waterfalls you'll find anywhere in Wales, at Ystradfellte in the Neath valley, there are footpaths along the waterfall valleys but you will need a few days to see them all.
Don't go there if the rivers are in flood though, you won't get the best shots then and it's also dangerous after heavy rain.
Also just above the village of Ystradfellte there's a Limestone Pavement with a few lone hawthorn trees that make great subjects at both sunrise and sunset.
Google the names I've given you and also I've uploaded some photos taken at those places in my gallery, have a look.
Hope I've been of some help, you know where I am if you want to know anything, I'm no expert on places in the park but I know people who are and can find out details for you.
You'll love it here, the people will be very welcoming but I can't say the same for the weather lol, let's hope you're lucky.
Croeso i Gymru (Welcome to Wales)
Geoff.
It's been a long time since I was there (student days!), so memory maybe a bit hazy now - but you should take a drive down the country roads south from Hay towards Hay Bluff, Capel Y Ffin and Llanthony. There's an old ruined Priory at Llanthony which had a small cafe/pub in the cellar.
There are also some smaller mountain roads south west of Llangorse Lake - head south west from Talybont-on-Usk and it'll head you up into the Beacons towards Torpantau and Pontsticill reservoir. Geoff mentioned Ystradfellte... some great walks there, from either end of the waterfalls. You can also continue on from Ystradfellte north towards Heol Senni google streetview
If you've more time to spare, then a popular spot is the chain of reservoirs further north west at Elan Valley (near to Rhayader).
For what it's worth, allow yourself plenty of time and don't expect to get any distance very quickly, the roads are not freeway/interstate grade
Hope you have a good time... and don't forget some waterproofs!
In addition to the above, you might like to try Mynydd Illtud, to the southwest of Brecon. You can drive right up into the upland area, and there is a great Mountain Centre where they serve wonderful hot chocolate on a cold/wet day! I would also recommend the Wye valley along the A470 or B4567 between Builth Wells and Boughrood, as well as the hills to the east of these roads. A little further north is the Elan Valley with Gigrin Farm nearby. I know you say you are not a birder, but to visit Elan Valley and not go to see the red kites at Gigrin Farm would be to miss one of the most spectacular wildlife sights in the UK.
You are going to a great part of the UK. However long you are coming for, it won't be enough time.
David
A short de-tour if you are going to Talybont on Usk and half way between Crickhowell and Talybont is Llanggynidr, turn left just before Bwlch where there is an ancient medieval stone drovers road bridge over the river Usk plus this is a very reliable site for Dipper which nest under the bridge arches
March weather may do you no favours, most of the Brecon Beacons are rolling flat topped hills and quite feathureless in grey sky sky conditions.