Brecon Beacons National Park

A brief history of the Brecon Beacons

Geological forces
Massive geological forces created this area of outstanding natural beauty: Much of the geology shared with Scandinavia and northeast America. The finishing touches were made during the last ice age, moving sheets of ice sculpted the appealing shapes in the typography we see today. Prehistoric people made a massive impact by clearing the land of trees and scrub and left their mark in the stone circles (much like Stonehenge), standing stones, burial chambers and hillforts scattered across the landscape. The Romans then came and left their camps and forts.  

English invasion
Technically, the English invaded and conquered Wales in the 13th Century. However, the Plantagenet Kings of the 13th Century were French. After losing a vast amount of land in France to the French King, under the disastrous King John. The dynasty under King Edward I, turned their attention to the rest of Britain. The Prince’s of Wales were required by custom to pay homage to Edward as their overlord. This refusal led to war, and Edward’s much larger armies invaded in the 1280s.

Castle building
The consequences were the construction of new castles and the remodelling and re-building of Welsh castles. The massive premium castles guard seaports and smaller guard the mountain passes.  

The Brecon Beacons has twelve castles to explore; some are only earthworks and a few walls – others are extremely impressive and atmospheric. Such as Carreg Cennen and Tretower Court and Castle. 

Conflict, between the nations and lords, continued for over 200 years until the Law in Wales Act in 1535 annexed Wales to England including the adoption of English law. Ironically it was the Welsh Tudor dynasty that completed the union between the two nations. 

The Four Falls Trail
The Four Falls Trail is a romantic walk is perfect for couples and people with interest in photography. The trail may not be suitable for young children up to the age of nine. The terrain is uneven and mostly wooded, therefore on a hot day, it is a lovely way to spend four hours under the cool canopy. You can tackle the trail on your own or have our guide take you, which you will find useful for those photo stops and finding your way.

You tend to hear the falls before you see them. Sgwd Yr Eira waterfall you can walk behind; a cutting was made into the rock behind the waterfall to allow shepherds to pass behind the waterfall with his sheep. After your trek, you may like to have a picnic in one of the many scenic valleys before continuing your adventure. 

The Pen-Y-Fan hike
Nearly all British mountains have an easy route to the summit and a couple of professional ways. Children can achieve the four miles circular trail to the peak. For the more energetic you can add a series of mountain tops for an exhilarating day of serious hiking. We can advise if you need a mountain guide. 

Pen-Y-Fan is a serene mountain, with an alter like a plateau, and inverted cone-shaped emerald green slopes, you will be snapping away with your phone cameras. Although the Beacons may feel tamed, they are dangerous, and the weather can change quickly. As a point of interest, the area is a training ground for UK special forces, namely the SAS.

Touring and accommodation
The capital, Cardiff, has a whole range of things to see and do. On the edge of the Brecons lies several heritage sites. Two of our favourites are Chepstow Castle, perched on a cliff overlooking the Wye Valley and Tintern Abbey, a partially ruined Cistercian monastery. The Four Falls Trail is more or less unknown to the outside world and is a must for those needing a bit mild adventure. If you are a golfer, the region has some fabulous Golf courses.

Merging Wales with England makes for a dynamic experience of mountains, stately homes and cosy country pubs. If this is your first time to the UK, we would recommend a custom version of our Town and Country Tour; it covers the famous places and allows you to utilise your private driver-guide by getting-off-the-beaten-path. Our Classic tour of Ireland is a good place to start for the first trip to Ireland, and we suggest the Classic tour of Scotland for your first trip to the bonny Highlands. 

There is a wide choice of accommodation in the Wales. Cottages, Manor House Hotels and traditional Guest Houses. For people who a like a traditional Manor House Hotel, we recommend staying at the Llangoed Hall Hotel. It is on the edge of the Brecon Beacons with easy access to local golf courses, hiking trails and small towns.