Page 136 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

134 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

8 Brecon Beacons National Park
Powys; LD3 8ER
This walk is a figure of eight across a plateau in the shadow of the
Brecon Beacons. While enjoying the scenery and waymarked trails,
listen out for birdsong, especially the skylarks in summer.
A two-hour walking tour hill and down to the farm road again.
From the far end of the car park next to Look for “pillow mounds” – banks of
the Visitor Centre 1 carry straight on earth created in the 18th century for
to the grassy track. A signpost shows rabbits to breed and feed the growing
the way (do not veer left up the slope). populations of the industrial towns to
Above View looking into the hills of the Look out for gorse clumps with yellow the south. Cross over the road and head
Brecon Beacons National Park Below Sheep flowers – these are popular with uphill, veering right towards the fence
grazing on the verdant upper slopes of the song-birds such as stonechats, where there is a clear pathway follow-
Brecon Beacons meadow pipits and chaffinches. The ing a Roman road – Sarn Helen 3.
path then leads up a gentle incline This was the old route linking the
with the Brecon Beacons landscape on Roman forts between Y Gaer and
the right. Follow the broad grassy path Coelbren, and is still traceable further
straight ahead, past the pond on the along the common. Follow the path
right and across a road, past a beside the fence until the
sign pointing back to the fence turns abruptly right.
Visitor Centre. After a while Leave the fence and walk
the path dips down to a farm straight ahead, across gently
road and then up again to the sloping common land on
peak ahead. Cross the road the path downhill to a road.
VISITING BRECON BEACONS
NATIONAL PARK and the boggy watercourse Cross the road keeping
and head up the path to the an area of flat land with
National Park Visitor Centre trig point on top of Twyn y a pond 4 on the left and
Libanus, Brecon, LD3 8ER; 01874 623 Gaer 2, the site of an Iron Sign from Blaenavon follow the path back down
366; www.breconbeacons.org Age hillfort, at a height of World Heritage Site to the Visitor Centre, enjoying
367 m (1,204 ft). From here dramatic vistas on the way.
WHERE TO STAY there are great views around, and ª Return to Brecon and take the A40
all the way own to Brecon. To return, east. Go left after the Kestrel pub and
AROUND TRETOWER COURT
AND CASTLE take the worn pathway to the right of left at the end of the road, and park
the pillar and follow it back round the
outside the gates of Tretower.
Ty Croeso moderate
Beautifully restored Victorian building
with four attractive en-suite rooms,
near Crickhowell off A40 towards
Abergavenny. The breakfasts offered
here are great and the atmosphere Twyn y Gaer
is relaxed. Enjoy the views across
Pillow
Usk valley. Mounds
The Dardy, Crickhowell, NP8 1PU; 01873
740 173; www.ty-croeso.co.uk

Sarn Helen

Pond

0 metres 500
Visitor Centre
0 yards 500

Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150

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