The Brecon Beacons
Discover the Brecon Beacons – The Heart of Drover Holidays Country
Introduction
The Brecon Beacons National Park is the landscape that Drover Holidays calls home. Covering over 500 square miles of upland Wales, it is a region of sandstone ridges, glacial lakes, ancient waterfalls, and wide open moorland that stretches from the Black Mountains in the east to the Black Mountains in the west. It is dramatic, often wild, and endlessly varied, offering some of the finest walking and cycling in the whole of Britain. For those who travel through it on foot or by bike, the Brecon Beacons have a way of getting under the skin that is hard to articulate and difficult to shake off.
Landscape and Scenery
- Pen y Fan: The highest point in southern Britain at 886 metres, Pen y Fan is the most iconic summit in the Beacons and a genuinely rewarding walk from any of its several approach routes, with views stretching to the Bristol Channel on a clear day.
- Waterfalls Country: The Mellte and Hepste valleys near Pontneddfechan contain some of the most spectacular waterfalls in Wales, set deep in ancient gorges of oak woodland and accessible on foot via a network of well-maintained riverside paths.
- Llangorse Lake: The largest natural lake in Wales sits in a peaceful bowl beneath the Black Mountains, surrounded by reeds, farmland, and quiet lanes that are among the most enjoyable cycling roads in the national park.
Villages and Culture
- Hay-on-Wye: The book town on the northern edge of the national park is the home of Drover Holidays and one of the most characterful small towns in Wales. Its literary festival, independent shops, and outstanding local food make it an ideal base for exploring the Beacons by foot or bike.
- Brecon: The market town at the heart of the national park, with a fine cathedral, a good weekly market, and excellent access to walking and cycling routes heading in every direction through the surrounding hills.
- Crickhowell: A handsome and increasingly well-regarded small town on the River Usk, with a medieval bridge, a strong local food scene, and immediate access to some of the finest walking in the eastern Beacons.
Walking Holidays in the Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons offer walking to suit every level of experience and ambition. At the challenging end, the main ridge from Pen y Fan to Cribyn and beyond is one of the great ridge walks of southern Britain, exposed, dramatic, and deeply satisfying. For those seeking something gentler, the valleys of the Usk and Wye provide miles of riverside walking through peaceful farmland and woodland, while the canal towpath along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal offers a completely flat, traffic-free route through the heart of the national park. The Beacons Way traverses the full length of the park over 95 miles, from Abergavenny in the east to Llangadog in the west, taking in the full range of terrain the national park has to offer.
As the Brecon Beacons is our home territory, Drover Holidays knows these walking routes intimately. We offer both guided and self-guided walking holidays throughout the national park, with all accommodation pre-booked, luggage transferred between stops each day, and the most comprehensive local knowledge available built into every route guide and map we provide. Our qualified guides know these hills in all weathers and at all times of year, and will make sure your time in the Beacons is as safe, enjoyable, and memorable as possible.
Cycling Holidays in the Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons are one of the finest cycling destinations in Wales, combining classic road cycling on quiet mountain passes and valley lanes with world-class off-road riding at trail centres on the southern fringes of the park. Lon Las Cymru, the long-distance cycling route crossing Wales from Cardiff to Holyhead, passes through the heart of the national park, climbing through the Beacons on one of the most scenic sections of any cycling route in the country. The lanes around Llangorse Lake, the Usk Valley, and the back roads of the Black Mountains offer quieter alternatives for those who prefer to find their own way through the landscape.
Our fleet of over 60 high-quality bicycles, available to hire from our base in Hay-on-Wye, includes mountain bikes, road bikes, and electric bikes, and can be delivered free of charge to your accommodation or the trailhead for day rides or longer tours. Self-guided cycling holidays include bicycle hire, pre-booked B&B accommodation, luggage transfer, and a detailed route map, while guided cycling tours offer full vehicle back-up, a qualified local leader, and all meals included throughout.
Wildlife and Nature
The Brecon Beacons National Park holds International Dark Sky Reserve status, making it one of the best places in Britain for stargazing and one of the few areas where genuinely dark night skies remain. By day, red kites patrol the valleys, peregrines nest on the sandstone crags, and curlew and merlin breed on the open moorland. The rivers of the national park support healthy populations of otters, dippers, and white-clawed crayfish, while the ancient woodlands of the southern escarpment are rich in lichens, mosses, and woodland birds. The hay meadows of the Usk Valley, managed in the traditional way, are among the most flower-rich in Wales.
Why Visit
The Brecon Beacons are our home, and we believe there is no better place in Britain to experience the combination of wild upland landscape, outstanding walking and cycling, and warm Welsh hospitality that makes a truly memorable outdoor holiday. Whether you are tackling Pen y Fan for the first time, following the Beacons Way from end to end, or simply spending a few days exploring the lanes and trails of the national park at your own pace, Drover Holidays will make sure everything runs smoothly. We know this landscape like no other, and we cannot wait to share it with you.
