Mid Wales Travel Tips
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Brecon
Brecon, (Welsh name, Aberhonddu) is at the junction of the A470 and A40 - a small market town (population approx. 10,000) with Georgian streets and charming shops. Despite the fact that Brecon has a Cathedral it is not a city. The Heritage Centre tells its fascinating history. Christ College is a leading secondary school and has been at its present site since foundation in 1541. The town itself nestles in the shadow of the Brecon Beacons; in the valley of the River Usk . It is the largest town within the Brecon Beacons National Park and is incorporated within Powys. It has a worldwide reputation as the "Town of Jazz". which reflects the quality and diversity of Brecon Jazz Festival, one of the top five annual Jazz festivals in Europe.The battle of Rourke's Drift [1879] is commemorated in the South Wales Borderers Museum at Brecon Barracks. Much of the Monmouth and Brecon Canal is now restored and navigable but to really appreciate the scenery, use the Beacons Mountain Railway. It runs the full length of the Taf Fechan Reservoir to Dol-y-Gaer and at Pant, you can visit the repair workshops and the kids can let off steam in the playground
Lampeter
Lampeter is a small but busy market and university town nestled in the Teifi Valley. It has traditional small specialist shops, together with a varied selection of cafes, pubs and restaurants. Surrounded by breathtaking countryside, its central location provides easy access to many areas of outstanding natural beauty, plenty of stunning walks and a wealth of opportunities for outdoor pursuits. During the summer, the famous Food Festival is held, along with a number of other events, such as the Rhys Thomas James Eisteddfod, the Drovers Arts Festival and the Carnival
Talybont on Usk
Talybont-on-Usk is a lovely village in the Usk Valley with waterfalls, a canal and reservoir. To reach it, turn off the A40 between Brecon and Bwlch. This is a wonderful base for walkers and mountain bikers as there is easy access onto the Black Mountains or the Brecon Beacons. The head of the valley above the reservoir is very popular. The Blaen-y-Glyn waterfalls provide spectacular scenery – in summer you will often see people sploshing about in the lower pools but do take care it can be treacherous. Talybont forest also lies along the side of Glyn Collwn and the Talybont Reservoir. The old course of the Brynore tramway and Brecon Merthyr railway are now part of the Taff trail which stretches for miles. Accommodation is varied and plentiful here. Many choose to stay at the 4 star bunkhouse with its unique setting above the White Hart Inn, on the edge of the Brecon & Monmouth Canal, with the Taff Trail alongside. This is a place for outdoor enthusiasts who will enjoy walking, fishing or cruising the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, which flows through Talybont but if you must visit a town Brecon, Merthyr and even Cardiff are within easy reach.
Tredegar
Tredegar is the head of the Sirhowy Valley. To the North are the majestic Brecon Beacons, West is the World Heritage site of Blaenavon. Tredegar, birthplace of both Aneurin Bevan and Neil Kinnock, is steeped in industrial, social and socialist history. Nye Bevan is remembered by a memorial of stones, on the mountainside between Tredegar and Ebbw Vale, marking where he held open-air meetings. Soon to be illuminated, these will form part of an initiative to light up our industrial heritage using electricity from renewable resources. Social historians will also want to visit The Cefn Golau graveyard where C19th cholera victims were buried and the site of the Brimore tramroad a C19th horse drawn railway running between Trefil and Tal–y-Bont on Usk. Don’t miss the waterfalls. To explore the life of a miner, head to The Big Pit at Blaenavon but ring in advance to check the time for underground tours. If you prefer to stay above ground Brynback and Bedwellty Park are good options – the former has a 36 acre man-made fishing lake. You can’t miss Tredegar’s clock tower - at 72 feet it can be seen from everywhere just as planned when built in 1858.
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