Guided Walking at Brecon

Easier Walks       Medium Walks         Harder Walks

Easier Walks are in valleys and woodland with some moorland walking. Medium Walks are in valleys and over high moorland with some steeper and rougher paths. Harder Walks are over mountains and high moorland.

• Our experienced guides offer the choice of up to three different walks each day
• Choose the option which best suits your interests and fitness; take an Easier Walk one day and switch to a Harder Walk the next
• We offer a social activity each evening

2012 - Itinerary One

7 night holidays
Days 1-7: Sat 26 May; Sat 9, 23 June; Sat 4, 18 Aug; Sat 15 Sept

6 night holidays
Days 3-7: Sat 6 Oct - for Solos

4 night holidays
Days 1-4: Sat 26 May; Sat 9, 23 June; Sat 4 Aug; Sat 1 Sept

3 night holidays
Days 3-4: Sat 6 Oct - for Solos
Days 5-7: Wed 16, 30 May; Wed 13, 27 June; Wed 8, 22 Aug; 
Tues 9 Oct - for Solos

See below for Itinerary Two

Day 1: Arrival day

Meet your leaders who will tell you more about the walks.

Day 2: Local walks back to Brecon

Easier Walk: Walking along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal we cross the 200 year old aqueduct over the River Usk. We return to Brecon on the riverside path, with time to visit the cathedral. 7 miles with 275 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Llanfrynach we head up through Cwm Oergwm on the east of Nant Menasgin, crossing near a waterfall to reach Cantref and Brecon via field paths and tracks. 8¾ miles with 1,425 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Llanfrynach we ascend the slope of Gist Wen and follow the double horseshoe path above Cwm Cwareli and Cwm Oergwm to our highest point, Fan y Big. The descent to Brecon gives wide ranging views over the Beacons and Black Mountains. 12½ miles with 2,725 feet of ascent.

Day 3: Waterfall Country

Easier Walk: Starting near Ystradfelte we follow parts of the Mellte, Nedd Fechan and Pyrddin rivers with their picturesque waterfalls, finishing along an old industrial tramway to reach Pontneddfechan village. 6½ miles with 500 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Entering the Afon Hepste gorge we have an exciting opportunity to walk behind the Sgwd yr Eira waterfall before viewing the cave at Porth yr Ogof. From Nedd Fechan we follow the same route as the easier walkers. 8½ miles with 750 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Starting from the south we ascend steeply onto the craggy Craig-y-Ddinas with its Iron Age hill fort and then on to the Sgwd yr Eira waterfall. We then join a similar route to the other walkers back to Pontneddfechan. 10½ miles with 1,900 feet of ascent.

Day 4: The Central Beacons

Easier Walk: Into the Taf Fawr Valley, and then onto the grassy ridge of Pen Milan, we walk towards Cwm Llwch and on to Libanus. 7½ miles with 975 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: A direct ascent to the spectacular summits of Pen y Fan and Corn Du and the Tommy Jones Memorial before a northerly loop into the Cwm Llwch Valley. Finishing at the National Park Visitor Centre near Libanus. 8¾ miles with 1,950 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: We head up the Beacons Way to the Craig Fan Ddu ridge and a Roman road to reach Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du, with panoramic views. A rocky descent past the Tommy Jones Memorial takes us down to Storey Arms. 10¾ miles with 3,250 feet of ascent.

Day 5:

For 3 night holidays arriving today, this is your chance to meet your leaders.

If you have booked a 7 night holiday, today is a free day with no guided walks organised. This is a great opportunity to explore the Brecon Beacons independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting.

Day 6: Beyond Crai

Easier Walk: Starting at Craig y Nos Castle we walk steadily up and around the limestone ridge of Cribarth, before descending to the pretty Tawe Valley and along the river to the Gwyn Arms. 7¼ miles with 1,125 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: We ascend wild country to Llyn y Fan Fawr, a corrie lake 2,000 feet above sea level, and continue along the base of the Western Fans’ escarpment to the summits of Fan Foel and Fan Brycheiniog. Our descent is along the ridge of Fan Hir and over Alt Fach to the Gwyn Arms. 7¾ miles with 1,400 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: We follow the Beacons Way to Llyn y Fan Fawr and onwards to a reservoir supplying Neath, Llyn y Fan Fach. We then ascend steeply to the spectacular ridge of Banneau Sir Gaer, leading to Fan Foel and the same route back as the Medium Walk. 12¾ miles with 3,025 feet of ascent.

Day 7: Heights around Crickhowell

Easier Walk: From Bwlch to Felindre and on to Tretower, with its renowned medieval Court and Castle. Then a contouring path across farmland leads to the wooded Cwmbeth Brook Valley and Crickhowell. 8 miles with 1,000 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Ascend from Cwmdu to the open moorland of the Black Mountains, then on to Table Mountain to visit the Iron Age hillfort before descending through fields to Crickhowell. 8¾ miles with 1,750 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Pengenffordd we pass Castell Dinas, the remains of a 12^th century castle, before a steep ascent up the Y Grib arête to the Black Mountains plateau and on to the summit of Waun Fach - our high point of the day. We descend onto Table Mountain to finish in Crickhowell. 12¾ miles with 2,550 feet of ascent.

2012 - Itinerary Two

7 night holidays
Days 1-7: Sat 19 May; Sat 16, 30 June; Sat 14 July; Sat 25 Aug – for Solos; Sat 8, 22 Sept

4 night holidays
Days 1-4: Sat 19 May; Sat 16, 30 June; Sat 14 July; Sat 25 Aug – for Solos; Sat 22 Sept

3 night holidays
Days 5-7: Wed 23 May; Wed 20 June; Wed 4, 18 July; Wed 29 Aug – for Solos; Wed 26 Sept
Days 4 & 7: Wed 6 June 

Day 1: Arrival day

Meet your leaders who will tell you more about the walks.

Day 2: Local walks around Brecon

Easier Walk: A circular walk from Brecon by the River Honddu, back through Priory Groves woodland (once stone quarries), before visiting the Iron Age hill fort of Pen-y-crug and Brecon Cathedral. 5½ miles with 700 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Follow the Taff Trail and a Roman road to the Bwlch ar y Fan col, then contour below Cribyn to descend into the Cwm Sere Valley and to Brecon. 10¾ miles with 1,000 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Ascend the ridge of Craig Fan Ddu to Corn Du, Pen y Fan and panoramic views. Our descent starts steeply but evens out to field paths and lanes back to Brecon. 12½ miles with 1,900 feet of ascent.

Day 3: Grwyne Valley and Sugar Loaf

Easier Walk: Starting in Crickhowell we follow the Cwmbeth Brook to Llanbedr and Millbrook Bridge before taking the Usk riverside path back to Crickhowell. 8 miles with 775 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Following the route of the easier walkers as far as Cwmbeth Brook, we continue over Table Mountain with its hill fort before enjoying a riverside walk in the beautiful Grwyne Fechan and Grwyne Fawr valleys and back into Crickhowell. 10 miles with 1,775 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Glangrwyney near Crickhowell we climb Sugar Loaf with its panoramic views. Descending down Grwyne Valley we pass Llanbedr before ascending Table Mountain and returning to Crickhowell via Cwmbeth Brook. 11 miles with 2,825 feet of ascent.

Day 4: Brecon Beacons National Park Visitor Centre  

Easier Walk: Along the Taff Trail from the Storey Arms we cross the nature reserve and ascend Twyn Dylluan-ddu. We return to the Visitor Centre via Roman roads and an early Norman motte castle. 7¼ miles with 825 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Storey Arms we ascend up to the Craig Cerrig Gleisiad Nature Reserve and the summit of Fan Frynych before making our way back to the Visitor Centre. 8¾ miles with 1,000 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Fan Fawr is our objective on this walk before dropping to cross the valley of the Afon Dringarth at the head of the Ystradfellte reservoir. After ascending Fan Dringarth we head into the nature reserve area and follow the route of the medium walkers back to the Visitor Centre. 12¼ miles with 2,350 feet of ascent.

Day 5:

For 3 night holidays arriving today, this is your chance to meet your leaders.

If you have booked a 7 night holiday, today is a free day with no guided walks organised. This is a great opportunity to explore the Brecon Beacons independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting.

Day 6: Above Talybont

Easier Walk: Starting from Talybont we follow the old tramway path south above the reservoir, skirting Tor y Foel to Llandetty, before taking the canal towpath back to Talybont. 8½ miles with 1,100 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Passing waterfalls and woodland we ascend Craig y Fan Ddu and cross to the Wellington Memorial; then on to Carn Pica, picking up the Taff Trail before walking the canal towpath into Talybont. 9 miles with 1,950 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Starting at Pont Blaen-y-glyn we follow the stream and its waterfalls to Craig y Ffan Ddu and across to Craig Cwmoergwm, one of the classic horseshoe ridges. After Carn Pica we descend to the reservoir dam and follow the Taff Trail to Talybont. 11 miles with 2,200 feet of ascent.

Day 7: High above Hay-on-Wye

Easier Walk: Below the escarpment of the Black Mountains we contour over Tregoyd Common to pick up the Offa’s Dyke Path below Hay Bluff, to lead us into the book lovers’ paradise of Hay-on-Wye. 7¾ miles with 1,125 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: This walk heads onto the Black Mountains escarpment to Twmpa or Lord Hereford’s Knob.  We then cross the road at Gospel pass to Hay Bluff before taking the Offa’s Dyke path into Hay-on-Wye. 9 miles with 2,025 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Pengenffordd we pass Castell Dinas (12^th century castle remains on an Iron Age site) before going up the Dragon’s Back ridge and on to the escarpment towards Twmpa. We then follow the route of the medium walkers into Hay-on-Wye. 11¼ miles with 2,075 feet of ascent. 

Local transport

On some days the walks start and finish at our Country House, Nythfa House. On other days you’ll be transported to other parts of the Brecon Beacons. The cost of all transport to and from the walks is included in the price of your holiday.

Our guests

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. There is normally a good mix of ages, of new guests and 'regulars' from Britain and overseas, and of people travelling alone, with a partner or with friends.

In the evenings

Your leaders will inform you about the choice of walks for the next day and answer any questions you may have. After a sociable evening meal you could join in an organised activity such as a quiz or a talk about the local area, relax in the bar or use the Country House facilities.