Brecon area recommendations

[LittleJohn]

I am popping down to Brecon for several days (arriving Thursday pm) and wondering if the boys in the know could recommend some good routes / places to visit around the area.

I am not looking for any trails or off-road stuff, just nice black stuff with very little ARAF on it

I'm in the processing of searching older posts for info and putting together some notes and will plot some routes tomorrow.

Would be grateful for any suggestions.

Thanks.

 

[Joe narvey]

Best pub is the Griffin at Felin Fach. Was there 2 nights ago and food is lush !

 

[wessie]

Talybont on Usk is a nice village to use as a base - 3 pubs, some with rooms and a number of B&Bs. The road from the village past the Talybont reservoir, over the mountain to Merthyr is a great road. Return back to Talybont via the road from Beaufort to Llangynidr over the Llangynidr mountain.

The roads in the Eppynt area are good. Brecon towards Builth Wells via Upper Chapel plus the other ones across the same mountain.

Even the major roads are great, with some superb views.

Roads south of Hay are great - twisty single track road via the Gospel Pass/Llanthony or a faster one via Peterchurch towards Pontrilas.

After you have done your research come back and pose some questions. I used to live on the edge of the Brecon Beacons NP in Abergavenny, plus many others here know the are well so should be able to provide answers.

 

[Silverlining]

If you Come down right through the middle of wales from betwys-y-coed don't touch a motorway and you won't go wrong on any of the roads. We visited the Claerwen reservoir near Rhaydar on the way back down from the Dragon rally this year and it's also a brilliant place to visit for an hour or two on the way down. You're in for a treat if he weather stays like this. If you decide to come down through Snowdonia, you could do the whole A5 to Porthmadog down to Aberystwyth and then cut back in to Brecon from there. Don't think you could go wrong even if you Wing it.

 

[LittleJohn]

Best pub is the Griffin at Felin Fach. Was there 2 nights ago and food is lush !

Thanks Joe, may give it a try for one evening meal.

 

[PW Cymru]

I'd show you round the area but I'm off to Denmark for the weekend. Look also at Aberaeron, devil's bridge, Lampeter, Llandovery, Brecon to Upper Chapel to Builth Wells, llangadog A4069 to Upper Brynamon then turn round and do it the other way, the speed limit has been neutered recently.

Just stitch the places together and you'll have plenty of places to explore.

Have a safe trip.

 

[Silverlining]

Good reminder. Camera vans everywhere.

 

[LittleJohn]

Talybont on Usk is a nice village to use as a base - 3 pubs, some with rooms and a number of B&Bs. The road from the village past the Talybont reservoir, over the mountain to Merthyr is a great road. Return back to Talybont via the road from Beaufort to Llangynidr over the Llangynidr mountain.

The roads in the Eppynt area are good. Brecon towards Builth Wells via Upper Chapel plus the other ones across the same mountain.

Even the major roads are great, with some superb views.

Roads south of Hay are great - twisty single track road via the Gospel Pass/Llanthony or a faster one via Peterchurch towards Pontrilas.

After you have done your research come back and pose some questions. I used to live on the edge of the Brecon Beacons NP in Abergavenny, plus many others here know the are well so should be able to provide answers.

Thanks wessie,

I'm booked into a B&B in Brecon for 4 nights and will just use that as a base.

I like that single track road to Llanthony & the Abbey.

I can see now that I will be doing several big figure of eight loops to cover as much as I can.

 

[LittleJohn]

If you Come down right through the middle of wales from betwys-y-coed don't touch a motorway and you won't go wrong on any of the roads. We visited the Claerwen reservoir near Rhaydar on the way back down from the Dragon rally this year and it's also a brilliant place to visit for an hour or two on the way down. You're in for a treat if he weather stays like this. If you decide to come down through Snowdonia, you could do the whole A5 to Porthmadog down to Aberystwyth and then cut back in to Brecon from there. Don't think you could go wrong even if you Wing it.

Thanks Silverlining,

I have done the Snowdonia area before so was thinking of getting to Brecon on day one pretty much by route one. I was looking at Builth Wells & Rahydar as a route and get the resevoirs in as well.

Seems like there will be plenty to do on a second trip some other time.

 

[LittleJohn]

I'd show you round the area but I'm off to Denmark for the weekend. Look also at Aberaeron, devil's bridge, Lampeter, Llandovery, Brecon to Upper Chapel to Builth Wells, llangadog A4069 to Upper Brynamon then turn round and do it the other way, the speed limit has been neutered recently.

Just stitch the places together and you'll have plenty of places to explore.

Have a safe trip.

Thanks PW,

Done Devils Bridge last year. Will put the A4069 into a loop.

Have a safe trip to Denmark.

 

[Allan Davies]

I like that single track road to Llanthony & the Abbey.

From Brecon head towards Talgarth, at Talgarth pick up the A479 to Crickhowell, go through Crickhowell (petrol station on left) take a left up Standard Street and follow your nose. You can go into Grwyne Fawr which is a dead end, but nice road and wonder if the dirt track is doable. Turn around and head for Llanthony. Pop in the pub where you would swear you were in the 70s and every soft drink is a quid lol. Left out of the pub over hay bluff have an ice cream. At the top there is a view to the left (as you crest right on the road, superb view and the end of the trail you wonderd about earlier)
Into Hay for another ice cream and head over the bridge on bridge street lol at junction A438 straight across towards Paincastle.
Follow it down the Z bends were it joins the A470 straight across up under a bridge and stop for a photo at sumit to the right. Take the next right and follow to a B4520 (from Builth) take a left, then a right after a couple of miles at Upper Capel, towards Garth. Up over the Eypant Ranges. At Garth turn left and refuel. After petrol station take a right to Lyne Brianne reservoir. It twists and turns up and over Devils stair case but keep following signs to main Dam. (You can go right at a junction towards Tregarron, but stay left. After Dam right towards Llandovery (there used to be a great sticky bun shop in Rhandirmyn straight after the Pub mmmmmm m) Onto Llandovery and to the expensive West end Cafe. Back to Brecon enjoy.
Wish Mel wasn't in Bath with the girlies I would join ewe!!!

 

[LittleJohn]

From Brecon head towards Talgarth, at Talgarth pick up the A479 to Crickhowell, go through Crickhowell (petrol station on left) take a left up Standard Street and follow your nose. You can go into Grwyne Fawr which is a dead end, but nice road and wonder if the dirt track is doable. Turn around and head for Llanthony. Pop in the pub where you would swear you were in the 70s and every soft drink is a quid lol. Left out of the pub over hay bluff have an ice cream. At the top there is a view to the left (as you crest right on the road, superb view and the end of the trail you wonderd about earlier)
Into Hay for another ice cream and head over the bridge on bridge street lol at junction A438 straight across towards Paincastle.
Follow it down the Z bends were it joins the A470 straight across up under a bridge and stop for a photo at sumit to the right. Take the next right and follow to a B4520 (from Builth) take a left, then a right after a couple of miles at Upper Capel, towards Garth. Up over the Eypant Ranges. At Garth turn left and refuel. After petrol station take a right to Lyne Brianne reservoir. It twists and turns up and over Devils stair case but keep following signs to main Dam. (You can go right at a junction towards Tregarron, but stay left. After Dam right towards Llandovery (there used to be a great sticky bun shop in Rhandirmyn straight after the Pub mmmmmm m) Onto Llandovery and to the expensive West end Cafe. Back to Brecon enjoy.
Wish Mel wasn't in Bath with the girlies I would join ewe!!!

Thanks Allan,

I think there will just be me and a few sheep on some of them roads!!! Looks a great run. I will use some of that.