Activities

Glanusk Gardens

May 22, 2019 By Valerie Davies

Glanusk Estate Crickhowell takes part in the National Garden Scheme where you have a chance to visit gardens not normally open to the public. This happens every year in the latter part of May on a Sunday.

These gardens have magnificent displays of Rhododendrons and Azaleas plus many more. The naturally fed series of pools are normally full of tadpoles.

You are able to wander around large areas of the estate, including the woodland walk and visit the private church. There are local artisan stalls around the house and various talks and displays throughout the day. The best part for me is to visit early before the crouds arrive and wander down by the River Usk and just listern to the birds.

If you are hungry the local venison centre brings its catering truck or alternatively volunteers serve you tea and homemade cake. A very worthwhile cause to support.

Birds of the Brecon Beacons

May 12, 2019 By Valerie Davies

We are so lucky to live in an area that has an abundance of birdlife flying high above or swopping down over the waterfalls.

One of the major success stories has been that of the Red Kite who is now no longer on the threatened list. It was saved from national extinction by one of the world’s longest-running protection programmes. This magnificently graceful bird of prey is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. You should have no problem seeing them in the Brecon Beacons often flying high with the buzzards.

Another bird that you see on the moorlands is the Skylark. The male bird rises high in the sky singing it’s beautiful song to steer you away from it’s nesting mate. Hard to spot he hovers and sings. We have many nesting on Aberyscir Common which is just above the cottage. Sadly now a red conservation status but able to survive in our hills.

The dipper is a short-tailed, plump bird with a low, whirring flight. When perched on a rock it habitually bobs up and down and frequently cocks its tail. Its white throat and breast contrasts with its dark body plumage. It is remarkable in its method of walking into and under water in search of food. Again you should be able to spot these birds on the shallow rivers of the Brecon Beacons perched on the rocks. Our own river Yscir often has one of these birds sitting waiting for a meal oportinity.
My thanks to Jon Mullin for sharing his beautiful pictures of these three birds all whom he saw whilst staying at Aberyscir Coach House.

Waterfall Country

April 22, 2019 By Valerie Davies

One of the joys of the Brecon Beacons are its waterfalls. They are spread thoughout the park and during periods of high rain they can turn into raging torrents yet on other days they become tranquil slow moving cascades. The most popular area is known as the 4 waterfalls walk but there are many other lesser known ones with equal charm but a lot less people!

Waterfall Country, known in Welsh as Coed-y-Rhaeadr (Wood of the Water), lies within the triangle formed by the villages of Hirwaun, Ystradfellte, and Pontneddfechan and on the rivers Mellte, Hepste, Pyrddin and Nedd-Fechan, tributaries of the River Neath. Here, old red sandstone and a long belt of outcrop limestone have created a highly distinctive environment of wooded gorges, caves, swallow holes and waterfalls.

The area contains two Sites of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation with fine specimens of sessile oak and ash trees and over 200 species of mosses, liverworts, and ferns. It is also of historical significance, as it contains the legacy of man’s attempts to make a living from this landscape. It receives around 300,000 visitors a year, including walkers, outdoor groups, photographers, climbers, cavers and canoeists.

The most famous waterfall is Sgwd-y-Eira, the Snow Waterfall, on the River Hepste, where a natural path leads right behind the curtain of water.

There are many trails to follow including the circular walk taking in the 4 waterfalls walk which takes about 3-4 hours without rushing.

My Brecon Beacons

April 3, 2019 By Valerie Davies

We moved to the Brecon Beacons National Park ten years ago after years of travelling the world for work and pleasure. We live in an old Victorian Rectory which also has a coach house. This is now a comfortable holiday cottage for two with frankly views of the mountains to die for. We are now both involved in the Park, myself as an Ambassador and Peter as a volunteer Park Warden responsible for maintaining a group of paths in the shadow of Pen Y Fan. Over the years we have gained a wealth of knowledge about the park which we are happy to share with our guests.

The 520 square miles of the Brecon Beacons offers something for everyone. Stretching from Hay-on-Wye in the east to Llandeilo in the west and includes four ranges of mountains; the Black Mountains, the Central Beacons, Fforest Fawr and the Black Mountain(Mynydd Du).

The traditional market towns, that form the gateways to the Beacons, each retain their own charm. Abergavenny, Crickhowell and Brecon are towns not only with a wealth of history, but places where you can still find vibrant and exciting events going on all year round.

The Beacons Way is the Brecon Beacons National Park official trail. It passes east-west through the landmark Black Mountains, the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountain. The Brecon Beacons National Park is a protected environment with some of the most spectacular upland scenery in Britain. Beacons Way involves remote and rugged terrain, with some 8500ft of ascent and is designed for experienced walkers. As well as incorporating many of the major peaks, including Fan y Big, Pen y Fan, Fan Llia, Fan Hir, Fan Foel and Twyn Swnd, the Way passes glacial lakes, ancient standing stones, churches and fine mountain views.

If waterfalls are of interest then ‘Waterfall Country’ is the place to go. Those that are found along the rivers Nedd, Mellte, Pyrddin and Hepste that run south through Fforest Fawr and join at Pontneddfachan are some of the best.

If you are interested in history and Welsh culture then we have ancient standing stones, castles, churches and a cathedral, alongside monuments and museums to our industrial heritage.

My guide to the Brecon Beacons has articles on some of the activities we can offer our visitors during their stay. I am always adding new posts for you to read.

Gunpowder Works

March 15, 2019 By Valerie Davies

The Glynneath Gunpowder Works Pontneddfechan were established in 1857 to produce black powder for use in mining and quarrying and operated until the early 1930’s. Since that time the site slowly disintegrated as many of the buildings had to be demolished because of the risk of accidental explosion they posed. The site was taken over by the Brecon Beacons Park authority and has undergone a major restoration project to preserve what remains. When finished you will be able to start your tour in the Pontneddfechan Village Hall and walk along the line of the old tramroad which takes you through the works and past the remains of each of the factory buildings. There will be interpretative boards along the way to help you imagine it in its heyday when 60-70 people were working there.