Mid
Wales and Brecon Beacons
This
area of Wales is divided into three regions: Brecon Beacons,
the Heart of Wales and the old county of Montgomeryshire.
Brecon
Beacons National Park |
The
Uplands of South and Central Wales, a high country consisting
of gently rolling moors, forests, plateaus, farmland,
rivers and streams is known as Brecon
Beacons. The National Park, lying within the southern
uplands, is 519 square miles (1344 sq. km) in size and
stretches 40 miles (65km) from east to west. There are
four mountain ranges within the park. Near the border
with England are the Black Mountains, Next lie the Brecon
Beacons, then the Fforest Fawr and, in the far west, the
wilderness of Black Mountain. The two highest peaks in
southern Britain are located in the Park.
Because
of the different patterns of limestone and grit erosion
which dominate the area, waterfalls, gorges and caves
have formed over the centuries.
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Brecon
Beacons National Park
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Peregrine
falcon and raven can be seen in flight. Look for red kites
in oak and ash woodlands. Arctic alpine plants blossom,
while in the valleys, foxgloves and bluebells hold sway.
The
Usk is the major river in the park. It is famous for both
salmon and trout fishing. The Wye flows along the eastern
Park boundary and the Tywi in the west. Other rivers disappear
into caves. At Devil's Bridge, the Mynach River plunges
300 ft (91.4m) on its way to meet the River Rheidol. Man-made
reservoirs have added to the natural lakes in the area.
Remnants
of chambered long cairns dotting the valleys attest to
man's long habitation in the area. Mysterious standing
stones hide in the mountains. Iron Age man and the Romans
built fortifications in the area, and the Normans, when
they conquered Britain, constructed castles. Sheep and
cattle are scattered throughout the landscape.
A
good place to start a journey is at the Brecon
Beacons Mountain Centre, six miles (10km) southwest
of Brecon. There are waterfalls, old viaducts, reservoirs,
castles, caves and walks to be enjoyed amid nature's scenic
wonders.
Treetower
is the site of two separate buildings. One is a 13th century
three storey round keep. The keep was added to a castle
built in 1150 and served as a residence. The other is
an excellent example of a late medieval fortified house,
Tretower Court.
The house was built in more peaceful times in the 15th
century and is much as it was then.
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Brecon
Cathedral exterior
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The
town of Brecon,
beside the River Usk on the north central edge of the
Park has medieval origins. Narrow alleyways, a riverside
promenade, a 1700's inn and the Brecon
Cathedral are part of the attractions. The Brecknock
Museum, on Captains Walk St., is full of fascinating
objects on all aspects of the area. Canal boats can be
rented for travelling on the Monmouthshire and Brecon
Canal.
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Towpath
walk along the Brecon Canal
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Rolling
hills, mountains, valleys, meadows and the Wye River characterize
the Heart of Wales. The perfectly preserved Victorian
and Edwardian spa town of Llandrindod
Wells boasts tall houses with towers, turrets, balconies
and ironwork.
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Just
one of the numerous bookstores in pretty Hay-on-Wye
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Hay-on-Wye
is known as the 'Town of Books'. It is a book lover's
mecca with bookstores housing thousands of volumes of
new and used books. It sits on the border between Wales
and England near the banks of the River Wye and the foothills
of the Black Mountains.
The
70 square mile (181 sq. km) Elan
River Valley runs through gently rolling green hillsides
punctuated with crags, hay meadows, oak woodland, grasslands,
bogs, rivers and streams. It's an important wildlife site.
The lakes supply water to Birmingham and provide recreation
for visitors-sightseeing, walking and horseback riding.
There are twelve sites of special scientific interest
and a National Nature Reserve.
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Exterior
of the Judge's Lodgings, Presteigne
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The
atmospheric Judge's
Lodgings in Presteigne is lit by gaslight as it was
during Victorian times. Original furnishings grace the
elegant apartments. The fully equipped servants' quarters
and huge courtroom are part of this 1870 Shire Hall.
Knighton,
a small market town, sits on the Welsh-English border
at the approximate mid-point of Offa's
Dyke Path. It is the home of the Offa's Dyke Centre
with an interesting exhibition and AV presentation. The
town, with many 17th century houses, is on the hillside
above the Centre. Traces of late stone & Bronze Age settlements
and Iron Age fortifications can be found in the surrounding
area. It was the scene, 700 years ago, of one of Owain
Glyndwr's victories against the English.
The
county town of Montgomery
is an unspoilt architectural gem and a delight to explore
with its short cobbled street hugging the hillside. The
tiny Bell
Museum is full of interesting treasures. High on a
hilltop above the town are the remnants of Montgomery
Castle, built in 1223 to guard the border. It commands
a view over the countryside, the town and the 13th century
St Nicholas'
Church. The castle saw action in the Civil War and
was demolished by Parliament's army.
Lake
Vyrnwy, created by a dam built in 1888, is in the
beautiful, wild and mostly unpopulated countryside of
Montgomeryshire. A village, Llanwddyn, was submerged for
the dam's creation. The land is a nature reserve and a
bird watcher's paradise. There is a drive around the entire
lake and over the dam. The noise of the water pouring
over the dam is both thundering and mesmerizing.
Web
links to places mentioned in this section:
More
information about Mid Wales/Brecon Beacons:
Hotels
Attractions
Map
Tourist Information
Centres
Brecon Beacon's
Park
Offa's
Dyke Path
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