Places to see in ( Brecon - UK )
Places to see in ( Brecon - UK )
Brecon, archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town and community in Powys, Mid Wales. Historically it was the county town of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of the County of Powys, it remains an important local centre. Brecon is the third-largest town in Powys, after Newtown and Ystradgynlais. It lies north of the Brecon Beacons mountain range, but is just within the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The west end of Brecon has a small industrial area, and recent years have seen the cattle market moved from the centre of the town to this area, with markets held several times a week. Brecon has primary schools, with a secondary school and further education college (Coleg Powys) on the northern edge of the town. The town is home to Christ College, the oldest school in Wales.
Brecon is located near where the east-west A40 (Monmouth-Carmarthen-Fishguard) meets the north-south A470 (Cardiff-Merthyr Tydfil-Llandudno). The nearest airport is Cardiff Airport. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal runs for 35 miles (56 km) between Brecon and Pontnewydd, Cwmbran.
The Usk Bridge in Brecon, Powys, Wales is the town's oldest route over the River Usk. The river was fordable at Brecon and the date of construction of the original bridge here is uncertain.The Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway was opened gradually from Hereford towards Brecon.
Alot to see in ( Brecon - UK ) such as :
Brecon Beacons and National Park Visitor Centre (also known as the Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre)
Brecon Cathedral, the seat of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon
St. Mary's Church, Brecon
Brecon Jazz Festival
Brecknock Museum
South Wales Borderers Museum
Theatr Brycheiniog (Brecon Theatre)
Christ College, Brecon
( Brecon - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Brecon . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Brecon - UK
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BRECON BEACON
The Brecon Beacons National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog) is one of three national parks in Wales, and is centred on the Brecon Beacons range of hills in southern Wales. It includes the Black Mountain (Welsh: Y Mynydd Du) in the west, Fforest Fawr (Great Forest) and the Brecon Beacons in the centre and the Black Mountains (Welsh: Y Mynyddoedd Duon) in the east.
The Brecon Beacons National Park was established in 1957, the third of the three Welsh parks after Snowdonia in 1951 and the Pembrokeshire Coast in 1952. It stretches from Llandeilo in the west to Hay-on-Wye in the northeast and Pontypool in the southeast, covering 519 square miles (1,340 km2) and encompassing four main regions – the Black Mountain in the west, reaching 802 metres (2631 feet) at Fan Brycheiniog, Fforest Fawrand the Brecon Beacons in the centre, including the highest summit in the park and in South Wales at Pen y Fan 886 metres (2,907 feet) and the confusingly named Black Mountains in the east, where the highest point is Waun Fach 811 metres (2,661 feet). The western half gained European and global status in 2005[1] as Fforest Fawr Geopark. This includes the Black Mountain, the historic extent of Fforest Fawr, and much of the Brecon Beacons and surrounding lowlands.
The entire national park achieved the status of being an International Dark Sky Reserve in February 2013.
Most of the national park is bare, grassy moorland grazed by Welsh mountain ponies and Welsh mountain sheep, with scattered forestry plantations, and pasture in the valleys. It is known for its remote reservoirs, waterfalls including the 90-foot (27 m) Henrhyd Waterfalland the falls at Ystradfellte, and its caves, such as Ogof Ffynnon Ddu. The Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre was opened in 1966 to help visitors understand and enjoy the area. Ravens, peregrine falcons, wheatears, ring ouzels, and the rare merlin breeds in the park. The red kite can also be spotted.
Due to the relative remoteness and harsh weather of some of its uplands, the park is used for military training. UK Special Forces, including the SAS and SBS hold demanding selection training exercises here, such as an exercise called the Fan dance. The infantry regiments of the British Army train at Sennybridge, where NCO selection also takes place.
The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority is a special purpose local authority with wide-ranging responsibilities for the conservation and enhancement of the landscape and the promotion of its enjoyment by the public, and in particular exercises planning functions across the designated area of the park. The park extends across the southern part of Powys, the northwestern part of Monmouthshire and parts of eastern Carmarthenshire. It also includes the northernmost portions of several of the unitary authority areas which are centred on the coalfield communities to the south and including the county boroughs of Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent together with very small parts of Caerphilly and Torfaen.
Numerous town and community councils operate within these areas and include those for Brecon and Hay on Wye (town councils) and Cefn Coed; Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch and Cathedine; Llangattock; Llangors; Llanthony; Llywel; Pontsticill, Pontsarn and Vaynor; Talybont-on-Usk; Trallong; Trecastle and Ystradfellte (all community councils).
Outdoor activities in the park include walking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding, as well as sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and fishing, rock climbing, hang-gliding, caravanning, camping and caving. A long-distance cycling route, the Taff Trail, passes over the Beacons on its way from Brecon to Cardiff, and in 2005 the first walk to span the entire length of the Brecon Beacons National Park was opened. The 100-mile (161 km) route, called the Beacons Way, runs from Abergavenny via Ysgyryd Fawr in the east and ends in the village of Llangadog in Carmarthenshire in the west.
Fireside stories from Wales' oldest pub, the Skirrid Inn, Brecon Beacons.
Learn some beguiling fireside stories at Wales' oldest pub, an easy reach from our Brecon Beacons holiday cottages and a must place to visit in Mid Wales. qualitycottages.co.uk/brecon-beacons/brecon-beacons-cottages.
Skirrid Mountain Inn is reputed to be the oldest public house in Wales, with a history that can be traced back as far as the Norman Conquest.Once a court house, it is now an utterly charming pub with a landlord happy to share its great tales. A place full of cosy, happy times with a dark side that involves the landlord placing a pint of ale outside each night to appease the devil and a noose that plays homage to its history as a courthouse!
Our roving reporter Polly met with the charming landlord, Geoff on a perfect winters night to hear his tales from this ancient pub. It is the kind of pub we all want to stumble across whilst on holiday in Wales and one we hope guests staying in our Brecon Beacons holiday cottages will visit.
The Skirrid Mountain Inn stands in the shadow of the Skirrid Mountain, sometimes called the Holy Mountain, which, according to legend , broke in two at the time of the crucifixion of Christ during a violent storm. In the forecourt of the Inn Owen Glendower rallied his troops before marching on to Pontrilas. Halfway up the magnificent square spiral staircase stands the cell, now used as a store room, where many a prisoner spent his last night before being sentenced to death by Bloody Judge Jefferies. The last person to be executed here was hanged on the instructions of Oliver Cromwell; the crime - sheep stealing.
The skirrid Inn is the oldest public house within the borders of Wales and among the foremost claimants to the title of the oldest pub in Great Britain. Many of the contenders listed in the Guinness Book of Records are not original structures, being newer buildings on old foundations or have been extended or restored over the centuries. The Skirrid Inn however has stood for nine centuries.The main rivals for the title of the oldest inn in Great Britain are Nottingham's Trip to Jerusalem ( 1070), the Fighting Cocks at St. Albans (11th century structure on an 8th century site), the Godbegot at Winchester (1002). The Bingley Arms, Bardsay near Leeds is recorded as the Priests Inn (AD 905), while Ye Old Ferry Boat Inn at Holywell Cambridgeshire claims an origin as early as AD 560.
In 1110 is first recorded the existence of the inn known for centuries as The Skirrid.
The Devil rode abroad in these early days of ignorance and as the night wins howled in the black night, inside the walls of the Inn, the Innkeeper solemnly poured out a pot of Devils Brew for His Satanic majesty - and placed it upon the shelf above the fireplace hence to sip with the DevilThe Innkeeper may have also left a jug of pwcca on the Skirrid doorstep when the last of his customers disappeared into the night, to appease the evil or mischievous spirits of the darkness.
Shakespeare is thought to have got his idea for Puck of Mid Summer Nights Dream from y pwcca.
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Quality Cottages is a family owned holiday company with some fabulous cottages near this inn and indeed across the whole of Wales. Our selected Welsh cottages offer the opportunity to experience wonderful rural and mountain scenery, perfect locations and quality cottages for couples, families, friends and outdoor enthusiasts.