Top ideas to enjoy Spring in the Brecon Beacons
There is so much to see and do across the Brecon Beacons National Park and this Spring is the perfect time to visit our National Park. The sun’s out, the daffs are in full bloom, you’ll hear the birds tuneful songs, see the spring lambs bouncing in the fields. It’s a great time to get out, be active and do something great with your family.
Bringing your family to the Brecon Beacons National Park? You’ll find plenty to keep you entertained when you discover our fabulous family attractions. Find out more here.
1. Family cycling in the Brecon Beacons
Cycling in the Brecon Beacons isn’t all about mountain biking or road cycling. We also have miles of traffic-free routes which the whole family can enjoy. Many of our routes take in our attractions, towns and villages which allows you to combine your ride with a sight seeing experience.
There are five recommended traffic-free cycle touring routes in the Brecon Beacons National Park. They’re perfect for a half day or full day cycle ride and a great way for you and your family or friends to get out into our beautiful countryside. Plan your route here.
Didn’t bring your bike? No worries. We have plenty of cycle hire operators and bike businesses that will deliver bikes to you or collect you and the bike once you have gone as far as you want.
2. Have an adventure
The Brecon Beacons National Park offers an array of activities – and the Springtime is no exception – find out more here.
3. Bird watching at Llangorse Lake
There’s a beautifully designed bird hide at Llangasty on the southwest shore of Llangorse Lake. The nearby wildflower meadows are alive with butterflies in summer. Click here to find out more.
If you are interested in wildlife, check out our top places to enjoy wildlife and nature in the Brecon Beacons.
4. Walk Offa’s Dyke
Offa’s Dyke Path is a 177 mile (285 Km) long walking trail that links Sedbury Cliffs near Chepstow on the banks of the Severn estuary with the coastal town of Prestatyn, North Wales on the shores of the Irish sea. It passes through no less than eight different counties and crosses the border between England and Wales over 20 times. Try the 17.5 miles (28.2 Km) route from Pandy to Hay on Wye. Find the route description here
See the best of the National Park on a walk with an experienced walking guide either on a mountain walk, in the lowlands or even explore our towns and villages. Find all walking guides here.
With over 1,200 miles of public rights of Way in the National Park you have plenty of places to enjoy a walk. Find out more about all the routes here.
5. Explore our market towns
In the characterful market towns which edge our National Park you’ll always find something going on and great places to stay, eat, shop, chat and base your activities at. As you venture into our Park you’ll also get a glimpse of our peaceful way of life in the villages and hamlets dotted along our rivers and canal and around Llangorse Lake
Find out about about our towns here.
6. Stay on a farm
With the spring lambs on the hills, and the young calves taking their first steps outdoors, it’s the perfect time to escape to the country by staying in a lovely old farmhouse or cosily converted cowshed. There are plenty of top quality Bed and Breakfasts with superb Welsh breakfasts. We also have lots of self-catering options in barn conversions, bunkhouses, and camping and caravan sites in the National Park. Find all our accommodation here.
7. Try mountain biking at Bike Park Wales
For beginner mountain bikers through to seasoned downhill pro’s, BikePark Wales will offer you an incredible experience unlike anything else in the UK.
They have the longest green and blue graded descents in the UK offering unbelievable fun and a perfect opportunity to progress for beginner and intermediate riders. With over 40 trails to choose from even the best riders will spend several blissfully adrenaline filled days exploring our hugely diverse trail network. Find out more here.
8. Walk in a bluebell wood
As Winter finally turns to Spring we are rewarded with the arrival of the iconic bluebells. The Brecon Beacons National Park is home to some spectacular nature reserves and woodlands which at this time of year produce fantastic wildflowers, including the much-loved bluebell.
The sight of bluebells is a seasonal highlight not to be missed. Whether you want to walk among them, or just sit back and marvel at the view, carpets of nodding blue flowers are beginning to unfold across the countryside and gardens in the Brecon Beacons. The bluebells are usually at their best in the National Park during the second and third weeks of May, but the timing depends upon the weather.
Here are our top bluebell walks for you to enjoy – why not make an afternoon of it and call in one of our pubs or cafes after your walk for a deserved drink or meal. Find out more here.
Incidentally, the bluebell has a couple of lovely Welsh names: bwtsiasen y gog means ‘cuckoo’s boots’ while cloch yr eos is ‘nightingale’s bell’. Oh, and our ancestors used bluebell-bulb glue to stick feathers to their arrows.
9. Visit Blaenavon World Heritage site
The area around Blaenavon was recognised by UNESCO in 2000 as a valuable example of an industrial landscape, thanks to its well-preserved collection of ironworks, mines and other relics. The site has several attractions to visit.
- Blaenavon ironworks
The centrepiece of Blaenavon’s industrial landscape, the former ironworks were protected during the 1970s – paving the way for the area’s recognition as a World Heritage Site. You’ll see the 18th century blast furnaces where ore was processed into iron, with audio posts bringing the site back to life, plus numerous industrial buildings and remains. Find out more here.
This working mine turned tourist attraction once employed some 1,400 miners in its inky depths. These days, the trip down in the 90m lift shaft to the tunnels beneath the earth is purely recreational, but it’s still the best way to get a real feel for what life was like for those who made a living digging for ‘black gold’. Above ground, you can also see a selection of pit buildings, including the showers where the men would clean up after a day of work and the massive pithead machinery that powers the lift. Find out more here.
- Mon and Brec Canal
Smelting the steel and mining the coal were only parts of the industrial process. You also had to move them around, as well as provide fuel and raw materials for the roaring blast furnaces. This is where the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal came in. Once stretching all the way to Newport, this waterway was a busy artery transporting coal, iron, limestone and agricultural products. These days, you’ll spot pleasure boats and the occasional kingfisher in place of barges laden with cargo, which makes it a great spot for walks and bike rides. Find out more here.
10. Fly through the air at Zip Wire Tower
Zip World Tower is the newest site to join the Zip World family and is based in Aberdare, South Wales. Home to Phoenix, the fastest seated zip line in the world and Cegin Glo, our bar and bistro which serves delicious food and drinks.
11. National Botanic Garden of Wales
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a garden for all seasons but this very special place is so much more than a garden. No matter what time of year you visit, there’s plenty to see and do.
Within its 568 acres, there’s a world of wonders waiting to be discovered, at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. From cascades and waterfalls to seeing eagles fly as well as some of the rarest plants on the planet. With many specially-themed areas, wonderful plant collections, sculpture, science, wildlife, water features, history, heritage, the British Bird of Prey Centre, shopping and eating, it will take you more than a single visit to experience everything.
12. Finally make the most of your visit, download our digital visitor guide
Our digital area guide is downloadable and available offline. With an interactive map, you can be sure to find the best places to visit, things to do, great walks and places to eat & drink. Download it here.
