BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK

Getting to and around the Park

In public transport terms, The Brecon Beacons can be divided into two distinct sections. The western area of the National Park, around the Black Mountain, is lightly populated with little or no public transport apart from a few services around the edge of the National Park, including the scenic Heart of Wales Line from Swansea and Shrewsbury to Llandeilo or Llandovery which provides good access for cyclists (capacity for bikes restricted - advance booking advised) or for those prepared to walk some distance to the Park boundary.

Access from South Wales is now much easier thanks to the introduction of the X63 bus service from Swansea and Neath to Brecon. See Countrygoer Valleys of Neath Port Talbot for map and link to the X63 timetable.

Further east, there is a reasonable network of bus services focused on the historic market town of Brecon, which acts like the hub of a wheel, the spokes being scenically attractive services from Hereford and Hay on Wye, Abergavenny, Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil and from Swansea via Craig y Nos Country Park. This makes Brecon the ideal location for anyone planning to stay in the National Park without a car, with a choice of places to visit or superb walks every day of the week. There is also a useful Postbus service (Mondays to Saturdays) from Brecon to Langorse Lake.

Given the excellent Wales and West Marches Line rail services to Abergavenny (through services from Manchester, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Newport, Cardiff, Bristol, Bath and London Paddington) Abergavenny is probably the best railhead for the National Park.

On Summer Sundays, a network of bus services, known as the Beacon Bus, provides a direct link to the National Park from Cardiff, Swansea, North Hereford, Hey on Wye and Abergavenny, based on co-ordinated bus services at Brecon. This includes cycle carrying bus services from Cardiff, Talybont and Swansea providing access for cyclists to the Taff Trail and the Gorwanant Forest Visitor Centre. Brecon Bus operates on summer Sundays and Bank Holidays from June till August.

National Park and Visitor Information or tel: 01874 623156; 01873 622485

Brecon Beacons National Park Weather Forecast - supplied by the Met. Office.

Wales Traveline: 0870 608 2608 Public Transport Information: (Powys) 01597 526643

(Blaenau Gwent) 01495 355444

Timetables: Explore the Brecon Beacons - free leaflet contains most local bus timetables, suggested walks, etc. and is available from TICs or from Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, 7 Glamorgan Street, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7DP.

Powys CC Brecknockshire timetable (free) contains details of most services within the Park - tel 01597 526643 for a copy.

DISCOVERING THE BRECON BEACONS WITH FLEXI PASS AND FLEXI ROVERS

Flexi pass is the ideal way of travelling to and getting around Brecon Beacons at a budget price. Prices vary for the summer peak season and there are options for 4 out of 8 days or 8 out of 15 days travel.

Flexipass is available for All Wales, South Wales and North & Mid Wales. With the Flexi pass (further discounts for Railcards holders) you can travel by train from Lydney, Newport, Cardiff or Hereford into the Brecon Beacons. The South Wales Flexi Rover offers up to 3 days rail travel (including the Heart of Wales line from Shrewsbury) and 7 days bus travel. The bus network includes the Beacons Bus network, Cardiff Bus, Shamrock Coaches, Crossgates Coaches, Stagecoach in South Wales, and Sixty Sixty.

There's also generous discounts for ticket holders on attractions including Caerphilly, Raglan and Chepstow castles, Castle Coch, several National Trust properties and the Brecon Mountain Railway, as well as £1 off Youth Hostel overnight rates in Wales.

You can buy your Flexi pass or Flexi Rover ticket at most UK staffed rail station and UK rail-appointed Travel Agents, Brecon or Cardiff Tourist Information Centres, Bristol or Cardiff Youth Hostels, or by ringing 0870 9000 777 for credit card/postal bookings - or book on the internet at www.walesflexipass.co.uk.

Leisure Tickets:Network Rider, £6 valid for the day on most services within the National Park (except Postbus)

Best places to stay without a car: Brecon or Abergavenny