• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

OUR AREA

Brecon Beacons National Park

For people visiting the national park there is an enormously diverse landscape to explore from mountains and moorlands to the flat pastoral land and steeply wooded river valleys. It is spectacularly beautiful, rich in both social history and natural history and Penpont could not be better placed for you to discover the area and partake in any number of activities of your choice. www.visitbreconbeacons.com/visit-us .

BRECON is our nearest town, nestled into the Usk valley at the juncture of two rivers; its history extends back for more than 900 years.

Now it is the commercial centre for this area of mid Wales and remains first and foremost a traditional market town, serving the needs of the local rural population.

It offers a range of recreational amenities - a recently built theatre, Sports Centre, a cinema and three museums.
Brecon hosts the internationally renowned Jazz Festival in August each year, as well as a local Georgian town festival and an agricultural show which is the oldest in the UK started by our ancestors. http://www.visitbrecon.com

HAY-ON WYE is about 15 miles from us, but well worth a visit. Famous for being the second hand book centre of the UK it has numerous specialist bookshops catering for every interest.

Hay also has a thriving local craft industry and some wonderful antique shops. It is very easy to loose a day in this attractive town. Every year Hay hosts the International Literature festival for a week in May. www.HayonWye.co.uk

Mountain Biking

There are many spectacular rides throughout the park allowing for different abilities. We can help you plan a route or go to http://www.breconbeacons.org for ideas. For purpose built trails, the track at Cwmcarn is less than an hours drive away. See www.mbwales.com. For bike hire and local info visit www.bikesandhikes.co.uk.

Walking

The National Park is a haven for walkers. Go your own way or link up with an organised walk at www.powysramblers.org.uk or www.breconbeacons.org.

Pony Trekking

For riding and trekking in the mountains visit www.cantref.com or www.activityuk.com.

Fishing

As well as fishing here at Penpont, further beats can be discovered at www.wyeuskfoundation.org or www.fishing-in-kite-country.co.uk

Canoe Hire

Why not spend a pleasurable day winding your way down the River Wye www.wyevalleycanoes.co.uk or www.blackmountain.co.uk. If you have your own canoe you can explore the Brecon canal and River Usk www.mountainandwater.co.uk/usk_access.htm.

Golf

Cradoc Golf Club is situated approximately 4 miles from Penpont www.cradoc.co.uk.

Young Children

There are now a number of purpose built activity centres for children in the area:

www.brynich.co.uk/playbarn
Animal and adventure farm www.cantref.com
Indoor climbing centre www.activityuk.com

Group Weekends

If you are organising a group for the week or weekend and would like someone to help fill and organise your days with activities www.bikesandhikes.co.uk, www.interactivities-uk.com, www.blackmountain.co.uk, or www.internetoutdoors.com.

Brecon Leisure Centre

brecon-leisurecentre.powys.gov.uk

The Beach

We are only an hours drive from The Gower, superb beaches and safe surfing www.gowersurfing.com.

The National Park

For all information on The Brecon Beacons National Park:  www.breconbeacons.org    And don't forget to visit The Mountain Centre which is just above Penpont. It has information all about the National Park, beautiful views and walks on its doorstep as well as a tea room / restaurant.

Heritage

There are some wonderful castles nearby: www.castlewales.com and www.cadw.wales.gov.uk.

Museums

There are 2 museums in Brecon. The National Museum and Art Gallery of Wales is in Cardiff - an hours drive from Penpont www.nmgw.ac.uk - The National Museums & Art Galleries of Wales.

Gardens

Aberglasney, the subject of a TV documentary, is an hours drive away www.aberglasney.org and nearby is the National Botanical Gardens www.gardenofwales.org.uk.

The National Garden Scheme operates in the area and most seasonal weekends a garden will be open to the public - details will be in the local press.

Art.

A friend of ours Niel Bally is now running drawing and painting classes from his studio in Talgarth. Courses vary in length, full details can be found on his website  www.nielbally.co.uk

Events

Penpont is ideally located for the following local events:
The Hay festival www.hayfestival.co.uk
Brecon Jazz www.breconjazz.co.uk
Royal Welsh Agricultural Show www.rwas.co.uk
The Greenman Festival. www.greenman.net

Food - Eating Out

There are some fine gastro pubs and hotels in the area. We can recommend the following places:

Felinfach Griffin www.eatdrinksleep.ltd.uk
The White Swan www.the-white-swan.com
Gliffaes www.gliffaeshotel.com
Peterstone Court Hotel www.peterstone-court.com
In Brecon for lunch- try
Pilgrims at Brecon Cathedral - www.pilgrims-tearooms.co.uk
The Café - behind Lloyds TSB Bank

Tipple and Tiffin. In the theatre: http://www.theatrbrycheiniog.co.uk/tipple.html

Brecon also hosts one of the best farmers markets in the county: in the main market hall every second Saturday each month www.brecknockfarmersmarkets.org.uk.

There are also a number of fine butchers in town who specialize in local meat. You can pre order meat from Paddy Sweeny. Tel. 01874 623428

And our friends supply delicious smoked food at  http://www.smoked-foods.co.uk

Abergavenny, 40 minutes drive, hosts a renowned Food Festival in September www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com.

Public Transport

Being a rural area public transport is limited but here are a few Guidelines to help you:

Rail: The nearest station is at Abergavenny. Another option is Merthyr Tydfil . Both stations are about 40 minutes drive from Penpont. Taxis operate but can be expensive.
National Rail Enquiries: 0845 7484950.

Bus: connections are available but limited.
Stage Coach is the main operator in the area: 0870 6082608 www.stagecoachbus.com.