Escape to the beautiful Welsh countryside with a holiday in Brecon. The vibrant market town is packed with sights to see, fun and adventure, and an excellent array of self-catering cottages to rent. One of many glittering jewels in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Brecon is not only perfect for people who love being outdoors and active, but it is also ideal for fans of history, culture and food. Read more
A cosy and charming holiday cottage full of character with oak beams and a wood burning stove. Situated in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park on the outskirts of a small hamlet and just a mile from the market town of Brecon. Sleeping four guests in two bedrooms, Arch Cottage is perfect for couples, singles, and small families. A good choice for those who enjoy outdoor adventures and who like to return and relax in a quaint cosy comfortable cottage after a fun day out.
Madog Barn started life as a farm building in the 18th-Century and is now a stylish Brecon Beacons holiday cottage sleeping four people in two bedrooms. The views are incredible, and you can walk straight out of the gate and onto a green lane leading to a bluebell wood. Brecon is only a few miles away, and there is huge scope for walking, mountain biking and climbing in a national park with Pen-y-Fan, the highest peak in Britain, closeby. Brecon Beacons attractions include castles, annual fairs and events like the Royal Welsh Show and Abergavenny Food Festival.
The Cider Mill is a luxury holiday cottage in the Herefordshire countryside, with beautiful views of a cider apple orchard and a location within walking distance of the traditional Portway Inn pub. It sleeps six people in three ensuite bedrooms and has a flexible layout that suits families, extended families or friends. The cottage is eight miles from Hereford and within easy reach of Ludlow, Ross-on-Wye and Hay-on-Wye. The Brecon Beacons National Park and Wye Valley are close, making this a fantastic holiday destination for anyone at any time of the year. Tourist board rating: 5 Star Gold
Monnington House and Garden Cottage offer spacious holiday accommodation for large groups in Herefordshire, close to the Wye Valley and convenient for the M5 and the M50. The beautiful holiday retreat sleeps up to eighteen guests and has been awarded 5-Star standard. Guests have two acres of grounds that include playing fields and outbuildings with games rooms. The house and cottage are at the end of a country lane with no passing traffic making it an ideal place to escape away with friends or family to catch up or celebrate a special occassion. Tourist board rating: 5 Star
Garden Cottage is in rural Herefordshire, close to the Wye Valley and within easy reach of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It's the perfect holiday home to relax in beautiful surroundings, with walks and bike rides from the door. There is space for six people to sleep in three bedrooms, with a flexible layout that suits families, extended families or friends. Hereford is only eight miles away, while Hay-on-Wye, Ross-on-Wye and Leominster are all within half an hour's drive. Play golf, go fly fishing or canoeing in the River Wye, browse local markets and antique shops, and eat well whether you self-cater or dine out. Tourist board rating: 5 Star
A character holiday cottage with space for 4-5 people to sleep in four bedrooms, and an open-plan living area with a log burner. 2 Tan yr Eglwys is between the Gower Coast and the Brecon Beacons National Park, and within easy reach of Waterfall Country and Swansea Bay. It's just 20-minutes from the M4 which makes it possible to explore further afield to places like Pembrokeshire and Cardiff. The cottage is ideal for families but its layout also suits couples. The proximity to footpaths, cycling routes and favourite attractions makes it perfect for a fun and relaxing holiday at any time of the year. Tourist board rating: 4 Star
A lovely holiday cottage close to the Brecon Beacons National Park and the beautiful beaches of the Gower Coastline, 1 Tan yr Eglwys sleeps up to six people in four bedrooms and is ideal for families. There are wonderful walks and bike rides in the vicinity, including around Swansea Bay and through Waterfall Country. Swansea and Cardiff are within 30 minutes and 60 minutes respectively, and local attractions include places like Neath Castle and Abbey, Castell Coch, Cardiff Bay, and Afan Argoed. Tourist board rating: 4 Star
Mountain View is located at Cefncoedbach Farm and offers the chance to enjoy a taste of country life. Sitting amongst glorious Mid-Wales countryside with fantastic views over the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains, this is an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts with plenty of opportunities for walking, cycling, nature and course fishing, as well as relaxation. Tourist board rating: 4 Star
With beautiful views of the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons, this holiday cottage is a perfect place to relax and unwind amongst stunning scenery. Ideal for outdoor lovers, there are plenty of activities to enjoy including walking, canoeing, cycling and coarse fishing (on-site), as well as bird watching and lots of attractions for day trips out including nearby Brecon. Enjoy a taste of country life with a Farm Stay. Tourist board rating: 4 Star
Relax in the beauty of the Welsh countryside in this big group holiday let in the Wye Valley. The Manor on the Monnow sits in two private acres of ground and fronts on to the River Wye at Monmouth, sleeping up to 24 people in 11 bedrooms. The centre of the historic town with its pubs, cafes and shops is a gentle 10-minute stroll, while the Wye Valley AONB, Forest of Dean and Brecon Beacons National Park are also close. The property manages to be both impressive and homely at the same time, and is ideal for groups of extended families and friends.
If you are the size of family who needs 40 acres and two buildings to fit everyone, then you'll love Orchard House. This beautiful big holiday let is in south Wales, close to the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Wye Valley yet just 20 minutes from the Severn Bridge. It comfortably accommodates up to 24 people in 10 bedrooms, with multiple living areas indoors and a vast expanse of grounds that include woodland trails and an orchard. It is ideal for multi-generational family celebrations, milestone events and fun holidays with friends.
High Cloud Farm and Barn provide not only fantastic self-catering accommodation for big groups, but also the perfect spot to host your family Christmas, milestone birthday party or hen weekend. The two properties combine to sleep up to 24 people in ten very comfortable bedrooms, sitting within 30 private acres with beautiful views and walks from the front door. It is peaceful and private, with easy access to the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Wye Valley and favourite market towns such as Abergavenny and Monmouth.
So charming and comfortable is Coachingmans Cottage that after a few nights here, you may find it hard to tear yourself away. Located in the village of Trecastle, between Sennybridge and Brecon, there are stunning views virtually on the doorstep and a great country pub, the Castle Coaching Inn, just a short walk away. Spend your days climbing peaks, walking behind waterfalls, mountain biking, fishing or cruising on a canal, and your evenings enjoying the late summer sunshine in the garden or stretched out on the sofa in front of the cosy log burner in winter. There is space for four people in this two-bedroom dog-friendly holiday cottage, making it ideal for couples, families and friends.
Just a mile from the market town of Brecon on a working farm, this cosy yet spacious farmhouse comfortably accommodates self catering parties of two to ten guests. Sitting in the Brecon Beacons National Park in the small Welsh village of Llanspyddid, Meadow View is a good choice for those looking for a large holiday house from which to explore and enjoy the outdoor adventures.
Tucked away down a country lane near the village of Cwmifor near Llandeilo, Kites' Nest Cottage provides a perfect rural retreat for couples looking for a peaceful countryside idyll. This characterful yet contemporary self-catering holiday cottage sleeps two guests in a cosy double bedroom and is surrounded by stunning countryside and an abundance of wildlife. With the Brecon Beacons on your doorstep and a number of historic castles, houses and gardens to explore nearby there is plenty to keep you entertained. Or simply relax and unwind in this beautiful and tranquil setting.
With miles of footpaths, mountain bike trails and sweeping country roads perfect for biking or touring, exploring the area around The Byre is a pleasure. This dog-friendly holiday cottage sleeps four guests in three bedrooms and is perfect for couples and families who want somewhere peaceful and comfortable to stay in Mid-Wales. The cottage is close to the Brecon Beacons National Park and within easy reach of Swansea, The Gower and the West Wales coast, yet only five miles from the market town of Llandovery. Tourist board rating: 4 Star
Perched at the top of Hergest Croft Gardens, Haywood Cabin is just made for two and sits on the outskirts of the pretty border town of Kington in Herefordshire - an idyllic rural setting, perfect for a peaceful retreat and excellent walking country. Within easy reach of Hay-on-Wye and the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The Clock House is a lovely holiday cottage surrounded by parkland with beautiful views. It is part of the former stable block on the Tal-y-Coed Estate, which guests reach by driving down a tree-lined avenue. The two-bedroom cottage sleeps four people and is ideal for couples, friends, or families with children over 10 years. It's close to Monmouth, Abergavenny and Raglan, and just half a mile from Offa's Dyke Path. The Brecon Beacons, the Black Mountains and Wye Valley are all within easy reach, and the cottage is only an hour from Bristol and Cardiff.
Herefordshire is gorgeous with historic towns and buildings, fertile countryside and beautiful views. Yew Tree Barn is a stylish barn conversion with space for six to seven people, close to Hereford, the Wye Valley and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Places like Symonds Yat and the Forest of Dean, Ludlow, Monmouth, Ross-on-Wye and Abergavenny are all within easy reach to give visitors a wide variety of things to see and do.
Enjoy fantastic views and a delightful rural location at Ann's Bungalow. The house (sleeps six guests in three bedrooms) has beautiful views of fields, Cefn Cyff mountain and Pen Y Fan, and is part of Wern-y-Marchog Farm. Set back from a quiet road, Ann's Bungalow is three miles from Brecon and perfect for families or groups of friends who want to enjoy the walking, cycling, food and history for which the Brecon Beacons National Park and this part of mid-Wales are famous. Whether you are walking behind a waterfall or in the footsteps of medieval Lords, the award-winning standard of accommodation at Ann's Bungalow will ensure you are well rested to enjoy every moment of it. Tourist board rating: 4 Star
Popular towns in and around The Brecon Beacons:
BreconCrickhowellHay-on-WyeLlandeiloSearch within South Wales
The Welsh name for Brecon is Aberhonddu, referring to its location at the mouth (aber) of the River Honddu where it joins the mighty River Usk. No surprise then, that fishing is a favourite outdoor activity, and it is also common to see guided groups of canoeists setting off from under the Brecon Promenade. Other nearby places to enjoy being on or beside the water are Llangorse Lake, Gilwern and the River Wye.
Pen-y-Fan's peak is the highest point in South Wales and one of the most iconic sights in the Brecon Beacons. Several paths lead to the summit with the shortest one being the 3km route from the car park by the Storey Arms. Be warned that parking is limited, with car parks and roads monitored seven days a week. The shortest route to the peak is the most popular, and it can get jam-packed on weekends and during the summer. If you have the legs for it, try the circular route over Corn Du to Pen-y-Fan as the views are amazing.
The Brecon Beacons has no shortage of beautiful climbs with nearby alternatives to Pen-y-Fan including Fan y Big, The Gap and Tor y Foel. Slightly further away but still within half an hour’s drive are the Black Mountains, the Sugarloaf, Mynydd Llangatwg, and Table Mountain.
Brecon is close to beautiful waterfalls, with Forest Fawr having some of the most impressive, including Sgwd-y-Eira (Snow Waterfall) where a path takes walkers behind the curtain of water. Part of the Brecon Beacons is a Night Sky Reserve. The visitor centre near Brecon hosts stargazing events all year round.
The mountains and valleys around Brecon are a magnet for mountain bikers, and the national park is recognised as being one of the UK’s leading mountain bike venues. There are routes to suit every discipline and ability, including excellent downhill trails (and uplift) at Bike Park Wales.
If the weather is poor, then head underground to the Dan yr Ogof show caves (open April to October) or to Big Pit in Blaenavon in the south of the national park which has free entry and is open all year round.
Wales is a nation rich with myth and legend. Forest Fawr UNESCO Global Park is the origin of some of the most famous, including that the Carboniferous Limestone in the park has multiple entrances to Annwn, a Welsh underworld featuring prominently in the Mabinogion stories. Welsh legend claims that King Arthur and his knights are held in a magical sleep in Craig y Ddinas, while Cwm Twrch (Valley of the Boar) is named after the mythical boar Arthur killed with the enormous Carreg Fryn Fras stone. Dragon’s Back at Pengenfford is so-called because, from a distance, the peaks and saddles look like the ridges of a sleeping dragon.
Brecon has been a retail and business hub since the Roman time and the Market town remains popular with both locals and visitors. In addition to a wide choice of places to eat, drink and shop, Brecon attractions include the Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery, Brecon Cathedral, and the Welsh Guards Regimental Museum.
Nearby, places to see include the pretty village of Crickhowell, the market town of Abergavenny, and the Victorian grandeur of Llandrindod Wells. Brecon’s castle remains impressive many centuries after its construction, as does White Castle, the first castle built by Edward I in Wales which, together with Grosmont and Skenfrith castles, was vital in protecting the delicate balance of the Welsh border.
Brecon is a perennial favourite for visitors of all ages, so why not make it the destination for your next holiday.
