walking Brecon Beacons, Wales

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

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My friend in Cardiff told me bus tickets to Brecon Beacons National Park were free on weekends. That’s my price range.

Brecon is a quaint tourist town. Weather was perfect on a Saturday morning in October.

I fuelled up with a big Welsh brunch.

There are many trailheads. I opted to start at the most popular – Storey Arms.

It was very busy on this fine day.

At the top of Pen y Fan 886m (2907ft), I celebrated with Welsh Cakes.

From there I continued following whatever ridges looked interesting. You can see why they call it Hill Walking.

I planned to tent one night, they walk out back to Beacon next day.

I learned on the trail that — unlike England and Scotland — Wales has no ‘right to roam‘ law. I wasn’t allowed to legally tent on this public land. Gak.

I waited until dusk and set up in a discrete spot.

It was a perfect evening. A starry, starry night.

Clouds rolled in by morning. I packed up at first light.

I saw only one other tent.

Most of the national park is bare, grassy moorland grazed by Welsh mountain ponies and Welsh mountain sheep.

It was an easy walkout through farmland back to town. I used Maps.me for navigation.

I do recommend Brecon Beacons to any hiker who visits Wales.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.