According to local legend, the Brecon Beacons took their name from ancient signal fires lit on the mountains to warn of invaders. Whether that’s true or not, there’s clearly been a fear of invasion in this part of South Wales, with castles, forts and other defensive sites right across the Brecon Beacons National Park, from the Iron Age through to Second World War anti-tank blocks. Many of the defences are still standing.
The closest thing to an ‘invading force’ now are the visitors who come to hike, bike, paddle or ride horses through the park’s wild spaces. The only fires I saw on my visit were in warm, welcoming pubs.
Established in 1957, the Brecon Beacons is one of Wales’ three national parks. At the heart of its 1,347 sq km are the striking Beacons themselves: Pen Y Fan (886m), the UK’s highest mountain south of Snowdon, and Corn Du (873m). But within the boundaries, there are also the Black Mountains in the east, the Black Mountain to the west, and forests, rivers, lakes, caves and waterfalls. Alongside countless sheep, I shared the countryside with red kites and, on the slopes of Sugar Loaf, roaming Welsh mountain ponies.
Nature’s the main draw. But there’s plenty of cultural life here, too, from the Green Man music festival to the literary Hay Festival. There are also Welsh wine producers and a whisky distillery.
Denne historien er fra November 2020-utgaven av Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra November 2020-utgaven av Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Vermont, USA
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Unique North America
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From historic ski lodges to rustic backcountry cabins and a mock-Scottish castle, we pick the stays in Canada's Rocky Mountains that make the most of their setting
A new dawn for the Garifuna community
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On the edge of history
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Tigers burning bright
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SEASON'S GREETINGS
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Waking a sleeping GIANT
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The rebirth of old JEDDAH
As efforts to restore Al-Balad, Jeddah's historical district, take hold, we get an exclusive peek at how art and culture are taking centre stage
Star-studded escapes
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