Explore Hidden Valleys
remote lakes and waterfalls
Best of the Brecon Beacons
We are just 3 miles from the border of the National Park and you can see the Carmarthen Fans or the Black Mountain Range from Penstacan. We love them.
Wild, remote and mystical. It's here that the Lady of the Lake is said to have resided. Well, we can't blame her. And while there are quite a few visitors, the Fans are quieter than neighbouring Pen Y Fan.
There's a super recommended circular walk around Llyn Y Fan Fawr & Llyn Y Fan Fach but equally you can just walk to one of the lakes and enjoy the views. It takes up to 40 mins to walk up to Llyn Y Fan Fach.
The Brecon Beacons Horseshoe is a challenging 10 mile walk with spectacular views and avoids the crowded walk up Pen Y Fanwalk from Storey Arms on the A470.
Here are some other walks you may like to try across the park.
Best walks in the Brecon Beacons
Countryfile magazine lists some more walks in the Brecon Beacons
Best of the Cambrian Mountains
The Cambrian Mountains are entirely different to the Brecon Beacons national park. They are remote and on many of them, routes are indistinct. But the pay off, is stunning wild scenery, which you'll mainly have to yourself. Check out our
blog and komoot for downloadable hikes.
Teifi Pools
A series of remote lakes high up on a plateau. Absolutely sensational. Various well signposted walking routes, not too far from pubs to visit on the way home. Read about our favourite remote lakes
Drygarn Fawr From Caban Coch Reservoir
Drygarn Fawr is located in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains and is one of Wales' wildest, most remote mountains. It lies to the south of the Elan Valley Reservoirs. Rising above the remote moorland plateau of the Cambrian Mountains, and to the west of the peaks of Radnor Forest, the summit is topped by two distinctive, large cairns. The mountain has a gentle, grassy, conical shape with a few rocks near the summit.
Pumlumon Fawr/Plynlimon from Nant-y-moch reservoir . Pumlumon (5 peaks) is the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains and the highest point in Mid Wales. It is a massif that dominates the countryside of northern Ceredigion.
The highest point of the massif itself is Pen Pumlumon Fawr at 752 metres (2,467 ft). Its other important peaks are Pen Pumlumon Arwystli, Y Garn, Pen Pumlumon Llygad-bychan and Pumlumon Fach.
The longest river in Britain, the River Severn, has its source on the mountain, as do the rivers Wye and Rheidol.
This sensational valley is beloved of mountain bikers, walkers and horse riders. You can see more pictures on our blog. But there are various options and walk lengths. In the link you'll see the valley marked out but there are various loops you can do to begin from Llyn Brianne.
Local favourites
If you don't want to take the car, there's plenty of walks and perfect picnic spots here at Penstacan. Wander along the old Drover’s track and head up through Cwm Merchon to the spectacular Saddleback. Or head up our hill for a spot of lunch under the canopy of an old oak tree with the world at your feet.
You can also access Mynydd Mallaen and there are various lengths of walk here, including just an hour or 3 hour loop...or much further!
The pretty village of
Cilycwm ,
boasts more than 40 listed buildings and bridges, and there are plenty of local footpaths to take in the views. There's also our local pub to refresh yourself at before heading back to your cottage.
Just half mile up the road is Cwm Rhaeadr , with mountain bike tracks, bridlepaths and a large waterfall walk.
We have plenty of suggestions for
walks from the door,
long, short or just to a view point. You can follow us on
komoot . Also look at our
Best five Woods and Water Towy Valley
Cycling in the Brecon Beacons
and Cambrian Mountains
Llandovery is a cycle friendly town. It's a gateway to mountain biking tracks in forests and mountains and incredible road cycling routes on uncrowded and generally well surfaced roads. Cycling here in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys is spectacular. We have secure bike storage, bike wash off and places where you can mend or tinker with your bike.
Road cycling
There are epic cycling routes that are reachable from here. Including the famous Black Mountain Road best known for its appearances on Top Gear, but also beloved of local cycle clubs.
You can read our recommended
cycling routes on our blog and there are twelve recommended cycling routes on
Discover Carmarthenshire
Road cyclists can enjoy a route right across the Brecon Beacons National Park, from Abergavenny to Llandeilo along an old
Roman Road Sarn Helen and the Brecon and Monmouth Canal. There are also plenty of mountain biking routes across the Brecon Beacons
The Taff Trail runs 55 miles from Cardiff to Brecon across the Brecon Beacons on mainly ancient roads and old railways and is mainly traffic free.
The Devils' Staircase is one of Britain’s most famous climbs – an out-of-the-saddle ascent that at one point hits a thigh-fearing 25pc gradient (thankfully it only lasts for two hairpin bends). There’s no time to congratulate yourself at the top: you lose the height as quickly as you gained it, zooming down towards the crystalline waters of Llyn Brianne.
The lake is spectacular and there are many points where you can sit, grab the banana from your jersey pocket, and wonder if you’ve just been transported to a Norwegian Fjord. This is a 39 mile route.
Mountain Biking
There are lots of routes perfect for cycling and mountain biking in the Brecon Beacons which cater for advanced to novice. Check out our blog for more on famous routes including The Black Mountain Blitz and The Gap and the much lauded single track stunner, Doethie Valley which is a few miles from here in the Cambrian Mountains. Plus there's a 6km red route just one mile away from us here at Cwm Rhaeadr.
If competition is your thing, there are two very good events held here locally - Cross Mountain and Gritfest
Afan Forest Park is home to 6 world class trails including, the ‘Penhydd’, ‘Y Wâl’, ‘White’s Level’ and 'W²', and has over 100 km of singletrack trails.
Brechfa is a perfect destination for both pootlers or those who like to ride totally pinned. The Gorlech Trail, designed by Rowan Sorrell, is made up of three big climbs and descents stretching over its 19km. More progressive riders can also test their full arsenal of skills on the fearsome but thrilling features of the black graded Raven Trail!
Visit our blog for more on the black, red and green routes that are all close by.
Families
Make the most of traffic free routes and enjoy Family friendly cycling in the Brecon Beacons There are plenty of family friendly cycle routes in Carmarthenshire too, plus a cake trail!
Waterfalls
Enjoy ancient oak woodlands, hidden river valleys, waterfalls and secret wild swimming pools.
Dark Skies
As a designated dark sky area, it’s the perfect spot for stargazing and enjoying shooting stars and the Milky Way. The Dark Skies of the Cambrian Mountains and Brecon Beacons are phenomenal and we live in one of the darkest places in the UK. Book a stargazing experience with Dark Sky Wales
Coast
Within 45 minutes you can access the beautiful Carmarthenshire coastline, including the glorious, laidback estuary village of Laugharne , home to Dylan Thomas’ boathouse and the recent hit BBC Series, Keeping Faith. Just around the corner is beautiful Llansteffan home to Scott's Bay and another castle . Be sure to visit Pembrey Country Park and Cefn Sidan an endless seven mile beach and winner of the 2018 Countryfile Beach of the Year Award.
Castles and Churches
Take a slow drive down the Towy Valley, the longest river flowing entirely within Wales. See spectacular hilltop castles, including Carreg Cennen, NT Dinefwr and take in the view from the folly, Paxton's Tower. For those with an interest in history there is so much to explore, Llandeilo Past and Present describes the early Welsh Christian history of Llandyfeisant Churchnestling in the woods, and the Mock Gothic Architecture and Capability Brown gardens of Dinefwr Park There's also the gorgeous ruin ofTalley Abbey just a few valleys over.
Gardens
Just a short distance away there's world class gardens at Aberglasney and the National Botanic Garden of Wales . There's almost weekly festivals and events from Llandovery Sheep Festival to Llandovery Motorbike Festival. The area abounds with myths and legends and is said to have been the home of Merlin, King Arthur’s magician.
Gold and Bluebells
Check out the Roman Gold Mines at Dolaucothi and the stunning RSPB reserve Gwenffrwd-Dinas home of the Twm Sion Cati cave, acres of bluebells and the Towy River flowing through a canyon.
The River Towy is one of the only rivers to start and end in the same county and weaves it's way from the Upper Towy Valley, a few miles from us here, to Carmarthen Bay.
Elan Valley
Just an hour's beautiful drive away is the extraordinary Elan Valley Deep in the Cambrian Mountains this is a breathtaking landscape. Home to a series of beautiful Victorian reservoirs and dams and now also a Dark Sky Park. Covered in heather in the summer, with deciduous trees down to dreamy shorelines, you'll find scenery to rival the Lake District and a distinct lack of crowds. Amazing walking, cycling and driving tours. Completely recommended. Take the Elan Valley Tour here
Here's a guide from VisitWales.com about things to do in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Fforest Fawr Geopark
The Fforest Fawr Geopark is part of the National Park and runs from Llandovery in the north, to Llandeilo in the West and down to Merthyr in the South. It is part of UNESCO's global geo parks.
As part of National Walking Month, Visit Cambrian Mountains has a series of 11 walks for you to try for all levels of walking.
Market Towns
Explore market towns of Brecon, Llandeilo , Llandovery , Hay-on-Wye and Wales' oldest town Carmarthen, where you can enjoy antiques and collectibles, crafts and a burgeoning local food scene. But failing that, you could just stay in and relax in your holiday cottage at Cambrian Escapes.
Heart of Wales Railway Line
The Heart of Wales line is a stunning railway line from Swansea to Shrewsbury that now has detailed walks to enjoy at every stop. You can get on and off as you please to explore and then hop back on and continue your journey or head to another station. We are near Llandovery station and are happy to pick you up if you want to visit us by public transport.
Forests
The Crychan Forest and neighbouring Halfway Forest is set in beautiful countryside Nestling between the Brecon Beacons and the Cambrian Mountains. Here miles of waymarked trails take you through tranquil grassy gorges, along old drover’s routes and past cascading waterfalls, taking in breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains of Mid Wales. The Forest is beautifully situated at the gateway of the Cambrian mountains, on the border of the Brecon Beacons National Park. There's lots of events here ranging from rallying, carriage driving, horse events to mountain biking.
Cwm Rhaeadr has horse riding routes, a waterfall walk and a very good red run for mountain bikes.
