By car: You can easily reach the park via the M4, M50 and A40.

By Train: There are train stations available in Abergavenny, Llandeilo, Llandovery, and Merthyr Tydfil. From Cardiff, you can get hourly direct trains to Abergavenny on the Cardiff-Manchester line, and you can get trains to Merthyr Tydfil every half hour which take around one hour.

By Bus: Regular services run into the park from South Wales and Hereford.

• The T4 runs from Cardiff to Newtown via Brecon.

• The T6 runs from Swansea to Brecon.

• The X55 Cymru Clipper service from Swansea and Neath now runs to the Angel Inn in Pontneddfechan, which provides easy access to Waterfall Country.

If you are looking for a combined package then the Explore Wales Pass offers unlimited travel on all rail services and most local bus services in Wales. It can be used on all local bus services (except services 1, 2, 442, T2 and X75) in and around the Brecon Beacons National Park. The pass is valid for a period of eight consecutive days. Trains can be used on four of these days and buses can be used on all eight days.

There are numerous highly rated pubs and cafes dotted throughout the park with several of them being located in the town of Brecon. I have listed several below which I can recommend.

• Hills Brecon - A family run burger restaurant, which has gained legendary status in the national park. Situated just outside the town of Brecon, they specialise in a wide range of incredible burgers with all of their produce being sourced locally. Open Tuesday to Sunday alongside bank holidays, you will have to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

• Brecon Tap - Homely café & pub offering a wide range of savoury pies alongside local & international beers. A perfect place for refilling after a long day in the hills.

• Cat Soup Kitchen - A small café with lots of outdoor seating situated on the banks of the River Usk in Brecon. Serves lunch, breakfast, and dinner alongside hot drinks and at a very affordable price.

• Latte Da Tea Room - Situated in Crickhowell, Latte Da serves great coffee, homemade cakes, gourmet sourdough sandwiches, award winning gelato alongside wide variety of breakfast options.

• Casa Brecon - Lovely little café with friendly staff, delicious wraps, sandwiches and bagels 

• Proper Pizza - A Local pizza company offering a wide variety of handmade, locally sourced stone baked pizzas.

The Brecon Beacons is glorious year-round.  Spring and summer offer longer days but are busy; autumn is quieter, while winter brings short dark days and the possibility of snow and ice.

The waterfalls are most impressive after periods of heavy rain, making Spring a great choice to visit in Late September early October is a great choice as the tress change colour

rain is common throughout the year and you should always check the weather forecast for the specific peaks and mountain ranges you are planning on hiking. I use MWIS and Met Offic

You need at least on full day to visit the Brecon Beacons.

I think the optimum amount of time is 2-4 days. This would allow you to see the three main and most impressive regions of the national park (Central Beacons, Waterfall County, and the Carmarthenshire Fans).

A fit and adventurous individual could easily visit both the central beacons and waterfall country in a day, however visiting all three would require a lot of effort, light and driving.

As there are plenty of things to see and do and you could easily spend a week or longer exploring the Brecon Beacons. However, I think you would be better off using your time to explore other areas of Wales

• Guide to the Gower Peninsula

• Guide to the Elan Valley

• Guide to Pembrokeshire

• Guide to Snowdonia

• Guide to Wales

I would recommend visiting the following three regions

• Central Brecon Beacons to hike up Pen y Fan.

• Waterfall County to see Henrhyd Falls and Four Falls Trail

• Western Brecon Beacons to explore the Carmarthenshire fans and Llyn-y-fan Fach

For my suggestions on the best things to see and do, check out my blog post below

Brecon Beacons must see and do

The most popular hikes in the park include Pen y Fan, Four Falls Trail, and the Carmarthenshire Fans. For my recommendation on the best hikes, check out my blog post below:

THE BEST HIKES IN THE BRECON BEACONS

There’s no charge to enter the park.  However, lots of a car parks do charge for parking. The main Pen y Fan car parks Pont‑ar‑Daf and Cwm Gwdi, are owned by the National Trust and charge a fee.

Yes dogs are most certainly allowed in the Brecon Beacons. They must however be kept on a lead on open country between 1 March and 31 July and always near livestock. Owners should always pick up dog waste and respect the Countryside Code.

Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) became Britain’s tenth National Park in 1957. The park covers about 520 square miles and includes parts of Powys, Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire, Rhondda and Merthyr Tydfil.

Yes it is. On 19 February 2013 the park became an International Dark Sky Reserve, the fifth such designation worldwide. Its dark skies make it ideal for viewing the Milky Way and constellations.

Pen y Fan (886 m/2,907 ft) is the highest peak in the Brecon beacons and Southern Britain.

Wild camping is illegal without landowner permission, but it is often tolerated in remote areas if you camp discreetly, away from roads, and leave no trace. To find out more check out my beginner’s guide to wildcamping