About Brecon

The name somewhat gives this away, but Brecon is an historic market town in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Today the town is tied in with the popularity of the park, and its main street is lined with crowd-pleasing antique shops, tea rooms, boutiques, museums and old taverns, along with the original medieval churches and marketplace. It’s a spectacular setting, and many of the best places to stay in Brecon offer wonderful Beacon views. Accommodation here varies from budget self catering spots to charming B&Bs, but our favourite is a lovely country house hotel just out of town.

Whether you’re planning to visit Brecon because you’ve a walking or cyclin trail in mind or you just want to immerse yourself in the grand scenery, the town’s backdrop is the draw for almost 100% of visitors. The Brecon Beacons National Park has a spider’s web of trails marked out, from the Black Mountains in the east to the Black Mountain in the west (not an error, those are the names), up hill and down dale. The Usk Valley is a good starting point, and it’s also worth looking up Horseshoe Ridge, Sugar Loaf and the Taff Trail, a 55 mile walk/bike route starting from Brecon and ending in Cardiff. There are also opportunities to canoe, kayak or paddle board.

Wetter days come along whatever the season, and for those our Gurus recommend a visit to some of the region’s show caves, Cathedral Cave or Dan-yr-Ogof, or to the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon. Or, in Brecon proper, there’s the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh with its Zulu War Room; the 11th century cathedral; Brecon Castle; and the Brecon Canal Basin and canal network too.

However this is prime tourist territory, so if you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Brecon, do your homework and book well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay in Brecon

For a Country Escape

Llangoed Hall is a grand and rather glorious, creeper-covered stately home with the mountainous backdrop of the Brecon Beacons. The manor has 24 individually decorated rooms and suites, in a range of prices that correspond with the variety of size all have charming personal touches, like Roberts radios and sherry decanters. A handful of rooms are dog friendly, and they also offer heated kennels. The sophisticated restaurant is very popular, and award-winning — known for its meticulously sourced, and unusual, ingredients, and smart dress-code; there’s an impressive art collection; and a long list of country pursuits on offer.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

Brecon doesn’t have its own railway station, the closest ones are in Abergavenny, or Merthyr Tydfil, and both of those stations are about half an hour away by taxi or local bus service. If you’re planning to fly to the region, the nearest airports are Cardiff Airport and Bristol Airport.
If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
If you’re visiting Brecon to hike or mountain bike, summer is the most popular time to plan your journey. The weather is at its most predictable. Some walkers prefer spring and autumn, because of the quieter trails and the colourful scenery of blooms or turning leaves. Spring and autumn are also good times for stargazing and trail rides. Some walkers even prefer the winter, when the peaks are snow-dusted, and the skies moody. But the long days of summer are the most relaxed time to visit. Whenever you decide to visit you will still need to bring your waterproofs — the Brecon Beacons wouldn’t be so bright green without all the rain!