Brecon Beacons National Park

Brecon Beacons National Park, designated park area in south-eastern Wales, Great Britain, established in 1957. The park covers an area of 1,347 sq km (520 sq mi) bordered by Llandovery, Brecon, and Hay-on-Wye in the north, Pontypool, Merthyr Tydfil, and Ystradgynlais in the south, Abergavenny in the east, and Llandeilo in the west. The Offa’s Dyke Path passes through the south-eastern part of the park for a short distance, and forms the eastern boundary, re-entering the park at Hay Bluff, in the north-east of the park. There are four groups of mountains in the park; the Black Mountains in the east, separated from the Brecon Beacons to the west by the broad river valley of the Usk, and further west there are the Fforest Fawr range and, confusingly, the Black Mountain. The highest point in the park, and in south Wales, is Pen y Fan (886 m/2,907 ft). Old red sandstone rocks form a spine, running east to west, with bands of Carboniferous limestone and millstone grit occurring along the southern edge of the park. The limestone areas contain some spectacular cave formations, notably at Dan-yr-Ogof, at the foot of the Black Mountain, and caving is a popular activity in the area. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, completed in 1812, follows an almost identical course to the River Usk, crossing the river by means of an aqueduct at Brynich Lock and then hugging the hillside above the western side of the river valley. Llangorse (170 hectares/420 acres) is the largest natural lake in the area, but there are many reservoirs within the park, the largest being Talybont.

The area is rich in historical interest and there are prehistoric and Roman remains, medieval churches and castles, and relics from the now defunct iron and coal industries. It is an area of great contrast, with the Llangynidr and Llangatwg mountains separating the populous industrialized valleys to the south from the hill farms to the north. Unusually for a national park, large areas of the park are common land, some of it owned by the park authority.