Walking in the Brecon Beacons National Park - Alastair Ross

The Brecon Beacons National Park stretches from the English border to the Tywi valley in Carmarthenshire, a distance of nearly 50 miles, covering an area of 520 square miles. This swathe of southern Wales is divided into four distinct areas of high ground by the rivers Usk, Taf and Tawe. These rivers, here in their enthusiastic infancy, descend to meet the salt water of the Bristol Channel by the three great cities of the south, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea respectively. At the eastern extremity the Black Mountains (plural) rise up steeply from the English midlands. To the west, the eponymous Black Mountain (singular) covers a vast expanse of remote and lonely moorland beyond the sources of the Tawe and Usk. This book covers the two intervening mountain blocks the Central Beacons and Fforest Fawr. Another Kittiwake guide covers the Black Mountains.
Strictly speaking the term Brecon Beacons applies to the three or four highest peaks a few miles south of Brecon, crowned by Pen y Fan. At 886 metres its distinctive cap is the highest land in southern Britain and only just fails to break through the magic 3000 feet mark.
The Central Beacons and Fforest Fawr share geological features. The northern moors and escarpments expose red sandstone. In the Beacons, this culminates in the distinctive sloping plateaux on the summits of Corn Du and Pen y Fan, presiding over the Usk valley and hills of mid Wales beyond. In Fforest Fawr, the spectacular, hidden alpine cliffs of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad and Craig Cwm-du also look northwards. However, in the south, limestone comes to the surface and gives an entirely different character to the topography and fauna. These porous rocks gestate the young Taf Fechan and Nedd Fechan. The latter, with its tributaries, has carved dramatic gorges and spectacular waterfalls. Swanseas river, the Tawe, also crosses limestone and its upper valley hides the biggest cave system in Wales. There are many other highlights to visit, including the countrys second largest lake at Llangors and the impressive limestone quarries at Mynydd Llangatwg. A number of walks enjoy a section on the tranquil Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal, visit Iron Age forts, follow forest trails or discover a steam railway. A great starting point for new or regular visitors is the National Parks Mountain Centre just south of Brecon.