About Brecon Beacons National Park
In 1957 the UK established its 10th National Park, the Brecon Beacons National Park, in its continuing efforts to rebuild the nation following two World Wars. With mountains and moorland, standing stones and castles, lively waterfalls and vibrant communities, the Brecon Beacons National Park has masses to offer residents and visitors. We have a long and colourful history and a rich and varied mythology and culture.
The National Park is around 42 miles wide. In total, it covers approximately 520 square miles of South and Mid Wales, just west of Herefordshire, and includes parts of Powys, Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire, Rhondda and Merthyr Tydfil. It gets its name from the Central Beacons, which dominate the skyline south of Brecon. They rise to 886 metres at Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain.
Some of the traditions which helped and shape the landscapes and our everyday lives have faded with time; others continue today. The night skies are remarkable. They’ve earned the Park recognition as an International Dark Sky Reserve.
The Park’s industrial heritage is magnificent: Blaenavon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And the rocks tell their own story. They’re so unique that a large part of the National Park has been designated a European and Global Geopark.