Historic Brecon – rivers and ramparts

Cathedral, canal, hill-fort, Honddu and Usk


Begin your visit from the Mount Street car park (the main car park in Brecon) – three Geotrails lead from here – walk along the Usk and up the Honddu rivers for waterside views or head for Pen y crug for a panoramic view from the Usk valley to the Brecon Beacons.

Stay in town for shopping and visits to the cathedral, museum, cafés and shops. There are also canoeing and boating opportunities on the canal and river. A new visitor information centre – Visit Brecon – opened in Lion Yard in May 2018.

If you’ve got an hour or less:

If you’ve got half a day (2-4 hours):

  • Spend more time enjoying the exhibits at ‘y Gaer‘, Breconshire’s museum & art gallery.
  • Follow the Pen y crug or Brecon River Usk and Brecon Town Geotrails.
  • Down on the canal, take a boat trip.
  • Shopping, eating and sightseeing in Brecon.
  • Walk or cycle the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal towpath from the theatre basin to Brynich Lock or even Talybont.

If you’ve got a full day (5-8 hours):

Did you know . . ?

. . . . that the longest canal in Wales, the ‘Mon and Breck’ celebrated its 200th birthday in 2012.