The National Park Visitor Centre, often known as ‘the Mountain Centre’, sits on the edge of Mynydd Illtud at Libanus, southwest of Brecon. A team of friendly and knowledgeable Information Officers are on hand all year round to help make the most of any visit to the Geopark or wider National Park.
The Visitor Centre is just 5 minutes off the A470 at the village of Libanus. When you enter the village look out for the brown directional signage for the National Park Visitor Centre. The nearest postcode is LD3 8ER, but make sure you follow the signs as you get closer.
Caffi y Fan
Caffi y Fan offers breakfast, lunch and snack menus, along with a great range of cakes and desserts. There is a full range of teas, coffees and soft drinks to quench the thirst. The café has a large outdoor terrace with spectacular views of Pen y Fan and the wider Central Beacons. It is licensed, so you can also enjoy a local beer or wine after a day in those hills. Find out more here.
Gift and craft shop.
The shop is well worth a visit. It stocks maps and guides to the Geopark and wider National Park, along with other essential items to help make any visit go smoothly. The space is shared with Platform One Craft Co-operative: find handmade gifts from twelve local crafters, all based in and around the National Park. Each day one of the crafters is on site, so you can meet the people who make the products on sale.
Toilets
The Visitor Centre has both male and female toilets accessible from inside the Information Centre along with a dedicated baby changing room. Separate disabled toilets have easier accessibility from the front of the building.
Children’s play area.
There is an outdoor children’s play area with a great view of Pen y Fan.
Car park
The National Park Visitor Centre has a pay and display car park, and all money raised from car parking is reinvested back into the centre. The parking fee is £2.00 for up to 4 hours and £3.00 for a longer stay. Disabled parking is free, and is available right outside the entrance to the building .
During busy periods, an additional field is opened up for overflow parking – this is signposted when needed. Regular visitors may be interested in purchasing an annual parking permit. These can be purchased from the online shop at https://shop.beacons-npa.gov.uk/product-category/car-park-permits/
Electric car charging.
The Centre is one of the first rural locations to provide Electric Car Charging Points. There are currently six charging points available through the Pod Point App.
Where to walk
The National Park Visitor Centre is situated on the edge of Mynydd Illtyd Common, which offers fantastic opportunities for moderate terrain walking, taking in spectacular views of the Central Beacons. The most popular walk is across the Common to the summit of Twyn y Gaer, the site of an Iron Age hillfort – find the route here with 360 degree views which include the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains and Fforest Fawr. Find all the walking routes in the National Park here.
Explore the nearby town of Brecon, find out top things to do and see in Brecon here. The Centre’s Information Officers will be more than happy to give more details on this and many other walks.
New improved facilities for people with mobility issues
Our new facilities include an All Terrain Mobility Scooter. This is available for free hire (donations appreciated) to use on selected routes next to the Centre. Booking essential. T and Cs apply. A ‘Changing Places’ toilet, more disabled parking spaces and improved access routes to the Centre were all added in 2023.