Cymdeithas Parc Bannau Brycheiniog
Brecon Beacons Park Society
www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK

The Brecon Beacons National Park was established in 1957, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. 
It was the tenth area in England and Wales to be given such status.

The Central Beacons Skyline

The two statutory purposes of the National Park Authorities, as defined in the 1995  UK Environment Act, are to:
 conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the park and to: 
promote opportunities for the enjoyment and understanding of its special qualities. 
The act also gives the National Park Authorities a duty to: 
"seek to foster the economic and social well being" of their local communities 
"without incurring significant expenditure in doing so"

Landscape

The landscape of the Brecon Beacons National Park has recently been officially recognised as one of the most important geological areas in Europe. In October 2005, the Fforest Fawr Geopark within the  National Park  was awarded membership of the highly prestigious European Geopark Network and given UNESCO Global Geopark recognition.

The Brecon Beacons  is the first National Park in the United Kingdom to achieve Geopark status, and is also the first Geopark in Wales. 
For more information about the Brecon Beacons Geopark click below: 

History

The landscape of the Brecon Beacons National Park is largely the product of human intervention stretching  back over many thousands of years. Around 5500BC in Middle Stone-Age times, hunter-gatherers cut down scrub and burned the aftermath in an attempt to create small grassland areas to encourage the grazing animals which they hunted.
In the New Stone-Age farming was introduced to the area and, by the close of the Bronze-Age, significant forest clearances had occurred. During the Iron-Age, Celtic peoples settled in the area bringing increased sophistication to farming methods. They erected hill-forts of which impressive banks and ditches remain today. The Roman occupation left a legacy of an improved communications infrastructure and 12th century Norman patterns of land-use are still evident today.

The Middle Ages saw the consolidation of the Norman manorial system, but there were cataclysmic episodes such as the Black Death and the Glyndwr Revolt.
From the end of the fifteenth century onwards industries such as ironmaking, charcoal, limestone extraction and coal mining began to be established in the area. There is a rich industrial archaeology to be found to the south and east of the Park. Some hillsides, such as those above the Clydach Gorge and on the Cribarth Mountain, have been altered considerably by industrial development which continued into the twentieth century. 

More recently, urban expansion, road building, construction of canals and reservoirs, erection of power lines, large conifer plantations and changes to agricultural practices have all contributed to the ever changing environment of the National Park.

Tourism and Recreation

The vast majority of visitors to the Brecon Beacons National Park, arrive by private vehicle, with 'scenery and landscape' being the most often quoted reason for visiting. Not surprisingly, 'sightseeing by car' is the most popular activity for visitors and of the more active pursuits, walking is the most popular, but cycling, caving, water-sports, trekking and fishing are also widely enjoyed. 
In recent years, hang-gliding, parascending and mountain biking have increased in popularity.
The rich natural and built heritage of the National Park is also a source of pleasure for the many visitors who enjoy bird-watching, painting, photography, visiting archaeological and historical sites and shopping.

Some of the most popular visitor attractions in the National Park are shown below:

National Park Visitor Centre Libanus		7 km south-west of Brecon, off the A470 Merthyr  Tydfil  to Brecon road. Grid reference: SN 977262	170,000 visitors per annum. Information, displays  and publications about the  National Park, with an award winning restaurant and spectacular views of the Central Beacons.
Pen y Fan Owned and managed by the National Trust		8 km south of Brecon, at  886 metres, the highest peak in the National Park. Grid reference: SO 011215	120,000 visitors per annum. The popular walk up from  Pont ar Daf on the A 470  involves an ascent of 450 metres  (almost 1500 feet) The weather can change very quickly, so be prepared!
Carreg Cennen Castle Maintained by Cadw		20 km south-west of Llandovery, 5 km south-east of Llandeilo off the a 40 or A 483. Grid reference: SN 667191	100,000 visitors per annum. Perched on a 100 metre cliff with stunning views, the current  ruin dates from the late 13th century, although Prehistoric and Roman remains have been found on the site.
Dan-yr-Ogof Showcaves The National Showcaves Centre for Wales		On the A 4067 Sennybridge to Swansea road, 30 km  north-east of Swansea. Grid reference: SN 839160	90,000 visitors per annum. First discovered in 1912, and opened to the public in 1939,  there are now 3 Show Caves, a Dinosaur Park, replica Iron-Age Village, Shire Horse centre and  Stone Circles to explore.
Llangorse Lake  and Common		10 km east of Brecon off the A 40 Abergavenny to Brecon road. Grid reference: SO 127271	75,000 visitors per annum. The largest natural lake in South Wales, well-known for fishing, sailing, windsurfing and a haven for wildlife, particularly birds. There is also an iron-Age inspired Visitor Centre.
Craig-y-nos Country Park and Visitor Centre		On the A 4067 Swansea to Sennybridge road, 18 km south-west of Sennybridge. Grid reference: SN 839155	73,000 visitors per annum. Information and displays about  the industrial and social history   of the area, and the important  geology of the nearby Cribarth mountain. Easy walking around  the extensive grounds.
Garwnant Visitor Centre Owned and managed by Forestry Commission Wales		8 km  north-west of  Merthyr Tydfil off the A 470 Merthyr to  Brecon road. Grid reference: SO 003131	60,000 visitors per annum. The centre for the Coed Taf Fawr woodlands; it has a gift shop and  tea rooms, a low level rope assault course, toddlers play area, woodland walking trails and family cycle route.

The National Park Authority

The National Park Authority owns about 19,000 hectares of the land within the Brecon Beacons National Park, which accounts for about 13.5% of the total. Other institutional land-owners include: Forestry Commission, Welsh Water, National Trust and the Countryside Council for Wales but some 70% of the land within the Park is privately owned.
In 1996 the current Brecon Beacons National Park Authority came into being. It consists of 24 members; 16 appointed by 7 Unitary Authorities and 8 appointed by the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Authority is served by the National Park Officer/Chief Executive and about 80 full time staff, with up to a further 80 being employed on a part-time or contract basis.
The work of the National Park Authority is financed mainly by a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government, which accounts for some 75% of the total revenue, with contributions from the constituent Unitary Authorities making up the balance.
In 2005/06 the Park Authority spent £6.166 million on the provision of services, but was under-funded by almost £300,000, which had to be drawn from reserves.
The Brecon Beacons National Park Management Plan sets out a vision for the future:
"A partnership of all those who live and work in, enjoy or care for the Brecon Beacons National Park to conserve its beauty, character and tranquillity, its natural and cultural heritage and its way of life, both for their own sakes and in order that the Park may continue to be a source of inspiration and enjoyment for all".

Useful Links

 To find an alphabetical listing of pages and topics, click on the  Contents  page