Shining Shining

CLUB SITES BRYNICH & PANDY HOULD I have kept my mouth shut? These were the words S filtering through my brain moments after I was asked to run the rule over Brynich in South Wales, which (as most of you will probably know) is one of the Club’s most recent acquisitions from the ‘private sector’. I’ve never been to Brynich, but it carries quite a reputation as an award-winning site, and word of its popularity had spread up north. The problem is that I’m not that keen on the concept of ‘popular’ in the private-sector sense of the word, but some devious soul at CCHQ dangled the carrot which is Pandy before my lascivious eye. This meant that I was hooked, because we’ve been to Pandy loads of times, and it’s around the site, and just across the road, the MAIN IMAGE: The my kind of place. So there it was – “Yes, yes, Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal slides Afon Nedd Fechan, near Ystradfellte yes,” I said, slavering all over the phone, slowly by. Those mountains are a huge and ABOVE: Dreamy without giving any thought to the other side constantly entertaining source of interest scene in the pretty of the bargain into which I’d just entered. for us hillwalking fanatics, but, oddly, the Ewyas Valley in the So now you know – I think Pandy is one canal has more of a direct influence on the Black Mountains of the most appealing sites anywhere, from immediate enjoyment of this site. any sector, and will try to explain why later. This waterway must be one of the However, to Brynich – and it wasn’t quite most scenic in the land, terminating at the what I was expecting. small and very quaint old town of Brecon, The Club hasn’t bought the adjacent an easy couple of miles away by boot along restaurant, nor the children’s mini theme the towpath. It’s a nice walk into Brecon, park, which were once part of the site but it is even better to travel by water, complex, although they are still easily taking in the relentlessly beautiful Usk accessible if needed. This leaves, in effect, Valley scenery. Small day-boats can be just an ordinary, but very conveniently hired at various locations along the canal, situated and beautifully landscaped caravan but canoes are even better. and camping site. The more energetic could consider What the Club’s plans are for the large the 20-mile bike ride east alongside the tent camping field I know not, but on a canal to the market at Abergavenny. personal note I love the variety the camping However, the most rewarding way of element brings to the place. utilising two wheels is to carry your boots The facilities are good here and the and rucksack to the bottom of the Brecon location very handy for those with big Beacons then abandon yourself to these caravans or motor caravans, as both main stunning peaks, which are as good to walk roads into South Wales (A40 and A470) on as anything in Britain. meet right outside the gates – though none Brynich struck me as a good basecamp of the associated noise seeps in. for discerning, outdoor-loving families The soaring ridges of the Brecon Beacons seeking a quiet, civilised site and I came are a considerable presence while strolling away far more impressed than I’d INFORMATION ATTRACTIONS I National Showcaves Centre, Annually near the end of May. to 1 November. nr Abercrave. Open all year. See hayfestival.com Tel 01685 722988 or see Tel 01639 730284 or see I Llanthony Riding and Trekking, breconmountainrailway.co.uk SHININGSHINING showcaves.co.uk Court Farm, Llanthony. I Abergavenny Market. I Blaenavon World Heritage Open 4 April to 1 November. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Site and Big Pit. Open all year. Tel 01873 890359 or see See abergavenny.co.uk Tel 01495 790311 or see llanthony.co.uk I Llanthony Priory, Black museumwales.ac.uk I Brecon Mountain Railway, Mountains. Open all year. I Brecon Cathedral Heritage Merthyr Tydfil. Open 21 March See cadw.wales.gov.uk Centre, Brecon. Open all year. Tel 01874 625222 or see ❖ breconcathedral.org.uk BEACONSBEACONS I Monmouthshire & Brecon ANDY STOTHERT VISITS TWO VERY Canal and Goytre Wharf Visitor Ordnance Survey Centre, nr Penperlleni. Open Landranger Maps DIFFERENT SITES WITHIN THE MAJESTIC all year. Tel 01873 881069 or 160, 161 see breconbeacons.org BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK I Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye. Brecon Mountain Railway 22 THE CARAVAN CLUB MAGAZINE JUNE 2009THE CARAVAN CLUB MAGAZINE 23 CLUB SITES BRYNICH & PANDY Romantic ruins at Llanthony Priory INFORMATION TOURISM “...the sense of being safe, in the I National Park Visitor Centre, Libanus, nr Brecon – tel 01874 623366 soothing scenes of the Black I Abergavenny TIC – tel 01873 853254 I Brecon TIC – tel 01874 622485 Mountains, brings an inner peace ” I Crickhowell TIC – tel 01873 812105 I Talagarth TIC – tel 01874 712226 I Useful websites – breconbeacons.org; brecon- anticipated. In truth though, I still couldn’t the noise or anything like that, but the beacons.com; wales-calling.com; golden-valley.co.uk wait to get to Pandy. frustration of not being able to get on it any The drive to Pandy from Brynich is a closer than back in Abergavenny, especially less-pleasant (but still very scenic) version as Hereford, by train, makes a nice day out. of the pedal to Abergavenny market – with Any other deficiencies then? The pub INFORMATION SITES a bit more tagged onto the far end into the and a good meal are too close for the Black Mountains. But before getting to waistline, and then there is that hollow Pandy I think the Usk Valley deserves feeling when it’s time to leave. Besides another mention, as it is just as easily that, all is a dreamy vision of pretty inspected from both sites. villages, the stunning monastic ruins at If you haven’t the energy, inclination nor Llanthony, the weirdest little church in machinery to cycle along the canal towpath, the land at Cwmyoy, Hay-on-Wye’s many there are countless wonderful opportunities bookshops, and the oldest pub in Wales for a short stroll by the waterway all along at Llanvihangel Crucorney. the valley. Abergavenny too is a lovely old More than anything else though, the Brynich place, and has none of the bustle of the sense of being safe, in the soothing but Full details can be found on p228 (Brynich) and p237 (Pandy) average British town. I say British, rather spectacular scenes of the Black Mountains, of the Sites Directory & Handbook 2009/10 than Welsh, because these are the brings an inner peace. borderlands, and differences in nationality These two sites are surrounded by the seemed unimportant to all and sundry. beautiful scenery of the Brecon Beacons Right, to the meat in the sandwich – the National Park, both are very easy to get at out-of-the-way charms of Pandy. Where to with a big camper or caravan, and they start? Downsides? The facilities are aren’t that far apart either. Each has good reasonable enough without being incredible facilities too, but despite the many (a few more hardstandings wouldn’t go similarities the atmospheres are wildly amiss), and then there is the regular different. Which one suits you? The appearance of the local train from convenience, civility and family-friendly Pandy Abergavenny to Hereford, and vice versa, facilities of Brynich or that slightly rumbling past the site. The annoyance is not away-from-it-all feel at Pandy? I 24 THE CARAVAN CLUB MAGAZINE.

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