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Four Days in the Brecon Beacons at Gliffaes Hotel

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Four Days in the Brecon Beacons at Gliffaes Hotel Four Days in the Brecon Beacons at Gliffaes Hotel DAY 1: CHECK IN AND GET YOUR BEARINGS Arrive in time for a bar lunch on the terrace or in the conservatory and get into the holiday mood with a glass wine. Suitably relaxed I suggest collecting a map from reception and exploring the magnificent gardens and trees we have at Gliffaes as well as taking a stroll along the river below the hotel. Can’t make it that early? Then arrive in time for afternoon tea on the terrace, served from 4-5.30pm. Dinner in the hotel DAY 2 : EXPLORE THE LOCAL ENVIRONS By Bike In the car On Foot Take the hotel’s pair of electric A circular 50 mile route through One of the best walks in the area bikes on a 26 mile loop along one of the most picturesque to soak up the scenery of the the back lanes. Taking in the valleys in Wales; the Llanthony Black Mountains and the Brecon bird hide at Llangorse Lake, Valley. Stop off to see the ruins Beacons is the 11 mile circuit The Mill in Talgarth where you of the medieval priory. Keep of Myndd Llangorse. The route should have lunch at the ‘Baker’s driving right to the top and can be made shorter as required Table’. On the way back call in at enjoy a spectacular stroll on the but the lovely aspect of this the gliding club if the weather is top of Hay Bluff before heading walk is that you are unlikely to fine, the views are amazing. Still downhill to Hay-on-Wye for meet nothing more than a Welsh in the mood for visiting? Check shopping and lunch. There are a Mountain pony. We can provide out the amazingly resorted number of places worthy of a stop you with a pack lunch and mark medieval manor in Tretower on the way home but don’t miss up your map for you. just a mile from the hotel. the medieval manor at Tretower. Suggested restaurant for dinner; The Felin Fach Griffin DAY 3 : TRIPS FURTHER AFIELD Magnificent gardens Canoe the river Wye Explore Waterfall country on foot Just over an hour’s drive due west Wye Valley canoes at Glasbury of Gliffaes along the A40 are two (25 minutes from Gliffaes) will Nestled into the southern slopes spectacular gardens and a National hire out canoes for either a lazy of the Fforest Fawr massif, west Trust property set amidst splendid full day’s paddling down the of Merthyr Tydfil, Waterfall oak parkland. First stop should be river Wye or a half day trip with Country (about 30 miles from The National Botanic Garden transport back to the start point. Gliffaes) is one of the most of Wales. After this head for Take a picnic or have lunch at beautiful and popular parts of the the more romantic Aberglasney the River Café and then go into Brecon Beacons National Park where lunch outside watching the Hay-on-Wye to explore the book and the Fforest Fawr Geopark, swallows swoop over the pond and print shops of this lovely with steep, tree-lined gorges and is one of the joys of summer. If small boarder town. an abundance of tumbling water. you still have the energy a stroll There are around 25 miles of around the house and grounds at footpaths to explore around the Dinefwr Park is worth the effort. waterfalls, streams and woodland. If you are feeling adventurous you could sign up for a caving or gorge walking day. Plenty of fun after we have had some rain. On the way home you could visit the Welsh Whisky distillery. Dinner in the hotel DAY 4: STILL PLENTY TO SEE AND DO Industrial Heritage Explore the canal – Climb the highest by bike or on foot. peak in South wales Just the other side of the mountain from Gliffaes lies the birth place The Monmouth & Brecon Canal The highest peak in the Brecon of the industrial revolution. was dug over 200 years ago as an Beacons at 886 meters is Pen y important transport link. It begins Fan. Don’t be daunted by the fact Your first stop should be the award in Brecon and follows the line of that this hill is used to weed out winning Big Pit National Coal the river Usk, right pass Gliffaes volunteers for the Special Forces! Museum where you will be taken and on to Newport. There are several ways up to the underground by ex-miners to top and bagging this peak can experience the conditions endured The canal tow path makes for easy be incorporated into a day long by the miners and the pit ponies. walking and cycling. Walk into walk over the central ridge of the Crickhowell for a spot of lunch and Next stop Blaenavon Ironworks. Brecon Beacons. some shopping. For a longer more This is the best preserved blast challenging walk go up and over This is one of Wales’s iconic furnace complex of its period nearby Tor y Foel before coming walking areas and for good reason. and type in the world. It is a key home via the canal tow path. The views across rural Powys to attraction within the Blaenavon the north are something to behold. World Heritage Site and is well Cycle to Brecon (about 12 miles) on worth a visit. our electric bikes and explore the We can help you plan your route Royal Welsh Military Museum depending on how far you wish Still time for a little fun after (of Zulu War fame). to walk. Alternatively, we could all this education? Take a ride arrange for a guide to take you up on the steam powered Brecon – no worries about navigation. Mountain Railway Suggested restaurants for dinner, The Bear Hotel in Crickhowell or The Hardwick, Abergavenny DAY 5: TIME TO GO HOME There is no need to rush off on our account. Have one last stroll along the river, a cup of coffee on the terrace and then perhaps wend you way. You might even consider making a longer trip in Wales and head for Pembrokshire or Snowdonia. .
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