We know that you may not always have time to research your holiday destination or browse endless pages to decide on your perfect location.  With that in mind we’ve put together a ‘highlights’ page for each of the major regions in which we operate.  There are so many activities, great shops, tucked away restaurants and fantastic days out that we cannot list them all.  Why not let us know via twitter, facebook, email or by phone if you make a great discovery?  We like to keep future visitors informed of all the best places to visit so you may find us using your review on our blog pages or somewhere on the website.

Crickhowell

Located on banks of the River Usk in the east of the Brecon Beacons National Park, Crickhowell is a picturesque Georgian market town, known as the jewel of the vale.  Easily accessible from the M4 and M5 motorways, Crickhowell is a hotspot for those interested in the arts, good food, outdoor activities, and history.  With the Black Mountains to the east and the Brecon Beacons to the west, it’s also an excellent central point for walkers.  Inhabited since prehistoric times, there is plenty of historical sites to explore, restaurants to discover and some of the best fishing and caving available anywhere in Wales.

• Llangattock

• Llangynidr with the Brecon and Monmouth canal running through the village, shop and two pubs.

• Llanbedr

• Llangenny

History 

Crickhowell takes its name from Crug Hywel Mountain that rises behind the town.  The mountain’s flat top led it to be known as Table Mountain and Iron age people took advantage of it’s shape by building an easily defendable fort.  A circular walk of around 5 miles takes in this fascinating site and provides fantastic views of the town and surrounding valley.

The remains of a burial chamber lie on the A40 to the north of Crickhowell.  The site, which was excavated in 1978 showed traces dating from the Neolithic period indicating that people have lived in this beautiful spot some 6000 years.

In the centre of Crickhowell the remains of the 11th century castle provide interesting viewing.  Left in ruins in 1430 by Owain Glyndwr’s forces it has a colourful history worthy of further investigation.  The bulk of the current town centre dates from around 1830 which makes for a very attractive high street.  A stroll down this road will lead you to Crickhowell’s famous bridge.  Built in 1537, it is the longest stone bridge in Wales and boasts 12 arches on one side, but 13 when viewed from the other direction.

Eating Out

In the past the little town of Crickhowell has been served by up to 16 pubs, now that number has decreased but the quality of the remaining pubs is second to none.  The famous Bear Hotel sits at the junction of the A40 and Crickhowell High Street providing the town with an incredible display of flowers on it’s exterior and a wonderful selection of food and local ales inside.  The Bear dates from 1432 and has won ‘Best Pub of the Year’ twice.

Also in the town centre, Number 18 Brasserie comes highly recommended as does The Dragon Hotel.

Further choice is provided by the award winning Nantyffin Cider Mill and The Manor hotel, both on the northern edges of the town.  The Manor Hotel dates from the 13th century and was bought by a Mr Tristram Everest in the 19th century.  His son George later became Surveyor General of India and was both knighted for his work and the highest mountain discovered in the course of the survey named after him, Mount Everest.

There are numerous other wonderful pubs and restaurants in the area, why not let us know your favourite local discoveries?

Events

Crickhowell Walking Festival takes place around early March each year and offers 8 days of guided walks led by experienced locals.  The walks available range from short strolls along the canal, suitable for pushchairs, to 19 mile climbs taking in several mountain peaks and led by RAF instructors.  Throughout the festival a series of supporting events take place around Crickhowell in the evenings and include talks, music and dance.

The Crickhowell Arts Trail typically takes place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend and showcases local galleries and studios.  A warm welcome awaits visitors to each venue and the artist or craftsperson is on hand to discuss their work.

The Green Man festival is held in August of each year at the Glanusk estate a mile from Crickhowell.  The event has grown for a one-day gathering for 300 people back in 2003 to a 3 day festival bringing live music and entertainment via 5 stages to well over 10,000 people.  In 2011 the festival bucked the trend and sold out several weeks prior to opening.

Shopping

Crickhowell’s high street was built largely in the 1830‘s and 40‘s and is a Conservation Area.  The pretty street offers a fantastic range of independent shops and a great selection of cafe’s and eateries. 

Crickhowell has newsagents, several grocers, a butcher, off-license and post office. Explore Nicholls, the lovely department store with its range of clothes, footwear, stationary, jewellery, gifts, and home products and make sure you visit Webbs – a family run department store established in 1930. Drop into Number Eighteen – one of a number of great local coffee shops and then browse the art gallery and small boutique shops before continuing on to the Bull Pit meadow on the banks of the River Usk for a picnic.

Entertainment

Crickhowell is a small, picturesque town by day but there is a friendly, bustling atmosphere in the evenings.  Head to the Britannia Inn on a Saturday evening for local live music or sample the delights of The Bell at Glangwryney, 2 miles down the road for live acoustic music every Thursday with regular folk and jazz nights on Sunday evenings. 

A number of the local pubs also host popular quiz nights, why not pop in a pit your wits against the locals, or join a team for the evening.

Local Attractions

Head across the historic Crickhowell bridge, through the kissing gate and take the pleasant walk across the meadows to Llangattock Church.  St. Catwg’s Church was built in the 16th century, but it’s claimed that the current structure replaced a 12th century tower.  Explore the interior and don’t miss the gruesome village stocks and whipping post preserved here.

3 miles up the road towards Brecon is Tretower Court and Castle. The castle is a classic moat and bailey example dating from 1150 with additions made in the 13^th century. Tretower Court was recently refurbished and re-opened to the public and is thought to originally date from the 14^th century and still boasts many fantastic examples of timberwork from that era as well as a delightful reconstructed 15^th century garden. A trip to Tretower is a fantastic window into medieval life in the area.

Less than 10 miles from Crickhowell centre, Llangorse Lake is the largest natural lake in south Wales and has become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Head down to the water and hire a rowboat to enjoy a peaceful cruise whilst surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Brecon Beacons. Try your hand at water skiing or sailing – pedaloes and canoes are also available to hire. Those interested in fishing need look no further; Llangorse is renowned for its Pike fishing. If you’e not a water baby, the site also boasts Wales’ leading indoor climbing centre, the unique Sky Trek – a series of connected zip lines that take you through trees, down the mountainside, and numerous pony trekking and riding centres. There is more than enough at the lake alone to keep any family busy.

Walking and outdoor activities

Crickhowell sits in a lush valley surrounded by mountains which offer a great range of walking experiences and other outdoor activities. 

Nearby Sugar Loaf Mountain is a popular walk and visitors can choose between setting off from the car park situated part way up the side of the mountain or completing a more challenging walk from nearer the base at Llangenny.  There are many circular walks from the town that take in Table Mountain, Crickhowell Castle, the River Usk and nearby Llangattock village with its canal paths, woodland and meadows.  Be sure to drop into CRiC (the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre) situated near the Post Office to get expert advice on the ideal routes for you.

For those looking for a more leisurely way to enjoy the scenery Bull Pit Meadow is a wonderful spot for picnics and walks along the banks of the Usk.

The banks of the Usk provide some of the best Salmon and Trout fishing locally and licenses can be obtained from many hotels and tourist centers.  Check the Wye and Usk Foundation website to book your fishing online.

This area is also particularly well known for its caving.  Llangattock Escarpment,is a result of 18^th and 19^th century quarrying but today nature has largely reclaimed the landscape as its own. The quarrying process effectively sectioned the cliff face and in doing so uncovered an entrance to one of the longest cave systems in the U.K. with over 12 miles of passages. Not surprisingly Llangattock Escarpment is a popular destination for cavers from across Europe and the western section of the escarpment has now be designated as the Craig Y Cilau National Nature Reserve.

Public transport

A regular bus service stops in Crickhowell five times a day transporting passengers between Abergavenny and Brecon where large bus stations offer a large selection of onward routes.  This service runs 4 times a day on a Saturday.  The town also has a number of local taxi firms that will be happy to help you reach your destination.