Local Area Information
Llangorse lies in the crook of the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains. With its beautiful lake and breath-taking scenery, it's a perfect setting for both the very active and those who prefer a more gentle and relaxing holiday. In high season, the lake offers fishing, rowing boats, canoe, kayak and paddleboard hire while the Llangorse Activity Centre offers climbing, a tree tops course and horse riding. A walkers haven, public footpaths lead directly from Ty Gwilym and within easy driving distance there are more challenging walks such as Offa’s Dyke, Pen-y Fan, Sugar Loaf Mountain and Hay Bluff. There is also fantastic cycling right on the doorstep, with quiet roads and challenging hills (if you want them). The Taff Trail runs from Brecon to Cardiff while the National Cycle Network 8 passes close by on its route that runs the length of Wales. Ty Gwilym contains maps and walking books to help you decide.
Talgarth is the nearest town, less than 10 minutes drive away from Ty Gwliym, and has a wondeful fully restored working 18th century working mill that includes a cafe, bakery and arts and crafts. Talgarth also has a summer festival and a walking festival in May.
Brecon is only 15 minutes drive and has plenty going on. There's an excellent theatre, a Norman Cathedral, a charming 1930s style cinema, farmers market, plenty of pubs and restaurants, two museums (https://royalwelsh.org.uk/, https://en.powys.gov.uk/ygaer), a canal on which you can hire narrow boats and a river. There's also a wide range of shops, from three independent butchers to supermarkets such as Aldi and Morrisons.
Crickhowell is under 20 minutes away too and is the proud winner of the best British High Street, 2018. It's steeped in history, has almost entirely independent (and excellent) shops, really good pubs including the famous Bear, restaurants and award winning cafes. The bustling high street runs down to the idyllic river with its historic bridge over to the neighbouring village of Llangattock. There's also an annual music festival, The Green Man, just outside the town every August.
Abergavenny is 25 minutes away and is a bustling market town, famed for its great restaurants and food, including an annual food festival. For a special occasion, try The Hardwick, The Angel, The Skirrid or The Walnut Tree. It also has an historic castle, the River Usk running through it and plenty of independent shops.
Hay on Wye is a gem of a town, 20 minutes from Ty Gwilym, and nestles at the foot of the mighty Hay Bluff hill. It's well known for its independent shops, ideas and annual book festival. It's a wonderful town to while away a few hours perusing the many second hand book shops, antiqueries, the markets and the excellent cafes and restaurants.
Only slightly further afield, all within 40 minutes drive, are the Big Pit, Penderyn Distillery, Blaenavon Ironworks and the Brecon Mountain Steam Railway for when the weather is typically, well, Welsh and even Cardiff is only an hour away.
