Castles of the Brecon Beacons

Wales has an impressive number of castles and the Brecon Beacons on Soth Wales has some beautiful examples. They may not be the biggest or more well known but still offer an insight into life back then.

Carreg Cennen Castle

This is one of my favourite examples because it is what everybody imagines a romantic castle should be. It sits high on a rocky outcrop guarding the valley below.

Many of the internal walls are no longer there but luckily they have an interactive dispaly in the barn including a 3D replica of the castle in its hay day. You could easily spend a lot of time in there learning about the family who lived there.

On a clear day you can see for miles which must have come in handy when fighting off the English invaders.

Inside the castle is the entrance to a long tunnel ending in a cave that was used to store all manner of things. It is completely dark towards the end but they will hire you a bright torch.

There are pleasant walks in the surrounding meadows. They also have a bright cheerful cafe again with great views of the surrounding countryside.

Tretower Court

On a much smaller scale but with even more history is this tower style castle. It sits in a valley just outside Brecon. It was the muster point for the Welsh longbow men who were a pivotal point in the victory at Agincourt. They are very well recorded as only on returning from battle were they paid. Amazingly nearly all of them returned and the full list of names and payment can be seen in Brecon Cathedral.

The life of the occupants of the tower are brought to life by the Cadw curator. He is happy to show people around when he is there and can give you the detailed description of ale and bread being produced there.

Next to the tower is an Elizabethan Manor which was one of the grandest houses in the area. They have left most of the rooms empty so you can wander around and just imagine the life they led.

Aberyscir Coach House - Brecon Beacons Guide