The Barn Annexe, Wales

Cefn-Yr-Allt, Crickadarn, Powys LD2 3AJ, Wales, UK

Walking

First, here are details (downloadable PDFs) of a couple of our favourite routes, starting from the Barn Annexe. We walk these regularly. You'll need good boots or shoes.

1 A short circular walk 40 minutes This is a pleasant stroll in almost any weather. It takes you up to the common land of Cefn Llwydallt, then back via our neighbours' farm.
2 To the trig point and back 90 minutes Go up to the common land on Cefn Llwydallt (see our Walk 1). Then descend, cross a hidden valley, and climb to a trig point with brilliant views!

For the walks listed below, you'll need to drive a short distance before you don your boots. But it is worth it! We've selected just a few from the dozens (or hundreds) of great walks nearby. For more details, ask us.

The Waterfalls Walk at Talgarth Drive to the car park at Pwll-Y-Wrach Nature Reserve (Hospital Rd, Talgarth, Powys LD3 0DT). A surfaced easy-access path leads from the main car park into the reserve. But you will need to continue along a more uneven and sometimes muddy stretch of path to get to the spectacular waterfall and the dark 'Witches Pool'.
Aberedw Rocks Walk This starts from Erwood Station Gallery (Llandeilo Graban, Powys LD2 3SJ) on the banks of the River Wye. It's a 2-3 hour circular walk which starts with a climb, taking you high above the Wye valley. The views are great!
Llangorse Lake There are several walking routes near this wonderful lake (Llangorse, Powys LD3 7TR). Some are very easy and others are a bit more demanding. It's the largest natural lake in South Wales, and is famous for its coarse fishing, watersports, the mythical afanc, and the only example of a crannog in Wales. There's a cafe too.
Hay Bluff and Tympa These are two peaks in the Black Mountains, the eastern part of the Brecon Beacons. You can ascend them via some superb walks: they aren't easy, but the reward is some truly excellent views, especially across the Wye Valley.
Up the Dragon's Back from Pengenffordd A bit further south, the Dragon's Back circular walk is one of our best-of-the-best routes. It's fairly challenging, but it will take you to Waun Fach, the highest point of the Black Mountains. Views from the ridge are breathtaking in all directions.

For longer walks elsewhere in the Brecon Beacons National Park, we highly recommend the Kittiwake Book 'Walking in the Brecon Beacons National Park' by Alastair Ross. It's worth the price of the book for just for walk 15 ('A circuit of Cwm Oergwm') and walk 17 ('Beacons horseshoe from the south').

And in the Kittiwake book 'Walking in the Black Mountains', also by Alastair Ross, walk 9 ('Black Hill') is also brilliant. The only problem is that the start point in the Olchon Valley is pretty remote, and it will take you an hour and a quarter to drive there from the Barn Annexe. It's definitely worth the drive, tho'!