Brecon Beacons

Geobox|Protected Area
name = Brecon Beacons
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category_local = National Park of Wales
category_iucn = V


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image_caption = Part of the Brecon Beacons, looking from the highest point Pen y Fan, 886 m (2907 ft), to Cribyn, 795 m (2608 ft)
country = Wales
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region = Blaenau Gwent
region1 = Carmarthenshire
region2 = Merthyr Tydfil
region3 = Powys
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area = 1344
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highest = Pen y Fan
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highest_elevation = 886
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established_type = National Park of Wales
established = 1957
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website = [http://www.breconbeacons.org breconbeacons.org]

The Brecon Beacons ( _cy. Bannau Brycheiniog) is a mountain range located in the south-east of Wales. It forms the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park ("Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog"), one of Wales's three National Parks.

Range

The Brecon Beacons range consists of the mountains to the south of Brecon. The highest of these is Pen y Fan (886 m); other notable summits include Corn Du (873 m), Cribyn (795 m), and Fan y Bîg (719 m) [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/644792] . These summits form a long ridge which forms a horseshoe around the head of the Taf Fechan river to the south-east, with long parallel spurs extending to the north-east. The round of the Taf Fechan skyline forms a popular ridge walk known as the 'Beacons Horseshoe'. Many other fine walks exist in this part of the National Park but the mountains are known for swift changes in weather conditions, even in summer. In winter they can be dangerous.

The Brecon Beacons are named after the ancient practice of lighting signal fires (beacons) [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/221859] on mountains to warn of attacks by the English, or more recently to commemorate public and national events such as coronations or the Millennium.

thats weirdmb|left|Llyn y Fan Fawr in the Black Mountain, one of the less frequented parts of the National Park] The National Park was established in 1957, the last of the three Welsh parks; (Snowdonia was first in 1951) with the Pembrokeshire Coast being the other. It covers 519 square miles (1344 km²), 332 100 acres stretching from Llandeilo in the west to Hay-on-Wye in the east. It encompasses the ranges confusingly named the Black Mountains (in the east of the park [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/476725] , on the border with England) and the Black Mountain (in the west) [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/171027] . The area to the west of the Brecon Beacons range is known as the Fforest Fawr ("Great Forest"), and was designated a geopark by UNESCO in 2005. Most of the national park is moorland, with some forestry plantations, and pasture in the valleys [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/520361] . In 1966 the Brecon Beacons Mountains Centre was opened to better enable visitors and tourists to interpret the area.

On 22 May 2005, the first walk to span the entire length of the Brecon Beacons National Park was opened. The convert|100|mi|km|sing=on route, called The Beacons Way [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/476809] , runs from Abergavenny, through Crickhowell and ends in the village of Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/20591] .

Activities in the park include walking [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/190455] , cycling, mountain biking, horse riding, as well as sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and fishing its rivers [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/410993] and reservoirs [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/296316] , rock climbing, hang-gliding, caravanning, camping and caving. The Taff Trail [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/476996] also passes through the Beacons on its way from Brecon to Cardiff.

The park is known for its waterfalls [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/610998] , including the 27-metre Henrhyd Waterfall [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/550505] and the falls at Ystradfellte, and its caves, such as Ogof Ffynnon Ddu [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/269037] .

Welsh mountain ponies graze wild within the Park, as do many Welsh mountain sheep.

Due to its remoteness and the weather, the park is used for military training. The Special Air Service (SAS) is known for holding especially demanding selection training exercises here such as the Fan dance (exercise). The infantry regiments of the British Army [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/190459] all train at Sennybridge [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/448067] , where NCO selection also takes place.

In 2006 and 2007 controversy surrounded the government decision to build the South Wales Gas Pipeline [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/437297] through the park [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/442303] , the national park authority calling the decision a “huge blow”. [ [http://www.breconbeacons.org/Pipeline%20Consent Controversial National Grid Pipeline given the go ahead!] Brecon Beacons National Park Authority ] However it is now completed [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/557890] .

In September 2008, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority's unpopular Chief Executive, Chris Gledhill, was suspended for two months following sustained criticism of the Authority's management practices, especially within its planning department.

Mountain rescue

Mountain rescue in Wales is provided by seven groups, with assistance from local police forces, and in serious situations an RAF helicopter from RAF Valley. These are:
* BMRT - Brecon Mountain Rescue Team
* SARDA - Search and Rescue Dog Association
* C/Beacons - Central Beacons
* W/Beacons - Western Beacons
* LMRT - Longtown Mountain Rescue Team based in the east
* NEWSAR - North East Wales Search and Rescue
* SARA - Severn Area Rescue Association

Most are staffed by local volunteers and funded primarily by donations. Their work is not restricted to mountain and wilderness rescue; teams sometimes assist the local police to search for missing or vulnerable persons in the community.

Towns and villages

*Abercrave
*Aberdare
*Abergavenny
*Ammanford
*Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire
*Brecon
*Brynmawr
*Brynamman
*Crickhowell
*Cwmdu, Powys
*Ffairfach
*Felinfach
*Garnant
*Glanamman
*Glynneath
*Hay on Wye
*Hirwaun
*Llandeilo
*Llandovery
*Llangadog
*Llangattock
*Llangynidr
*Llanwrtyd Wells
*Llywel
*Merthyr Tydfil
*Myddfai
*Pontypool
*Sennybridge
*Talgarth
*Trecastle
*Tredegar
*Ystradgynlais

Local councils

*Brecon Town Council
*Builth Wells Town Council
*Cefn Coed: Crossroads for City, Country & Coast
*Clyro
*Glasbury Community Council
*Hay Town Council
*Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch & Cathedine Community Council
*Llangattock Community Council
*Llangors Community Council
*Llanthony
*Llywel Community Council
*Llanwrtyd Wells Town Council
*Pontsticill Pontsarn & Vaynor
*Talybont-on-Usk Community Council
*Trallong Community Council
*Trecastle
*Ystradfellte and Waterfall Country

ee also

* Brecon Mountain Railway [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/24577]

External links

* [http://www.breconbeacons.org/ Official site of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority]
* [http://www.breconbeaconsparksociety.org/ The Brecon Beacons Park Society] , the 'Friends' organisation of the Park

References