Wales Feed

Iolo's top 10 must-see locations

2016-01-08T09:52:03+00:00

The Brecon Beacons is an area I know well, having walked virtually every square metre of its mountains, woodlands and rivers during my 15 years with the RSPB and 17 years working in the media, but it's a place that always holds a few surprises.

Most visitors will head for the major tourist attractions such as Pen-y-Fan or the town of Brecon, but the National Park has so much more to offer.

Here are my 10 must-see locations in the Beacons.

1. Llanthony Priory This partly ruined priory dates back to around 1100 and is situated in the stunning Vale of Ewyas on the eastern edge of the park. Having barely survived several attacks by Owain Glyndwr, it never recovered from Henry the Eighth's dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century.

The ruins of Llanthony Priory

2. Capel-y-Ffin The beautiful little chapel that gives this hamlet its name is dedicated to St Mary and dates back to 1762. Lying on the banks of the River Honddu, it is surrounded by the high tops of the Black Mountains.

3. Brecon Mountain Railway This is one of Wales' ‘great little trains' and runs 5.5 miles from Pant Station near Merthyr, through Pontsticill and on to Torpantau on the old abandoned Brecon and Merthyr line. On a sunny summer's day, the views are outstanding!

4. Llangorse Lake This is the largest natural lake in Wales and is famous for its coarse fishing, water sports and crannog, an artificial island dating back to the 9th century that was used as a dwelling. The lake is also excellent for wildlife and supports healthy populations of water voles, reed warblers and hunting hobbies.

5. Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal This 35-mile canal runs along the Usk Valley for most of its length and although originally built to carry coal and iron, today its rural character and tranquility attracts thousands of tourists each year. It's also a great place to see the elusive otter.

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

6. Mynydd Illtyd This area of common land is conveniently situated adjacent to the Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre near Libanus. It makes for excellent low-level walking with an abundance of wildlife, and excellent, home-made food at the Mountain Centre cafe makes for a perfect end to the day.

7. Llyn y Fan Fach A small dammed lake on the northern edge of the Black Mountain, Llyn y Fan Fach is surrounded by the high peaks of the Carmarthen Fans and is steeped in Welsh legends. The walk up to the lake along the River Sawdde and on to the high tops is one of the most picturesque walks in the whole of the Beacons.

Overlooking Llyn y Fan Fach

8. Sgwd Henrhyd Henrhyd waterfall near the village of Coelbren is the tallest waterfall in south Wales. A lovely walk leads from the car park above the falls down the wooded Nant Llech valley. Henrhyd is best viewed after heavy rainfall and is a photographer's dream.

9. Beacons Way This 95-mile walk follows most of the high ridges from the Skirrid in the east to the small village of Bethlehem in the west. A recently-devised linear walk, it has become very popular with walkers from all over the world.

10. Pen-y-Fan Okay, so this is probably the best-visited site in the whole of the Brecon Beacons, but 250,000 visitors a year can't be wrong. At 886 metres (2,907 feet) above sea level, it is the highest peak in southern Britain and the 360 degree panoramic view from the top is absolutely spectacular.

Fireworks: wildlife up in smoke

2012-11-02T11:13:47+00:00

This weekend will see many official firework displays going up in smoke as Guy Fawkes night draws nearer.

We all enjoy a good bang but please spare a thought for our native wildlife and not just the family pets (which should be kept indoors).

At night, birds will be roosting in trees and bushes and holding firework displays too close to their shelters could disturb them.

Birds also use nest boxes in winter time for roosting in, so be careful where you put your catherine wheels and avoid lighting bonfires too close to them.

Always make a quick check for hedgehogs before lighting your bonfires - especially if you've been gathering wood for it over a few weeks.

Our prickly friends been having a hard time of it in recent years, so let's give them a helping hand whenever possible.

Hedgehogs love old log piles and leaves to curl up in and sleep and could well be buried at the bottom, so have a good look before you get your matches out.

Gently remove the top layer of twigs and leaves. If you accidentally disturb a hedgehog nest, carefully replace the material. The hedgehog will either repair it or move the nest elsewhere.

If you find young in the nest, avoid touching them. Similarly, if you find a hibernating adult, avoid waking it. If you do, leave some food out for it nearby until it hibernates again.

It's also a good idea to light your fire from one side only. This gives any animals inside a chance to escape out of the other side as the fire begins to grow.

It's looking increasingly damp and unsettled for Saturday night with heavy rain in places so I'm not sure how many fires will light but wrap up warm.