to Swansea. BRECON. 27. Route. 215
an appropriate tablet. The Priory Walk, on the Honddu, and the
Captain's Walk, on the Usk, are two pleasantly shaded promenades.
An admirable view of Brecon and the Beacons is obtained from the top
of Pen-y-Crug, a hill li/z M. to the N.W. of the town. To reach it we turn
to the right beyond the Castle Hotel and pass the (]/4 M.) Cemetery: About
'/2 M. farther on, a little beyond the milestone, we take a path leading
across a field to Pen-y-Crug Farm; passing through the farm-yard, we
reach the open hillside and in 10 min. more gain the top, where there
are distinct remains of an ancient camp. — Another good point of view
is Slwch Tump, on the E. side of the town, reached by following Free
St. from the station and passing under the line.
Another pleasant object for a short walk is afforded by the Frwdgrech
Waterfalls. We cross the Llanfaes Bridge (p. 214), at the S. end of the
town, and continue in a straight direction, along the Llandovery Road
to (V3 M.) a point where the road forks. We turn to the left and beyond
(2/3 M.) Frwdgrech Lodge (on the left) cross a bridge, on the other side
of which are three roads. We follow that in the centre and reach (•/« M.)
the bridge crossing the stream which forms the falls, one immediately
below and the other a little above the bridge. The falls are small, but
their setting is pretty.
The twin peaks of the 'Brecknock or Brecon Beacons, rising 5 M. to
the S. of Brecon, are the highest peaks in S. Wales, and among the most
gracefully-shaped mountains in the kingdom. The direct route from Brecon
to the top takes walkers 3-4 hrs., but driving is practicable to Blaengwdi
Farm (see below). As far as (IV4 M.) the bridge beyond Frwdgrech Lodge,
see above. Here we take the road to the left and ascend to (IV2 M.)
Blaengwdi Farm. Beyond the farm we turn to the right, and 1fi M. far¬
ther on follow a narrow lane to the left, which brings us to the W. part
of a shoulder extending to the (l'/a-2 hrs.) top of "Pen-y-Fan (2910 ft.), the
loftier peak. — An alternative route from Brecon leads to tbe left at the
turnpike-gate, */3 M. beyond the Llanfaes Bridge (p. 214), and follows the
highroad to (2'/2 M.) Pant Farm, beyond which we turn to the right. —
Many, however, prefer to ascend from (14 M.) Torpantau, a station on the
line to Merthyr (see p. 201), on the S. side of the Beacons, and to descend
by one of the above routes. The Beacons, however, do not show to advan¬
tage from the S., and the pleasantest part of this route is the descent. —
The 'View from the top includes the Black Mts. on the E., the Carmarthen
Van on the W., and the Valley of the Usk and Llangorse Pool to the N.
Among other points for easy excursions from Brecon are (6 M.) Llan¬
gorse Pool (p. 214), a great resort of anglers; Y Caer Bannau, the old
Roman camp of Bannium, 2>/2 M. to the W.; and (9 M.) Bwlch, reached by
a beautiful walk or drive through the Usk valley, or from (7 M.) Taly-
bonl station, on the Merthyr line (p. 204).
As the train leaves Brecon we have another beautiful view of
the Beacons and the Usk. 40</2 M. Cradoc, 3/4 M. to the N. of Y
Caer Bannau (see above) ; 42 M. Aberbran. — 4672 M. Devynock
(Usk and Railway; Pont Senny), a pleasantly situated village, at the
confluence of the Senny and the Usk.
A drive, traversing some of the prettiest scenery in South Wales, and
passing from the valley of the Usk to that of the Towy, may be taken from
Devynock to (12'/2 M.) Llandovery (p. 216), but there is no public con¬
veyance. 3 M. Trecastle (Black Horse; Three Horseshoes). Farther on, the
road winds through the romantic pass of Cwm Dwr, and near Llandovery
it crosses the little river Bran.
The train now turns to the S. and begins to ascend through a
bleak and wild valley. The Carmarthen Van rises to the right. Just
beyond (56l/2 M.) Penwyllt, in the valley below us to tbe right,
lies Craig-y-Nos, long the Welsh home of Adelina Patti (BaronesB
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