3-star hotels in Brecon

Brecon is a town on the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, now called Bannau Brycheiniog, which surrounds it to the south and west. Visitors come for the cathedral, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, the annual Brecon Jazz Festival in August, and for hiking, cycling, canoeing and fishing in the national park. The town has a theatre, a cinema, historical sites, and a variety of restaurants, cafes and pubs, many using locally sourced ingredients.

All 12 rooms on this shortlist sit at the same address, Pen Y Cae Inn on Brecon Road in Pen Y Cae, 24.9 km from the centre of Brecon. That places them outside the town centre, Llanfaes, Groesffordd and Cradoc areas described for Brecon itself, in a roadside setting where having a car is practical. Every room is a 3-star suite with air conditioning, a bathroom, free Wifi, free car parking and a TV, and the inn has a restaurant. It suits couples and small groups on a short break who want to eat and park on site and drive out to the national park.

Getting there and around

Brecon is reached by road via the A40 from Abergavenny and the A470 from Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil. The nearest railway stations are in Abergavenny, Merthyr Tydfil and Llandovery, with bus connections on to Brecon, and regular bus services run within the town and to surrounding villages. Driving is the most convenient way to explore the national park, though parking in the town centre can be limited. Once in Brecon, many attractions are within walking distance, and local buses reach popular trailheads.

When to go

Spring and summer give longer daylight hours for outdoor activities, with mild temperatures. The Brecon Jazz Festival takes place in August and draws crowds. Autumn brings colour to the national park, while winter can be cold and wet, with occasional snow on higher ground. For a quieter visit, late spring or early autumn is the better bet.