Camping Brecon Beacons at Cwmdu Camp and Caravan Site

Walking

With its forgiving safe terrain, the Black Mountains forms one of the main training and assessment areas for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in the UK. If you're a keen outdoors person you will undoubtedly see young people making their expeditions, but there is walking here for everyone, no matter what their aptitude or ability.
 
Its just a mile down the green lane, track, to the finest Tudor manor house and old Norman castle in Wales.  Tretower will justify an afternoon soaking up the rich history of the locality; Cadw, the Welsh conservation body, have excelled themselves with the renovation of this site… small wonder that it has been a very popular venue for all manner of film sets, involving household names such as Jonny Depp.
 
Another public footpath leads away from the site to the top of our local mountain, a hour's walk for the energetic, longer if you linger to appreciate the wildlife and take in the  spectacular views.  Somewhat less strenuous are the lower elevations of the hill opposite - Pentir and Mynydd Llangorse. The routes are well signed and no matter how long you are out and about you know you will find a welcome stop at the Farmers Arms on return. Its only 300m from the pub back to the site, a very easy amble on a quiet road.
 
Whatever your interest in the countryside be assured that all needs are catered for.
You'll find interesting walks in all directions. If the cloud base is low there are superb rambles at any number of venues… the following is but a small sample. Find out more at the reception where there are leaflets outlining a variety of rambles and points of interest.

MAPS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE SITE SHOP

Favourite Walks

Pen y Fan - Central Brecon Beacons

Pen y Fan, as the highest peak, is the honeypot and a good steady trail - suitable for just about all comers on a good day -  leads to the top from Storey Arms (30 minute drive). However this area has an absolute wealth of other, lesser travelled paths. An easy route of about 40 minutes ascent, with arguably the most scenic view of the Beacons,  is that to the summit of Tor y Foel just 15 minutes drive away at Talybont. In the same area there are leisurely walks around Talybont reservoir and at the head of the valley a lovely family walk to the waterfall at "Blaen y Glyn".
 

Crickhowell and the Black Mountains

 Less than 10 minutes drive from camp is the steady 45 minute amble up the Table Mountain at Crickhowell.  This ancient hill fort provides superb views of the Usk Valley, across the lower elevations of the Black Mountains and away to the main peaks of the Brecon Beacons.

Also approached from Crickhowell is the Craig y Cilau National Nature Reserve. This is one of Wales best kept secrets. There are various ways of entering the reserve, some more strenuous than others, but here you can view long abandoned quarries and other  interesting relics of the industrial revolution, mysterious caves and a wealth of flora and fauna - things that will prove fascinating to the whole family.

Nearby lies the Sugar Loaf, approached from a variety of car parks. Its an hour's strole to the top from the car park approached from the Lamb and Flag public house, near Abergavenny.  15 minute drive.

Clydach Gorge - Our Industrial Heritage

Some 15 - 20 minutes drive south of Cwmdu lies the Clydach Gorge, Gilwern Hill and the Blorenge. At each of these there are walks to suit all interests. There are breathtaking tramroads and a cycle-way clinging to the sides of the Clydach Gorge and parking near the Lamb and Fox public house you can walk around the circumference of Gilwern Hill in just a couple of hours. A wealth of other tram roads such as Brinoer Tramroad, starting at Trefil, lead through stunning scenery  to terminate at Talybont.  
 
Further afield lie the Carmarthen Fans where after a 45 min drive one can tackle the famous Fan Hir ridge and the less trodden paths that make this area feel particularly remote.  This and the other summits of the Fans is a lively day out viewing the Llyn y Fan lakes in their glorious solitude. You'll be lucky to see any walkers in this area. Its way off the beaten track and your more likely to sight a once endangered a red kite than any people.