Gilfach

Ready to tackle Pen y Fan (20 minutes’ drive)? There are several trails to the summit, and you can let your fitness levels decide which one you choose, whether the easy route, which starts about halfway up the mountain, or the challenging eight-mile climb past Llyn Cwm Llwch lake, where you can stop for a dip or a paddle. At the Red Kite Feeding Station (20 minutes) in Llanddeusant, visitors watch from a hide as dozens of birds of prey (not just red kites, but also buzzards and ravens) swoop down catching their lunch in mid-flight. It’s a pretty awesome (and noisy) sight. The Brecon Mountain Railway (35 minutes) is a heritage line that takes you on a five-mile journey from Pant (just north of Merthyr Tydfil), past the Pontsticill Reservoir, to Torpantau, in the Brecon Beacons. While you wait for the train, you can devour a scone (or some traditional Welsh bara brith bread) in the tea room at Pant station.