Travel Information - How to Get Here

Public Transport in Rural Wales is fairly limited as regards routes and times. If you intend to rely on public transport it is advisable to plan your itinerary carefully. This page will help point you in the right direction. As always the Tourist Information Offices are the most useful source for up to date information.

      Tourist Information Offices    
      Wales Tourist Board

The Freedom of Wales Flexi Pass is one ticket of that offers the visitor unlimited access to the bus and train services in Wales.  It also incorporates a range of other benefits such as two for one entry or discounted admission to many of Wales biggest tourist attractions. purchase online at Freedom of Wales Flexi Pass

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Multi Media Mapping.

• Stagecoach Red & White -
  Routes:
  Merthyr Tydfil to Pontsticill;
  Brecon to Hay on Wye to Hereford Route;
  Brecon - Abergavenny - Newport - London;  Brecon Town Service;
  Brecon - Ystradgynlais - Swansea; Brecon - Merthyr Tydfil - Cardiff; 
  Contact1, St.David's Rd., Cwmbran Gwent NP44 1PD
  Tel: +44 (01633) 266336 +44 (01874) -622859 +44 (01685) 385539
   
• First Cymru Co.Ltd, Station Square, Neath, West Glamorgan, SA11 1BY  Tel: 01639 642261
  Tawe Terrace Pontardawe, Swansea West Glamorgan SA8 4HA    Tel:01792 863131
  Heol Gwyrosydd Penlan Swansea West Glamorgan SA5 7BN       Tel: 01792 582233
   
• Shamrock Coaches: 
  Merthyr Tydfil - Pontsticill route
  Tel. +44 (01443) 409966
   
• Sixty Sixty Coaches:
  Brecon - Ystradgynlais - Swansea;  
  Tel +44 (01685) 386060
   
• PLEASE CONTACT THE ABOVE BUS COMPANIES AS ROUTES AND TIMETABLES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

• National Express run daily services to Newport, Cardiff and Swansea which connect to local bus and rail services into the Brecon Beacons National Park. Rural transport tends to be quite limited and it is best to make more detailed enquiries but generally speaking:.
  
  Cardiff via Merthyr Tydfil offers the best onwards travel links  to the Central Beacons and Brecon;  
  
  Swansea the best onwards links for the communities in the West of the Brecon Beacons (known as the Black Mountain not to be confused with the Black Mountains in the east);
   
• Newport via Abergavenny the best onwards link for the Black Mountains in the east of the  Brecon Beacons National Park.
   
• There are excellent high speed rail and coach links to South Wales from Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.
   
• Shaggy Sheep www.shaggysheep.com also operate a touring service to the Brecon Beacons from London and Cardiff.

• Shaggy Sheep www.shaggysheep.com also operate a touring service to the Brecon Beacons from London and Cardiff.
  

  Beacons Discovery Tours offer tours of great use to people who don't want to hire a car and/or want to visit the more remote areas like the Llanthony Valley or the heart of the Beacons (Talybont Reservoir etc.) They can  pick people up from Abergavenny bus and rail stations making it easier for those using public transport (especially the older visitors and foreign tourists coming from the Cardiff or Newport directions). This summer they are also running a series of weekly tours in partnership with Beacons Bus on Sundays and the National Park Mountain Centre on Tuesdays Contact Dave Morgan Beacons Discovery Tours, Glebe Farmhouse Llanbedr Crickhowell Powys NP8 1SR Tel 01873 812057 or 812144 BeaconTour@aol.com

• It is worth noting that the Brecon Beacons is a rural mountain locality and you should adjust your driving accordingly:

• i.e. take even more care and go slower particularly on narrow country roads. In particular please note:   

• Many roads in the Brecon Beacons will take you through quiet villages where the elderly, young children and animals are likely to be less traffic wise and may not expect to meet much traffic. The message is GO SLOW you don't know when you'll meet people who are not expecting much traffic.
   

• This is a walking and farming area. It is very likely that you will encounter unexpectedly walking groups on the side of the road or farmers moving animals. The message is GO SLOW you don't know what's round that next corner.
   

• many main roads will have sections of modernised straight road followed by a sudden narrow section with unexpected bends.  The message is GO SLOW you don't know when you'll meet a corner sharper than anticipated particularly at night when the road is difficult to read.
   

• Many rural roads leading to remote locations, farms or small villages will be single track The message is GO SLOW so that you can stop if you meet a car coming towards you but hidden round the next bend - in fact it is advisable to drive slowly enough to allow for the fact the other driver may be going too fast! In particular hedgerows  a common feature of our chequerboard countryside hide the vehicle coming towards you. Hedgerows can be deceiving - you think you can see over the hedge whilst driving but usually the other vehicle is hidden from sight.
   

• Visitors from abroad should consult a driving organisation or their travel agent for more detailed advice on driving on British roads. In the UK driving is on the left of the road not the right. 
  Royal Automobile Ass.   Automobile Association
   

• You may encounter wild animals attempting to cross the road - it can be dangerous to swerve to avoid them The message is GO SLOW  to give them a sporting chance..
   

• Information on Traffic conditions including any congestion available online from South Wales Regional Traffic Control Centre  or from their information line 0845 6026020 for the very latest traffic and road user information for travel to, from and within Wales. m4ntais@wsatkins.co.uk  WAP wap.traffic-wales.com

• If you are travelling to South Wales by railway there are two railway stations in particular which offer good access into the Brecon Beacons National Park. Merthyr Tydfil (connection from Cardiff) and Abergavenny (connection from Newport, Hereford, or Shrewsbury.
• From both railway stations it is possible to venture further into the National Park by connecting with buses. It is also possible to undertake a number of walks into the national park from both of these towns.
• The Valley Lines Railway - Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil.    
  
  Manchester to South Wales Line - Abergavenny Station
  
  National Rail Information    Great Western Line

The Valley Lines Railway Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil.

This railway company offers you a day ranger ticket to explore the Brecon Beacons National Park .When taking a train to Merthyr Tydfil mouse fitted for all and connect to a bus to Brecon . Brecon . . The bus route to Brecon takes you through some of the finest landscape in the National Park. A seat on the right-hand side of the bus will offer fine views of Pen Y Fan. On the return journey it offers equally fine views of three reservoirs. It is possible to get off the bus at the Storey Arms and walk to the top of Pen y Fan which offers tremendous views of Brecon in the North and on a clear day the Bristol Channel and Swansea Bay to the south. National Rail enquiries: 0345 484950.

For further information on Valley Lines Tel 02920-231978 or 02920-882148

The Manchester to South Wales Line: Abergavenny Railway Station

"Taking  a trip up to Abergavenny" the big hit for Marty Wilde in the 1960's may not have mentioned Abergavenny Railway Station but it is well worth noting as a stopping off place for the Black Mountains in the east of the Brecon Beacons National Park. London connections can be made at Bristol or Newport

• National Rail Information:

• Railway Travel in the United Kingdom Information Online

• the train line

• Rail Tickets and Timetables

• Great Western Line: 
  London - Bath - Bristol- Newport - Cardiff - Swansea - Fishguard - Ireland
  National Rail Enquiries: 08457 484 950. http://www.alphaline.co.uk