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Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Hay-on-Wye, Medieval and Industrial Heritage

Showcasing the heart of South Wales, blending stunning mountain scenery, historic ruins, and industrial heritage.

We may be more expensive than our competition, but hey, you get what you pay for! We only deliver small group tours with a maximum of seven clients, and your guide is a long-standing, highly regarded, fully qualified Mountain Leader and Tourist Guide for Wales.

This full-day guided drive from Cardiff offers a perfect blend of Welsh culture, scenery, and history. Pick up at the National Museum Cardiff, then head north to the Brecon Beacons National Park Visitor Centre for coffee and breathtaking mountain views. Continue to the charming book town of Hay-on-Wye, where you can browse independent shops and enjoy lunch before following the dramatic Gospel Pass through the Black Mountains—one of Wales’s most scenic drives. Discover the peaceful ruins of Llanthony Priory, then explore the medieval White Castle, surrounded by rolling farmland. End the day in Blaenavon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Ironworks and Big Pit National Coal Museum reveal the powerful story of Wales’s industrial past. This 9-hour journey showcases the heart and heritage of South Wales, from wild mountain beauty to world-changing history. See this tour's itinerary.

We will visit spots with the most astounding views and many interesting features on our journey. You will be able to spend time with the guide at each location, as they walk and talk about Wales, its history and culture or you are free to self-explore. We will return to Cardiff around 6.30pm, and likely a little earlier.

You will travel in a modern and luxurious fully electric vehicle, limited to a maximum of seven passengers, in the company of your driver guide, Andy, who is a Mountain Leader and a Green Badged Tourist Guide, an ambassador for many areas of Wales and a Visit Wales Pro. Oh, and amongst other things, tourism and adventure, he’s also been chair of Brecon Beacons Tourism and a Brecon Beacons National Park Warden.

Know Before You Go

This tour will take place rain or shine
There is a small amount of outdoor walking

Please note

Sometimes attractions are closed for maintenance or filming. We will, in these rare instances, offer an alternative stop of similar interest.

What's Included

Driver/Guide
Air conditioned vehicle
Small group tour
Free wifi in the vehicle

What do I need to bring?

Walking Boots or Walking Shoes
Waterproof Jacket and Trousers
Warm Layers

Duration

9 hours

Difficulty

Easy

Questions?

Exclusions

Tip or gratuity
Food & drinks
Optional entry Blaenavon Ironworks at £8 pp

Cancellation policy

Bookings are non-refundable. All sales are final. You can purchase cancellation insurance for this product in the checkout.

We Tour...

Brecon Beacons landscapes, Hay on Wye book town and Norman and Industrial heritage

Meeting Point

National Museum Cardiff

Departure

9.30 AM

Tour the Brecon Beacons From Cardiff

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National Museum Cardiff

Pick up from the museum steps in a Luxury fully electric 8-seater vehicle, individual seats with a panoramic roof with an 0930 prompt start.

Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park Visitor Centre

Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) Visitor Centre, near Libanus in South Wales, is the perfect starting point for exploring one of Britain’s most beautiful and wild landscapes. Set against sweeping views of Pen y Fan—the park’s highest peak—the centre offers exhibits about the area’s history, wildlife, and legends. Visitors can relax with tea and homemade cakes in the café and soak up panoramic vistas that capture the heart of Wales. It’s an ideal stop for anyone wanting to experience authentic Welsh countryside.

Hay-on-Wye

Hay-on-Wye, nestled on the edge of the Brecon Beacons in Wales, is a charming market town famous as the “Town of Books.” Its narrow lanes are lined with over 30 quirky independent bookshops, antique stores, and cozy cafés—perfect for wandering and browsing. Overlooked by a medieval castle and surrounded by lush countryside, Hay-on-Wye blends literary culture with small-town charm. Here you will be able to stroll at your leisure and have some lunch.

Hay Bluff and Gospel Pass

Scenic Drive taking in Hay Bluff and Gospel Pass on a beautiful mountain road, the landscape used in the opening scenes of American Werewolf in London film (total drive time 40 min).

Hay Bluff and Gospel Pass offer one of the most breathtaking drives in Wales, with sweeping mountain scenery and panoramic views that stretch across the English border. As the highest road pass in Wales, Gospel Pass winds through open moorland dotted with wild ponies and sheep, descending from the dramatic slopes of Hay Bluff. On a clear day, the vistas are spectacular—rolling green hills, deep valleys, and a true sense of wild Welsh beauty. It’s an unforgettable scenic route.

Llanthony Priory

Tucked deep in the secluded Vale of Ewyas in the Black Mountains, is one of Wales’s most atmospheric historic sites. The hauntingly beautiful ruins of this 12th-century Augustinian priory rise dramatically against a backdrop of green hills and grazing sheep, offering a glimpse into monastic life nearly a thousand years ago. Visitors can wander among the arches and cloisters and take stunning photos. It’s a peaceful, evocative stop that captures the timeless spirit of rural Wales.

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White Castle

White Castle, near Abergavenny in South Wales, is a wonderfully preserved Norman fortress that feels like a hidden gem in the countryside. Surrounded by a deep, grassy moat and rolling farmland, the castle’s thick stone walls and towers invite exploration and great photo opportunities. Visitors can climb the ramparts for sweeping views of the Monnow Valley and imagine the centuries of history that unfolded here. Peaceful, uncrowded, and atmospheric, White Castle offers an authentic taste of medieval Wales.

Blaenavon Iron Works and National Coal Museum (Big Pit)

Blaenavon Ironworks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Wales, offers a fascinating glimpse into the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Set amid striking stone furnaces and workers’ cottages, the site vividly brings to life the 19th-century ironmaking that helped shape modern industry. Visitors can step inside the preserved ironworks, explore the homes of the ironworkers, and enjoy interactive displays that make history come alive. You can experience one of Wales’s most important historic landmarks and feel the powerful story of innovation and hard work that changed the world. Big Pit National Coal Museum, is an award-winning museum set in a real former coal mine.

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