Article from Brecon Beacons National Park
Last Updated: 22 April 2008 10:31
Beacons Bus
Have a car-free day in the hills and bring your bike too!
In 2008 there is another day added to the service so that it runs from 25th May (Whit Bank Holiday Sunday) until 28th Sept. There are new routes and even more interesting places to go to. Blaenavon and the Big Pit Mining Muzeum is particularly well served. In addition we have moved to the brand new Bus Interchange in Brecon where we hope we will be able to give an even better service.
Access the 2008 timetable and map here or the map on its own here . For a paper copy, send your name and address by email or phone 01873-853254.
What is Beacons Bus?
Beacons Bus is a network of specially commissioned buses that runs from 10 major towns and cities taking you into and around the National Park. Whether you’re planning a trip to the Brecon Beacons or are already here, Beacons Bus is ideal for a car free, stress free day out. It operates every Sunday and Bank Holiday from 25 May - 28 September in 2008.
Go free!
Welsh Senior Citizens (and other Bus Pass users) go free! Just show your pass to the driver.
What can I do with Beacons Bus?
You can get off the bus at a huge variety of places en route or go all the way to Brecon. There you simply hop off one bus and onto the next to get to many great destinations. The Cardiff service carries bikes on an award winning trailer so you can bring your bike too.
Beacons Bus runs from Cardiff via Merthyr, Newport, Hereford, Carmarthen, Swansea via Neath, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Llandrindod Wells and Porthcawl via Pontypridd and Aberdar . It then has services running during the day from Brecon to the Carmarthenshire Gardens, Llangors Lake, Blaenavon, Hay on Wye, along the Canal, to Garwnant Forest, on a Roundabout route into the mountains and around the new Geopark.
"Offa's Dyke Flyer" is linked to Beacons Bus and operates during the same period, taking you from the cultural centre of Hay on Wye down the picturesque Llanthony Valley and then back through Herefordshire to the east of the mountains. You can use it to visit Llanthony Priory, Longtown Castle and a superb collection of churches or to walk Offa's Dyke Path and be taken back to your start by the bus.
"Blaenavon Shuttle" is a new service which takes you from Abergavenny to Bleanavon so you can visit any of the great new places there. The new World Heritage Site Centre at St Peter's, the amazing Blast Furnace being lovingly restored or the Big Pit Mining Muzeum. Or just go for a walk amongst this landscape and imagine how it must have been with women and chuildren toiling away to keep the new industry going.
A day out in the Carmarthenshire Gardens using Beacons Bus has been described by Mike Ash of Treorchy in the magazine section of the Treorchy website which can be accessed here. The NPA has no responsibility for the content of other websites.
Walking Using Beacons Bus
There are loads of walks you can do with Beacons Bus. The joy of the network is that you can walk one way across the mountains or along the canal and pick up the bus at the other end. A new booklet of walks has been published and is available. Ask at Information Centres or the addresses below for a copy.
Train Connections
Train connections are possible at Newport and Hereford.
Feedback and Advice
Once you have had the experience of using Beacons Bus, tell us how you found it with our downloadable survey form. Please return to:
Brecon Beacons NPA, FREEPOST NATW1599, Plas y Ffynnon, Cambrian Way, Brecon, Powys. LD3 7XA.
For advice on Beacons Bus and copies of timetables and other literature contact 01873-853254 from May to August.
For a free copy of Beacons Bus or Offa's Dyke timetables, One Way Walks booklet or Discover/Travel Guides, please email your name and address or visit an Information Centre.
