Beacons Bus is back!

Have a car-free day in the hills and bring your bike too!

Beacons Bus runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays in the summer months from all sorts of places in South Wales and Herefordshire taking you up into the National Park to return that evening.

This year the service runs from 24th May - 27th September.

Click on this link to view the 2009 timetable and map online and for a paper copy, send your name and address by email or phone 01873-853254.

PLEASE NOTE THAT BEACONS BUS OPERATES FROM THE BUS INTERCHANGE IN BRECON, ADJACENT TO THE LONG STAY CAR PARK ON HEOL GOUESNOU (near Morrisons supermarket). The nearest toilets are situated in the Market Tavern pub and Morrisons supermarket until the public toilets in the centre of Brecon reopen later this summer.

Happy Birthday Beacons Bus!

Beacons Bus is 10 years old this year! Come and join the party! Cafes, tearooms, pubs and attractions along the routes are offering passengers special discounts. Just ask for a leaflet when you're on the bus.

What is Beacons Bus?

Beacons Bus is a network of specially commissioned buses that runs from major towns and cities bringing you into Brecon in the morning. The buses then run on various routes around the National Park before returning home via Brecon at the end of the day. 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 24th May - 27th September in 2009.

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 and Porthcawl via Pontypridd and Aberdare. It then has services running during the day from Brecon to the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llangors Lake, Hay on Wye, along the Canal, to Garwnant Forest, on a Roundabout route into the mountains and around the new Geopark (service B13) - during the Geopark Festival (24th May-7th June) there will be an on-board guide to introduce you to the area.

The 11.15am and 1.40pm B16 Roundabout services also have guides on-board who’ll point out places of interest as you travel along.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is offering half price entry to Beacons Bus passengers in 2009. Just show your bus ticket.

"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.

B16 service - Please note that Garwnant is being redeveloped and the new centre is due to open in July. Until then the picnic areas, woodlands walks and cycle route are open but there are no toilets, food or information facilities.

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 booklet of walks using Beacons Bus is available from Information Centres or the address below.

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.