I am trying to get from Cardiff to Brecon Beacons to spend the day on Thursday, April 20th or Friday, April 21st. Tours I have found only go on the weekend. I have looked into bus routes, but it only goes so far and then I think I have to taxi. Is this a good idea?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16221 posts
I know that HF Holidays has a country house at Brecon for walking in the Brecon Beacons. I looked at their suggestions for arrival by public transport. They said to take the train to Abergavenny, and bus X43 from there right to Brecon, about an hour.
https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/country-houses/locations/brecon-beacons
The bus schedule is on Traveline. It looks like there are lots of stops, but you could ask the driver for which you want.
They say a taxi from the train station would be around £40 each way.
Maybe you would like to spend more time than one day and join their 4-day walking holiday there from April 17-21. You can read more about it here:
Or you could just stop by on the 20th or 21st and ask if you could take a look at their Discovery Corner with guidebook and maps to plan your day. And maybe you would be inspired to return for a short holiday there in the future. It is a good organization.
Posted by
OP
Midwest, USA
67 posts
Thank you so much! I will definitely look into that!! I had searched the route on Rome2Rio and dont recall finding this option. I am so happy that I will be able to get there.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16221 posts
I have found that Rome2Rio is not always reliable.
Posted by
OP
Midwest, USA
67 posts
Oh no! Im using Rome2Rio to plan all my connections!! Have you found another option?
Posted by
Lake District, England
5725 posts
The traveline link above is the best way to research.
Rome2 rio is notoriously poor.
Having said that I have just done a sample check on an admittedly complex and bizarre itinerary and even traveline gave me a nonsense answer adding hours onto that sample journey.
But it certainly works for a straightforward and sensible itinerary.
For Wales itself use traveline cymru which as far as I've ever found is infallible, and it even tells you the fares you will pay.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5725 posts
For the long distance bus network (called Traws Cymru) across Wales (bus as opposed to National Express Coach)- see the webiste for the long network. It is an integrated network operated by a number of different companies, so this is quite useful in bringing them all together.
https://traws.cymru/en
It also shows you the various Rover tickets which are available.
Posted by
2403 posts
You could go by train to Merthyr and then from the bus station for Stagecoach bus 35 to Pant (tell driver on boarding that you want the Mountain Railway) and then walk 5 minutes to the Brecon Mountain Railway station. The narrow gauge steam train will take you for a ride into the BB National Park. It terminates at Torpantau where you can either return on the same train or go for a hike and return on a later train (check with Mountain Railway).
.https://www.stagecoachbus.com/routes/south-wales/35/merthyr-tydfil-rhydybedd/xrao035.o
https://www.bmr.wales
The other way you can do it is by Traws Cymru bus T4 from Cardiff to Storey Arms (highest point on main road to Brecon - ask driver to tell you when to get off). From here, you can climb to the top of the BB in about 1 hour 20 minutes but don’t do it in bad weather and by that I mean too hot as well as wet/windy.
Trains > https://www.nationalrail.co.uk
PS. Never use Rome to Rio as they are totally in accurate and have never visited the places for which they give advice. The odds are they are getting commission from websites they link through to.