Dan yr Ogof!!! Yay! I first came here when I was really little, so they really did seem huge and…read moreimpressive then- they still are pretty to me now, and are certainly impressive cave system wise for this little country. It's definitely well aimed at children, with a (not entirely relevant, I'll admit) dinosaur park which has been updated. It could benefit from a bit of funding, but that's the case with most places like this, and they definitely do seem to be putting their profits back in again.

The showcaves at Dan-yr-Ogof are the most spectacular caves I have ever visited. There is the…read moreDan-yr-Ogof cave, the Bronze cave and my favourite the Cathedral cave. The stalagtites are thousands of years old and the lighting really adds to the ambience of the cave. There is a Dinosaur park for the children and you can also camp there too. A great holiday base in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

We should go here... what do you Brecon?…read more I guess you could call BRExit a BRE-con. It was. This is a beautiful old tourist railway that goes through the hills of the Brecon Beacons in the North part of the region. It's one of the many great little trains of Wales, as beautiful as they are well-known. It's great for seeing the Brecon Beacons National Park without driving through the park. Although I love driving through it as well. They have amazingly even imported the locomotives from Latvia and Slovakia, which is pretty awesome. It's one of the Heritage and private Railways in Britain, of which there are many.

Brecon Mountain Railway is a must do for anyone visiting or even living in Wales. Get pulled in a…read morecoach via a vintage steam locomotive through the heart and soul of the Brecon Beacons. When someone says the views are spectacular it always rings a little cheesy to me, but seriously, in this case the Beacons are purely breathtaking. The postcode for a Sat Nav is CF48 2UP. But make sure that this takes you to the main station at Pant and not to Pontsticill Located just off the Heads of the Valleys trunk road - about 3 miles north of Merthyr Tydfil. Follow the Mountain Railway signs from the A470 and A465 and arrive in the large free car and coach park, which is extremely useful for potching during the evening hours. The car park has hosted a vast amount of affairs and one night stands over the years. At Pontsticill you can hop off the train and visit the Cafe, check out the view across the water to the peaks of the Brecon Beacons, and go for a little ramble alongside the reservoir. There is a pretty impressive play area here for the kids too so your guaranteed to relax for at least ten minutes. On your return to Pant (Yes, it is a great name, isn't it?), visit the workshop where old steam locomotives are repaired or follow the footpath to a proper picnic site which has even more panoramic views of the valley, or do both! All in all a lovely family activity or even just a nice chill out session if you fancy some 'time out.' You really do feel like you've entered another world. Well worth a scout.

This is just such a beautiful walk, especially in the winter after some rain when the falls flow…read morewith such gusto. The waterfalls are amazing and the damp drippy green valley a wonder to walk along. There are pools which are fun to play in in summer. Sgwd Gwladys (Gwladys' waterfall) is about a kilometer from the car park I believe. There is a pub, and there are clean public toilets near the car park. Take sturdy boots if walking in winter as the path can be muddy. Not suitable for wheelchairs.

It's quite amazing to see just how many waterfalls are along this route as you follow the path…read morebeside the river into the wilds. The best place to start the walk is next to the Angel Inn at Pontneddfechan where there is a rocky path which leads you through the woods alongside the River Nedd Fechan. You will need to allow a good hour in both directions and the path is uneven and even dangerous when wet and slippery, so not suitable for everyone (there are several warning signs) and sturdy shoes are a must. You pass an old mill and the entrance to a disused silica mine. Further along, the Nedd Fechan and Pyrddin meet and the path now borders the Pyrddin. The first waterfall to see is the Sgwd Gwladys, a lovely sight. It's possible to climb behind the falls as well though I haven't done this myself! Further along you'll come to more waterfalls including the Horseshoe Falls and the Lower and Upper Ddwli Falls. There are lovely views everywhere of the falls and trees overhanging the river. Well worth a visit.

Again, off the beaten track Bryn Bach Park really is a park worth visiting. To walk around the lake…read morewhich is around a mile and quarter, with new paths and a heap of wildlife, is really quite a treat in this normal industrial area. I take my dogs here who have to be kept on a lead and you obviously have to pick their little packages up, but you don't mind because your keeping this idyllic place perfect. You can hire bikes and carts here for mere money and there's always loads of people skating. Its like Tredegar's answer to Venice Beach! There's paths that go off from the main lake walkway and I'm told you can wander as far as Blackwood if you're brave enough. Also, along the walkways there are loads of exercising points that are suitable for the elderly, the young, the fit and the out of shape. Handy little pit stops were Blaenau Gwent Council's idea of helping the borough get fitter! There's always loads going on here. As well as caravan and camp site, there's options to go water skiing, canoeing or just rowing. The log cabin that's pretty much in the middle of the park offers meals and snacks which are incredibly low priced and pretty delicious. There's three large car parks but be warned if it's hot the whole place is busy so you may just have to use the road outside BE CAREFUL though, that road is pretty busy. There's a nice large play area for children so after letting them ride round the lake on what ever contraption you feel best, let them really tire themselves out in the park while you have an ice cream and veg on the benches. Be warned after a certain time (5 in the winter 9 in the summer) gates will be closed so if you turn up late make sure to park outside the park. I'd recomend this park for a picnic and a wander!

Perfect place for a stroll on a Sunday morning, its about a mile round the lake with flat terrain,…read morethere's also a visitors centre with a cafe, toilets and plenty of parking. The park is very exposed and can be quite breezy even on a moderate day also paths get a bit icy in the winter months.

Growing up, one of my favorite games to play was the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and this…read morecastle had me feeling like I was in the castle from my childhood. Though the site is now a ruin, thanks to the placards posted everywhere, you could easily picture what rooms and places around the castle keep looked like back in it's heyday. From the square where vendors would set up to sell goods, to the staircase where the royals would walk down in order of importance, it was a very fun set of ruins. Of the many castle ruins I've been to, this would easily be my favorite I've ever been to. The overall castle grounds were kept in excellent condition as well. Nothing was overgrown and my 80 year old grandma was able to easily traverse the entire ruin. The highlight was definitely climbing up to the highest point of the ruins, giving you a glimpse of the entire castle from atop a tower. If you're driving through or even by the castle, I would highly reccomend making your way over to spend an hour or two at these castle ruins. You'll feel like you're in a fairytale!

Raglan Castle on our UK itinerary is a prime reason for us booking time in nearby Cardiff. For us,…read morehaving a family lineage that traces back to William Herbert, a castle resident in the 1500s was a particular draw. GETTING THERE My pre-trip research identified at least 4 ways to get here, and I found the options confusing to say the least. Having made the trek from Cardiff, hopefully these directions will be helpful. Do take a train from Cardiff Central rail station. Select the Nottingham line, on which Newport is the first stop and where you will get off the train. I think we paid 5.40 pounds for round trip train fare. In Newport, you'll next need to navigate to the bus station to catch bus 60. From Newport train station, you'll walk to the city center to your left and walk down through a few streets towards the old city center. Within a few blocks is the bus station and there are some signs to point the way. Note that there are two stations. The local city bus station will NOT get you to Raglan. Walk down a block to find Newport Bus terminal as this is where you will catch bus 60. Here we paid 8.30 pounds for an all day bus fare and you need exact fare. The castle website said to get off at the Monmouth Road bus stop, which is technically correct, but our bus driver had no clue of that stop name nor the castle. Since this bus route has as its final stop a Monmouth proper stop, you do NOT want to go that far as that is another 18 minutes by bus past the small village of Raglan. Do get off in Raglan village (and yes, this is technically the Monmouth Road stop, though your bus driver might not refer to it as such). Catty corner from your stop, you should find a map on a placard across the street from the St. Cadoc's church. This should help you navigate to the castle. You'll walk up Castle Street, cross a highway, and then be on the driveway to the castle. The castle absolutely exceeded expectations. We spent nearly three hours strolling the grounds. Lots of placards that explained the various areas and history of the castle. There is a moat too. So many elements here even though the structure is in ruins: kitchens, cellars, dining quarters, chapel, tower, etc The ruins were beautiful and one can imagine how glamorous it was during its day. This is a self guided visit. Given you will be outdoors for the visit, I suspect visited on a non rainy day would be optimal. Our fortunes were such the day of our visit even though the forecast called for 40% chance of rain. There is a gift shop on premises which carries a number of books offering greater insight into this castle as well as general castle life.

Situated right in the heart of the Brecon Beacons' glorious countryside, this is a reasonably sized…read morevisitor centre. Turning left (northbound) from the main road through the park, you cross over between two reservoirs and find yourself in a wooded area with pine needles strewn across the floor. The Visitor Centre offers good information on the geography, history and wildlife found in the park, and is a great place to bring children. This is a popular place for tourism and school trips: so be warned. Perhaps go on a week day. But all the attention means that the staff really know their stuff. Any question on the park should be met with good answers. They also have a good amount of information of activities, events and walks that can be experienced, and also about the Taff Trail and camping grounds. There is a small tearoom and several gift items to purchase. Perhaps this visitor centre isn't worth the drive by itself, but it's a great springboard into the rest of the park. Stop here before you start you major explorations.

This is my favourite campsite in the world…read more The owners are lovely and there's a real sense of community about the place. Perfect for exploring the Brecon Beacons.

Clean Showers, plenty of room, nicely maintained, peaceful and ideal for exploring the surrounding…read moreBeacon Mountains. Ideally I'd like to see a small farm shop because it's a lengthy walk when you run out of milk first thing in the morning, but if you're cycling or have the car you're just a few miles from the lovely little market town of Abergavenny with everything you could want in terms of food and entertainment. You can book over the internet or phone the owners who are really helpful and nice managing to give the campsite an almost homely feel. The best part about this site is the relaxed atmosphere no on-site nightclub thank goodness!

Storey Arms is probably the best situated Education facility you can get. Its right at the base of…read morethe South Wales' highest mountain Pen Y Fan and on the doorstep of so much natural beauty and outdoor actives. The centre itself is actually owned by Cardiff Council and is used to host school trips and such for people in that area. It does offer programmes too for groups outside this area lasting from weekends to a full week. You can expect canoeing, climbing, walking, orienting and more. Bed for up to 46 beds.