Easter in Wales

We spent the long Easter weekend down in the Brecon Beacons visiting Den. We had an amazing time visiting relics of the past and walking the hills, with sights of Spring all about us. Be warned - there are quite a few photos in this post!

Crickhowell Castle - just a short walk from Den's house


Big Pit
Big Pit is an old coal mine, kept open to the public as a museum since its closure in the 1980s. A really amazing experience, you get a guided tour underground by ex-miners in bright orange overalls. Bumping your head is all but inevitable! The tour includes the underground stables, where horses would be kept to work in the mines from the age of 4 until they retired at 13, never seeing daylight once for 9 years.


This is the winding engine, used to lower miners and tourists down the mine shaft.

Here is an old 'level' mine, dug sideways into the mountain so no need for a vertical mine shaft.

Up on the moors - some lovely evening skies...

Walking around Crickhowell. To the left of the photo the flat hill is known as 'Table Mountain', with an old prehistoric fort on top.

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

Running close to Den's house is a lovely section of this canal. Perfect for an evening walk...

Table Mountain

The following day we climbed little Table Mountain - actually a very steep ascent!

Nearly there!

And lovely views at the top. Sugarloaf Mountain can be seen in the distance.

And South Wales's highest peak, Pen Y Fan is visible in the distance here. Its still well under 1000m in altitude though!

We then went on a lovely drive through the National Park...

...and finished up with a well-earned Cream Tea at a local hotel, with a buffet of cake and sandwiches...

...and a beautiful view.


Sugarloaf Mountain

The final day we felt up to a challenge so climbed Sugarloaf, actually little more than a pleasant 2 hour stroll but still a lovely walk. Still, this was the first time Den had climbed the mountain despite working at its foot in Abergavenny.

Some of the lanes are tiny!

Llangattock Mountain

Den was keen to show us the mountain overshadowing Crickhowell and Langattock. An ancient area of limestone mining and burning, her family worked in the quarries for several generations. She was born in a house just around the corner from here...

The limestone cliff's are riddled with caves, or 'pot holes'. They form part of Europe's biggest cave system. Not sensible to go exploring unequipped!

These photos show the quarry cliff face and old tram road, along with beautiful views of Crickhowell and Llangattock in the valley below.

Sheep in the hills

The farms in the area are in a gorgeous location. And of course full of new born lambs!