The Brecon Beacons are a dramatic mountain range in South Wales and include the highest mountain in the area Pen y Fan, famously used for military selection. Central to the Brecon Beacons National Park, they lend their name to a much wider area, including other mountain ranges and towns. The perfect place for outdoorsy types, you can hike for miles, cycle, ride and kayak. The list is endless. Beautiful whatever the weather, you will always find a new place to explore in the Beacons, with natural caves and old industrial mines that pay tribute to the area’s cultural heritage. The National Park is also a stargazing paradise as it is home to one of a handful of International Dark Sky Reserves. It is possible to see almost all the star constellations on a clear night and if you are lucky enough, you might even see the Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights. Enveloped by a multitude of patchwork quilt fields, the cathedral town of Brecon has lots to offer visitors with pretty boutiques, art galleries and cafes as well being the perfect place to showcase the spectacular mountains all around. Famous for its food festivals, try to go when one of these are taking place and whilst there, take the opportunity to visit other places of interest in the region such as the market town of Abergavenny or further south, the cities of Swansea, Newport and Cardiff.