Crickhowell is in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (formerly Brecon Beacons National Park). From here, walks can take you to Table Mountain or the Brecon and Monmouth Canal. There are also historic sites in the town and the surrounding area. You can plan your stay around your interests, with walks of varying difficulty, local history, or activities such as cycling and canoeing.
Walking, Cycling and Canoeing
Crickhowell’s Walkers are Welcome team has compiled a range of walks in brochures. The difficulty levels range from easy and moderate to challenging and very challenging. This classification helps you choose a route to suit your plans. Walks from Crickhowell can reach Table Mountain; others lead to the Brecon and Monmouth Canal.
CRiC holds an annual walking festival in early March. Dates may vary from year to year, so it is worth checking them for your trip. Cycling is also popular in and around Crickhowell; check route conditions before setting off. Canoe trips can be booked and enjoyed locally. Check current providers before your trip.
History in Crickhowell and the Surrounding Area
St Edmund’s Church was founded in 1303 and is the only church in Wales dedicated to St Edmund. The church contains memorials to Lady Sybil and her husband, Sir Grimbald. Crickhowell Castle tells a different chapter in the town’s history: the original Norman motte and bailey was fortified with stone from the late 13th to the early 14th century. By the 15th century, Crickhowell Castle was no longer in use and was subsequently plundered for stone. Traces of a shell keep have been identified on the summit of the oval motte. Crickhowell Bridge was rebuilt in 1706.
Tretower Court and Castle lies five kilometres northwest of Crickhowell. The nearby complex includes a castle, a court, a large barn, and a reconstructed medieval garden. This adds more varied historic buildings and a reconstructed medieval garden to the historic sites in Crickhowell.
Local Produce and Getting Your Bearings
Local shops on the High Street sell goods and produce from the region. As individual shops and their stock can change, the selection available locally may not always be the same. CRiC sells maps, guidebooks, and publications to visitors; check current services before your trip.
Getting There and Planning Your Stay
The nearest railway station with long-distance connections to Crickhowell is Abergavenny. From there, the drive to Crickhowell takes about 20 minutes by car or taxi, depending on traffic. Regular buses run between Abergavenny, Crickhowell, and Brecon. If you plan to use the bus, check current routes and timetables before your trip. This information can help you factor in your journey and excursions when looking for a hotel in Crickhowell.
Discover more destinations: Hay-On-Wye, Llanymynech, Llandysilio, Pen-y-bont, Carno, Llangynidr, New Radnor, Llanfair Caereinion.
For the main travel overview: Powys.
