A festival, event or day in the hills can be the reason you come to Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons).
Crickhowell is a good reason to stay.
Set in the Usk Valley at the foot of the southern Black Mountains, Crickhowell is a historic market town with an independent high street, local food and drink, riverside walks and plenty of places to stay nearby.
Whether you are visiting during Green Man weekend, planning a walking break or simply looking for somewhere to slow down, adding another day in Crickhowell gives you time to explore beyond the main event.
Start in the town
Crickhowell is compact enough to explore on foot, with much of its character found along the high street and in the streets around it.
Begin with local information at CRiC, the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre. The centre offers maps, visitor information, local gifts and ideas for exploring the town and surrounding countryside. It also includes a café and the Oriel CRiC Gallery, which hosts changing exhibitions.
Then take your time along the high street.
At Book-ish & Book-ish Café, you can browse an independent bookshop, stop for coffee and food, or look out for literary events. For walking equipment, maps and advice about the surrounding hills, Crickhowell Adventure is a useful stop before heading outdoors.
The best way to experience Crickhowell is without rushing through it. Browse a few shops, pause for coffee and leave enough time for somewhere unexpected to catch your attention.
Discover Crickhowell’s history
Crickhowell’s history can be explored as part of a walk through the town.
The 17th-century bridge over the River Usk is one of its best-known landmarks, with its unusual design and views along the valley. From the bridge, you can continue towards the river or back into the town centre.
St Edmund’s Church is another important part of Crickhowell’s historic character. The Grade II* listed church has a distinctive shingled spire, a medieval cruciform layout and memorials connected with the Pauncefote family.
The remains of Crickhowell Castle stand close to the town centre in Castle Park. Originally a medieval motte-and-bailey fortification, the castle was later strengthened in stone. Its surviving earthworks, defensive remains and adjoining towers offer a glimpse into the town’s medieval past.
The elevated position also gives views across Crickhowell and the Usk Valley.
Make time for the hills
Crickhowell is a practical base for exploring the southern Black Mountains, the Usk Valley and the surrounding countryside.
The area offers a choice of walks, from gentler riverside and canal routes to more demanding hill days. Before setting out, check the route, forecast and ground conditions, and make sure you have the equipment and experience needed for the walk you have chosen.
The Crickhowell Walking Festival takes place each March, bringing walkers together for a programme of guided routes and experiences across the surrounding landscape.
Walking is also a good way to understand the relationship between the town and its setting. The hills are close, but you can still return to Crickhowell for lunch, coffee or an evening meal without needing to plan the whole day around a long drive.
Eat, drink and support local businesses
A longer stay gives you more time to enjoy the local food and drink scene.
The Black Mountains Smokery offers award-winning smoked salmon, meats, cheeses and Welsh artisan produce, with its Crickhowell Smokery Shop providing an opportunity to discover local products to take home.
At Antur Brew Co, you can find small-batch craft beer inspired by Wales, with a taproom and shop at Elvicta Estate.
For a meal, a drink or somewhere to stay in the heart of the town, The Bear Hotel and The Dragon Inn both offer central bases for exploring Crickhowell and the surrounding National Park.
You can browse more BBT food and drink members before you travel, including cafés, pubs, restaurants and local producers across the area.
Stay close to the landscape
Crickhowell and the surrounding villages offer a range of accommodation, from historic inns and hotels to self-catering properties, caravan parks, canal boats and rural retreats.
Beacon Park Boats & Roadhouse Narrow Boats offers luxury narrowboat holidays on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal from its base at Llangattock, just outside Crickhowell.
For estate accommodation, caravan stays, cottages, glamping and seasonal fishing, Glanusk Estate offers a range of ways to stay in the Usk Valley.
You can explore the wider range of BBT accommodation members when planning your visit.
Crickhowell beyond the main event
Green Man may bring people into the area each August, but Crickhowell is not simply a place to stay before or after a festival.
It works as a destination in its own right.
Stay for a walking weekend, a food-focused break, a slower few days in the hills or a short escape built around independent shops, local businesses and time outdoors.
Crickhowell is also a useful base for exploring darker skies. The best locations are further into Bannau Brycheiniog, so you will need to travel beyond the town for the darkest conditions, but Crickhowell gives you a comfortable place to stay while combining an evening in the landscape with food and hospitality in the town.
The mountains will still be there tomorrow.
Plan your Crickhowell visit
Use the Crickhowell page on Bannau Brycheiniog to explore current information about the town, places to visit, accommodation, food and local businesses.
Check opening times before travelling, particularly outside the main season. If you are walking, prepare properly and follow local signs and access guidance. Keep dogs under control and take all rubbish home or use the bins provided.
A festival, event or day in the hills may be what brings you to Crickhowell.
Staying a little longer gives you time to discover the town, support local businesses and experience more of Bannau Brycheiniog at your own pace.
