10 Best Places to go Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons

1. Usk Reservoir

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As well as outstanding dark skies, the car park area at Usk is a beautiful place to have a family picnic. Easily accessible, the large flat area is perfect for setting up telescopes and is protected from the light pollution of the South Wales Valleys, with a limiting magnitude of 6.4.

2. Crai Reservoir

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Not as accessible as Usk; Take a short drive down the access lane to set up your telescope and enjoy stargazing down to a limiting magnitude of 6.37. Laybys along the A4607 also provide ideal places to enjoy the beautiful dark skies.

3. Llanthony Priory

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Situated along the Offa’s Dyke Path on the Welsh-English border, Llanthony Priory is a beautiful ruined building with views of pristine skies, and a limiting magnitude of 6.35.

4. Hay Bluff

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Take the road over Gospel Pass from Llanthony to Hay-on-Wye to enjoy spectacular views over Powys and Shropshire from the car park on Hay Bluff, and a limiting magnitude of 6.34. Stop at the town of Hay to visit the large selection of second hand book shops the town has to offer.

5. National Park Visitor Centre (Mountain Centre) 

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Once you’ve reached the village of Libanus on the main A470 road, follow the signposts to the visitor centre. Easily accessible both day and night, it’s one of the best and most accessible areas to set up telescopes, and boasts skies with a limiting magnitude of 6.37. It is also within an hour’s drive of all of the South Wales valleys.

6. Pen Rhiw Ddu

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Just off of the winding road between Llandeilo and Brynamman and over the Black Mountain, there is a well-located car park with good access from the Swansea Valley and plenty of spots for your telescope. Overlooking the darkness of Mid and West Wales, enjoy a limiting magnitude of 6.31.

7. Carreg Cennen

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The stunning castle at Carreg Cennen sits on a huge limestone cliff and offers a great day out with breathtaking views, and one of the darkest skies in the region with a limiting magnitude of 6.26.

8. Craig-y-nos Country Park and Craig Y Nos Castle

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The former home of opera singer Adelina Patti, one of the greatest sopranos in history, view skies with a limiting magnitude of 6.3 in this very accessible location.

9. Sugar Loaf Mountain

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The hill dominates the skyline from Abergavenny and is accessible from the main A40 road. Enjoy the view over the south and west with a limiting magnitude of 6.10, whilst avoiding most of the light pollution from the nearby towns.

10. Llangorse Lake

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Langorse Lake is very accessible from both the South Wales valleys and the Midlands, and has a huge choice of places to set up your telescope. The outdoor pursuits centre causes some mild light pollution, but with a limiting magnitude of 6.24 this should have little effect on your enjoyment of this fantastic spot.

If you are planning a trip to the Brecon Beacons, take a look at the selection of Premier Holiday Cottages situated in Wales that you can relax and unwind in as you enjoy the views.