Photogenic Landscapes and Historic Sites in Powys

At around 2,000 square miles, Powys is by some distance the largest county in Wales, extending almost 80 miles, from the edge of Snowdonia National Park in the north to the slightly less rugged mountains of Brecon Beacons National Park in the south. Away from these two parks, most of the land is still hilly, crossed by winding valleys, with relatively few main roads, and no large cities. Most of the eastern border is also the boundary of Wales, facing the English counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire; Powys also adjoins 11 other Welsh counties.

There are two main extended scenic areas in Powys; one is the Cambrian Mountains in the west, a remote and relatively little-visited series of undulating grassy hills, harbouring streams and lakes, including the large reservoir of Lake Vyrnwy in the north, while the second, and much more well known is the Brecon Beacons and neighbouring ranges. About three quarters of Brecon Beacons National Park is within the county, with most of the remainder being in Carmarthenshire (west), Merthyr Tydfil (south) and Monmouthshire (east).


The Beacons are the central range in the national park, containing the highest peak in south UK, 2,907 foot Pen y Fan; these hills are bordered by the high plateau of Forest Fawr and the remote Black Mountains to the west, and the slightly lower ridges of Black Mountain on the other side. The park contains the largest area of wild lands in Britain south of Snowdonia, and is crossed by dozens of trails, which climb peaks and follow the valleys, many of which contain streams that form impressive waterfalls.

Historic sites in Powys are not so common, and are scattered all across the country, not concentrated in any particular area. Castles are the most numerous feature, and there are also quite a few ancient stones, including several stone circles.