The Brecon Beacons Beano
30 April - 4 May 2026
3 full days of cycling in the spectacular Brecon Beacons National Park (Bannau Brycheiniog)
These dates include the May Bank Holiday weekend.
The Brecon Beacons National Park – we love it. Spectacular and ever-changing views of the mountains, bubbling rivers, historic towns, sleepy villages, quiet lanes, forests, open moorland… there’s a lot to discover.
The rides
Our circular day rides take us into the valleys of the rivers Usk and Wye and along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal towpath. We follow twisty roads into the foothills of the mountains, stopping at ruined castles and dipping into the historic market town of Brecon and the “book town” of Hay-on-Wye. We venture upstream by the River Wye on wooded lanes.
The Beano starts on Thursday evening and finishes after breakfast on Monday morning, giving us three full days of cycling with no time pressures. Rides are mostly on back roads, some well-surfaced cyclepaths and a few gravelled canal towpaths, with the occasional optional offroad diversion for those who want it.
Some parts are easy-going, but this being mid-Wales there are inevitably hills – sorry, I mean valleys – to climb. Think of them as an excuse to slow down and take in the view!
As always on a Bicycle Beano, the rides are designed to give a number of options for distance, with suggested detours and short cuts to suit a range of abilities.
The venue
For the duration of the Beano we’re taking over Coleg Trefeca, a Grade II-listed 18th-century building set in its own beautiful grounds, nestling at the foot of the Black Mountains.
Coleg Trefeca holds a significant place in Welsh history as the birthplace of Howell Harris, one of the leading lights of Welsh Calvinistic Methodism, who founded a religious community there. It later became an ecclesiastical college and still serves as a lay training centre. For us, though, it’s a peaceful and relaxing base from which to explore the countryside.
The modern bedroom block has a number of comfortable single, twin and double bedrooms with ensuite facilities. In the evenings, the historic main building provides several lounges and areas to relax and chat – or you can stroll around the grounds and admire the views.
When
Thursday 30 April – Monday 4 May 2026
Arrive Thursday evening. 4 night stay; 3 days of cycling; depart Monday morning. (Monday is the Mayday bank holiday.)
Rides
The main route each day is 30-40 miles (50-65 km) with optional detours and short cuts so you can choose to ride up to 60 miles (100km) or less than 30 miles. Ride at your own pace. Some hills. Mainly on quiet country lanes with some cyclepaths, a few canal towpaths and one or two optional easy offroad sections.
Availability
Just a few rooms left on Brecon Beacons now: single, twin and double rooms still available, all with ensuite.
Prices
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Single room (ensuite) £720
Single room, ensuite shower room
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Sharing a twin or double room (ensuite) £620
Twin beds or double bed, ensuite or private shower room
Tell us your preferences when you fill in the booking form. If we can’t provide the accommodation type you want, we’ll offer you alternative options.
What’s included
Prices are per person and include dinner, breakfast, and tea & cakes after the ride. They don’t include bike hire (most Beanoers bring their own bikes) or the cost of lunch and coffee stops during the rides.
Prepared to share? If you’re travelling solo but prepared to share a room, let us know. If we can find someone else for you to share with, we’ll charge you the shared-room rate.
