Powys is a county and preserved county in Wales. It borders Gwynedd, Denbighshire, and Wrexham to the north; the English ceremonial counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire to the east; Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Neath Port Talbot to the south; and Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion to the west. The largest settlement is Newtown, and the administrative centre is Llandrindod Wells.
Brecon, archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the county town of Brecknockshire (Breconshire); although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of the County of Powys, it remains an important local centre. Brecon is the third-largest town in Powys, after Newtown and Ystradgynlais. It lies north of the Brecon Beacons mountain range, but is just within the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Brecknockshire, also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon, was one of the thirteen historic counties of Wales. It was created in 1536 under the Laws in Wales Act 1535. From 1889 it was an administrative county with a county council; the administrative county was abolished in 1974. The county was named after the medieval Welsh territory of Brycheiniog, which was anglicised to "Brecknock" and also gave its name to the county town of Brecon. The county was mountainous and primarily rural.
The Taff Trail is a walking and cycle path that runs for 55 miles (89 km) between Cardiff Bay and Brecon in Wales. It is so named because it follows the course of the River Taff. Along much of its length, it follows the National Cycle Network Route 8 that continues to Holyhead, and is substantially off-road.
Bwlch is a small village and an electoral ward in the community of Cwmdu and District, Powys, south Wales. The settlement is strung out along the A40 road which crosses a low col above the Usk Valley at this point on its route between Brecon and Crickhowell.
Talybont-on-Usk is a village and community in Powys, Wales, in the historic county of Brecknockshire. It lies on both the Caerfanell river and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the River Usk. In 2001, it had a population of 743, reducing to 719 at the 2011 census. The community includes the settlements of Llansantffraed, Scethrog, Aber Village, and Pencelli.
The Usk Reservoir is located in the upper Usk Valley, at 1,006 feet (307 m) above sea level, in the western part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales. The county boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys runs through the reservoir which lies about six miles to the north of the Black Mountain escarpment. It is an important landmark for walkers on the mountain range.
Llangynidr is a village, community and electoral ward in Powys, Wales, about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Crickhowell and 9 miles (14.5 km) south-east of Brecon. The River Usk flows through the village as does the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. It is in the historic county of Brecknockshire.
The Afon Tarell is a river in Powys, Wales, which rises to the west of the Brecon Beacons in Brecon Beacons National Park and flows north, then north-east, for 12 miles (20 km) into the River Usk.
Llyn Cwm Llwch is a small lake or pool in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, Wales. It is between 1 and 2 acres: much smaller than the two glacial lakes in the west of the Black Mountain (range): Llyn y Fan Fawr and Llyn y Fan Fach, and one of the few natural bodies of water in the park. It is of glacial origin, occupying a rock hollow beneath the peaks of Pen y Fan and Corn Du in the central Brecon Beacons. It is drained by the Nant Cwm Llwch which empties into the Afon Tarell, which itself enters the River Usk at Brecon. Tommy Jones' obelisk, a memorial in granite to a young boy who died near this spot in 1900, overlooks the lake.
The River Honddu is a river in the county of Powys, mid Wales. Early recorded versions of the name are of the form Hothenei and hodni which are believed to contain the Welsh adjective 'hawdd', meaning 'pleasant' or 'easy', together with a suffix -ni. Later forms such as Honddey and Honthy have undergone metathesis whereby -ddn- became -ndd-.
Aber Village or Aberclydach is a hamlet within the Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, Wales. It is centred on the minor road which runs south from Talybont-on-Usk up the Caerfanell valley known as Glyn Collwn across the Brecon Beacons to Pontsticill and Merthyr Tydfil. Aberclydach lies within the community of Talybont-on-Usk about 1.5 km to the south of the village of Talybont and 0.5 km to the north of the dam of Talybont Reservoir.
Llanspyddid is a small village just west of Brecon within the Brecon Beacons National Park. It lies within the valley of the River Usk in the community of Glyn Tarell in the county of Powys, Wales. Llanspyddid sits on the A40 trunk road between Brecon and Llandovery. The Welsh name signifies the 'church of Saint Ysbyddyd', though the village church is in fact dedicated to Saint Cadog.
Llanfrynach is a village and community in the county of Powys, Wales, and the historic county of Brecknockshire. The population of the community as taken at the 2011 census was 571. It lies just to the southeast of Brecon in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The village sits astride the Nant Menasgin, a right bank tributary of the River Usk. The B4558 passes just to its north and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal also passes around the village. The Welsh name signifies the 'church of Brynach'. The community includes the hamlets of Llanhamlach and Groesffordd.
Pen-y-crug is a hill in the Brecon Beacons National Park in the county of Powys, south Wales. It is commonly referred to locally as simply 'The Crug'. The Welsh name signifies 'top of the mound'. It slopes are moderately gently on three sides; only to the west do they steepen somewhat. Its flat trig point adorned summit at 331m overlooks the valley of the River Usk to the south. To the southeast are panoramic views over Brecon whilst eastwards are the Black Mountains and south the Brecon Beacons.
Torpantau railway station is a station in the Welsh county of Brecknockshire, and the northern terminus of the narrow gauge Brecon Mountain Railway.
The Vale of Grwyney is a community in Powys, Wales. It follows most of the border between Powys and Monmouthshire. It takes its name from the river Grwyney which flows through it into the River Usk. The river Grwyney has two tributaries, called the Grwyne Fechan and the Grywne Fawr, which both rise in the Black Mountains and converge into one river near Llanbedr before meeting the Usk at Glangrwyney.
Talybont-on-Usk is an electoral ward in the south of Powys, Wales. It covers three local government communities and elects a councillor to Powys County Council.
Pencelli is a small village within the community of Talybont-on-Usk in the county of Powys, Wales, and the historic county of Brecknockshire. The Welsh name signifies the 'end of (a) grove'. It lies just to the southeast of Brecon in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The village sits near the confluence of the Nant Menasgin with the River Usk. Both the B4558 and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal pass through the village. There is a pub - the Royal Oak, an outdoor education centre and a campsite within the village. Pencelli Castle is likely a late eleventh century fortification which fell into disuse in the thirteenth century.
Groesffordd is a small village within the community of Llanfrynach in the county of Powys, Wales, and the historic county of Brecknockshire. The Welsh name signifies the 'crossroads'. It lies just to the east of Brecon straddling the northern boundary of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The village sits just to the north of the A40 road between Brecon and Crickhowell and north of the River Usk and Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. The track of the former Brecon and Merthyr Railway runs through the village
