The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain, Wales, in the westernmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially forming the boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys, it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and Abergavenny, after which it takes a more southerly course.
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.
Crickhowell is a town and community in southeastern Powys, Wales, near Abergavenny, and is in the historic county of Brecknockshire.
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.
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is a small network of canals in South Wales. For most of its currently (2018) navigable 35-mile (56 km) length it runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park, and its present rural character and tranquillity belies its original purpose as an industrial corridor for coal and iron, which were brought to the canal by a network of tramways and/or railroads, many of which were built and owned by the canal company.
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.
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.
Gilwern is a village within the Brecon Beacons National Park in Monmouthshire, Wales. Historically in Brecknockshire, it extends to either side of the River Clydach on the south side of the Usk valley. Its position beside the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal led to it being an important industrial centre at one time.
Govilon is a small Welsh village located between Llanfoist and Gilwern near Abergavenny in north Monmouthshire. It is part of the community of Llanfoist Fawr. The population was 1,447 in 2011.
Llangattock is a village, community and electoral ward in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, Wales. It lies in the Usk Valley just across the river from the town of Crickhowell. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal passes through the village en route between Brecon and Pontypool. It is in the historic county of Breconshire.
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.
Tawe-Uchaf is a community in Powys, Wales. Situated north-east of Ystradgynlais in the upper valley of the River Tawe, it includes the villages of Caehopkin, Coelbren, Glyntawe, Pen-y-cae, Penwyllt and Ynyswen. It had a population in 2001 of 1,516, increasing at the 2011 Census to 1,562.
Glyn Tarell is a valley and a community in the county of Powys, Wales, and the historic county of Brecknockshire. It is in the Brecon Beacons National Park and at the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons mountains.
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.
The Nant Menasgin is a short river in Powys, Wales whose headwaters rise in Cwm Oergwm, beneath Fan y Bîg, in the central Brecon Beacons, and flow northeastwards via Llanfrynach, to join the River Usk at Pencelli.
The B4558 road is a road in Powys, central Wales, with a total length of 12 miles (19 km). It begins at a junction with the A4077 road across the Usk bridge from Crickhowell and runs northwest up the southern side of the Usk valley to a junction with the A40 road 3.5 km east of Brecon. En route from Crickhowell it passes through the villages of Llangynidr, Talybont-on-Usk, and Pencelli. It is closely followed over this section by the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal which it crosses six times. River crossings include those of the Nant Cleisfer and Afon Crawnon at Llangynidr, the Caerfanell at Talybont and the Nant Menasgin between Pencelli and Llanfrynach. It crosses the Usk itself by the historic Lock Bridge just south of the village of Groesffordd, east of Brecon.
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
