Pencelli Castle Caravan & Camping Park In the heart of the... Brecon Beacons National Park
You are guaranteed a warm Welsh welcome at this multi award winning family run park... Practical Caravan Pencelli Castle, the home of Gerwyn and Liz Rees and family, lies in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park, four miles to the East of the historic market town of Brecon. It is an ideal location for walking, cycling, mountain biking, pony trekking, canoeing on the adjoining canal as well as relaxing in the peace and tranquillity of this beautiful area. The Park is small and peacefully set on the edge of Pencelli Village and is within walking distance of the highest peaks of the Brecon Beacons. The Royal Oak Inn, 150m from the park, is convenient to eat and have a chat with the locals and there are also other Inns which serve beautiful food in nearby Talybont and Llanfrynach. Pencelli Castle caters for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents (no seasonal pitches). The pitches are set in three fields, The Orchard, The Oaks and The Meadow. The Orchard is suitable for caravans and motorhomes. It has gravel hard standings with several serviced pitches. The Oaks, with spacious grass and hard standing pitches, is suitable for caravans, motorhomes and tents. The Meadow is for tents only and is situated furthest away from the shower block. This field has a wonderful feel of space and freedom making it a favourite with campers. It is bordered on two sides by mature trees, one of which is thought to be the biggest and oldest oak tree in the parish. The Brecon & Monmouth Canal runs along the length of The Meadow where you can launch a canoe or watch the barges go by.
What people say about us... Practical Caravan Top 100 Family Parks - April 2006 This is a small rural site in a wonderfully peaceful setting, and with the high standards established mean that all visitors here will enjoy facilities seldom found elsewhere... MMM - June 2005 No sites guide to Britain can really omit Pencelli Castle. This park has won every award in the book... And we think it s the best conventional park in the realm... The Independent - August 2004 The toilet block at Pencelli Castle was a pleasure to visit. It would have been a bit weird to eat off the floor, but we could have done... AA - Campsite of the Year 2006 This charming park offers peace, beautiful scenery and high quality facilities... Attention to detail is superb... For the second time in four years this attractive campsite in the heart of the Brecon Beacons has won this coveted award... Motor Caravan Magazine February 2006 If you re heading to Wales make sure you stay at this award winning site... We all like washrooms to be spick and span and this site has won the Best Holiday Park in Wales at the Loo of the Year Awards for the fourth time... Which Motorcaravan February 2005 In the centre of Britain s most beautiful region... Facilities are comprehensive and absolutely immaculate. This site has it all... It has won every award known to man, and could very well be the best site in Britain... The Award winning toilet/shower block is luxurious and spacious with central heating throughout. As well as ample toilets & free showers, hand dryers and hair dryers, there are also private washing cubicles. The two family rooms have been designed and equipped through a parent s eyes. There is a well equipped laundry, drying room, dish washing & food preparation room and information room complete with internet access. Wifi is available throughout The Oaks and The Orchard. A children s play park is situated outside the main caravan and camping fields adjoining the red deer enclosure. Within the children s play area is a grassy area where many football, rugby and cricket matches have been held. The at-one with nature look and feel of the Park ensures it blends in totally with the surrounding countryside. There is an informative nature trail which guides visitors all around the park, taking in the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, our red deer, koi carp, ducks and an ever increasing collection of vintage farm machinery. On Site Facilities Luxury heated toilet & shower block Dish washing room Laundry room & drying room Disabled facilities Family rooms Information room Serviced Pitches & hard standings Electric hook-ups Fridge/freezers Children s play area Mountain bike hire Internet station WiFi Shop (during summer)
Local Activities Walking & Cycling on mountains or canal towpath (Quality bike hire available on site) Pony Trekking - Cantref Riding Centre Fishing on Talybont Reservoir, Canal or River Usk Golf at Brecon (9 holes) or Cradoc (18 holes) Sailing, Canoeing on Llangorse Lake Indoor Climbing at Llangorse Rope Centre Multi Activity Days Brecon Leisure Centre Swimming, Ten-Pin Bowling Within an Hour... Brecon Mountain Railway Military & Natural History Museums Big Pit Mining Museum, Blaenavon Dan yr Ogof Showcaves Ystradfellte Caves & Waterfalls Llancaiach Fawr Manor 2006 & 02 AA - Best Campsite in Wales 2006, 5, 3 & 2 Loo of the Year - National Winner Wales 2005 WTB Wales Tourism Awards - Winner Best Place to Stay (Caravan Park) 2005, 04, 03 & 02 Practical Caravan Top 100 Family Park - Winner Wales 2005, 04, 03, 02 & 01 Gold - David Bellamy Conservation Award 2005 & 4 Wales In Bloom - Best Caravan Park Winner 2003 WTB Wales Tourism Awards - Winner Best Place to Stay (Self-Catering) 2001 Calor Gas - Best Park in Wales Aberglasney Gardens National Botanical Gardens Castles-Raglan, Caerphilly & Carreg Cennen St Fagans Welsh Folk Museum
Tariff Closed from December 3rd to 30th All prices are per night. A NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of 20 may be required. Booking is advisable during mid and high seasons. The year is divided into three periods: Low 1st November to 31st March Mid April, May, September & October High June, July, August; Bank Holidays & New Year Caravan or Motorhome Low Mid High 2 people sharing 15 17 18 Extra Adult 6 6 6 Extra Child (5-15 years) 4.50 5 5 Under 5 years Free Free Free Electric Hookup 3.25 3.25 3.25 Full Awning 3 3 3 Porch Awning 2 2 2 Tents Adult 7.50 8.50 9 Child (5-15 years) 4.40 5 5 Under 5 years Free Free Free The History of Pencelli Castle All remains of this Norman Castle have long gone. The Manor house which occupies the site of the old chapel, St. Leonard s, dates back to 1583 A.D. and is now the proud home of Gerwyn and Liz Rees and their two sons, Craig and Morgan. The pitches lie inside and around the horse shoe shaped moat, which was utilised with the construction of the canal in 1790 A.D. The Oaks and The Meadow, which were probaby the scene of several bloody battles, are now surrounded by mature trees many of which date back many centuries.the Orchard is within where the castle walls stood and is obvious to see by the commanding plateau on which it stands. The above picture depicts how Pencelli Castle would have looked in 1275 A.D. shortly after it was occupied by Gwladys Ddu, daughter of Llewelyn the Great, the last Welsh Prince of Wales. Since the castle was not built on top of a steep hill, it could easily be attacked and when gunpowder became widely used, the stronghold seemed undefendable. The Castle, first built around 1080 A.D. had changed hands many times by the 14th Century through conflict and ceased serving its purpose as a stronghold. It fell into disuse and the stone walls were dismantled to build houses and farm buildings in the area.
Access to the Park is easy... From Brecon: Take the East out of Brecon (Signposted Abergavenny). After 1 mile turn onto the attractive B4558 (Signposted Pencelli) and follow the brown caravan and tent signs. Go south for 2 miles until you reach the village of Pencelli. As you pass through the village Pencelli Castle is the last place and is signposted on the left. From Abergavenny: Take towards Brecon. 6 miles from Brecon turn left for Talybont On Usk. In the village, at the T junction, turn right. Pencelli Castle is the first place on the right in the next village, 2 miles. River Usk to West Wales To Builth Wells Brecon A470 Canal A470 Talgarth Llangorse Lake To Hay on Wye & Hereford (A470) BLACKMOUNTAINS Gerwyn & Liz Rees Pencelli Brecon Powys Wales UK LD3 7LX Telephone +44 (0)1874 665451 Email pencelli.castle@virgin.net www.pencelli-castle.co.uk PENCELLI Talybont on Usk A470 to Cardiff B4558 BRECON BEACONS Crickhowell Abergavenny A465 Heads of the Valleys Canal River Usk M4 BRECON PENCELLI A470(T) BRIDGEND ABERGAVENNY MERTHYR TYDFIL M4 CARDIFF A465(T) Raglan NEWPORT HEREFORD Ross GLOUCESTER Chepstow BRISTOL M5 Midlands M5 M4 To Swindon & London Routes: From the South East, head for M4 west and drive to junction 24. Take A449 to Raglan and to Brecon. From the Midlands and the North head for M5 south to junction 8, then M50 and to Brecon. From South Wales use the A470 to Brecon. Take exit signposted Abergavenny at the roundabout. Turn left at signpost to Llanfrynach and follow signs to Pencelli on B4558. Please Note: Assistance dogs only will be allowed on the Park Closed: December 3rd to 30th