Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre
Encyclopedia
The Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre is the popular name for the National Park Visitor Centre managed by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. It is also known simply as the Mountain Centre, and also as the Libanus Visitor Centre. It is situated near the village of Libanus
some 8km / 5mi south-west of Brecon
in the county of Powys
, south Wales
. The Centre provides information and interpretation for visitors to the area and offers a shop, food and drink and toilet facilities.
and was overseen by the local council and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. Its aim was to provide an information centre for the growing numbers of tourists and visitors to the National Park
regarding the mountain
s, the local towns and the countryside and enable them all to better interpret the area. It is still today an ideal stop off point for the first time visitor to the area. The facility is now wholly owned and managed by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.
of Mynydd Illtud beside which the Centre is situated. From the grounds and in particular from the terrace, striking views of the two highest peaks in the Brecon Beacons
can be enjoyed in comfort. A simple interpretive panel explains this view of Pen y Fan
and Corn Du
.
A three dimensional relief map of the entire National Park has long been one of the most popular exhibits. A geological display featuring the various rock types of the area has recently been improved as a means of promoting and interpreting Fforest Fawr Geopark
which constitutes the western half of the National Park. Short films about the National Park and the Geopark can be viewed in the Centre.
A grassed area in front of the building is available for children to play games and for picknicking.
Libanus, Powys
Libanus is a village in the Brecon Beacons National Park, in the county of Powys, Wales, United Kingdom.It lies on the A470 road approximately 1 mile north-east of its junction with the A4215 road, and approximately 5 miles south-west of Brecon....
some 8km / 5mi south-west of Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
in the county of Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The Centre provides information and interpretation for visitors to the area and offers a shop, food and drink and toilet facilities.
History
The Centre was opened in 1966 and funded by the Carnegie TrustCarnegie United Kingdom Trust
Carnegie United Kingdom Trust is a charitable foundation based in the United Kingdom, established by Scottish-born American steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie on the model of his U.S. foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York....
and was overseen by the local council and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. Its aim was to provide an information centre for the growing numbers of tourists and visitors to the National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
regarding the mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
s, the local towns and the countryside and enable them all to better interpret the area. It is still today an ideal stop off point for the first time visitor to the area. The facility is now wholly owned and managed by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.
Facilities
There is a pay and display car park though admission to the centre itself is free. The shop sells maps and guides and items of walking equipment. Staff are always on hand to assist with enquiries about the National Park. A popular cafeteria provides food and drinks throughout the year. The Centre hosts a variety of events both large and small during the year. These include guided walks, some of which explore the commonCommon land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
of Mynydd Illtud beside which the Centre is situated. From the grounds and in particular from the terrace, striking views of the two highest peaks in the Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of popular peaks south of Brecon, including South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan, and which together form the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park...
can be enjoyed in comfort. A simple interpretive panel explains this view of Pen y Fan
Pen y Fan
Pen y Fan is the highest peak in South Wales and southern Britain, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park. At above sea-level, it is also the highest peak in Britain south of the Snowdonia mountain range...
and Corn Du
Corn Du
Corn Du is a mountain immediately to the southwest of Pen y Fan and the second highest peak in South Wales, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Tommy Jones' Obelisk is found on its western flanks, in between the summit and Y Gyrn....
.
A three dimensional relief map of the entire National Park has long been one of the most popular exhibits. A geological display featuring the various rock types of the area has recently been improved as a means of promoting and interpreting Fforest Fawr Geopark
Fforest Fawr Geopark
Fforest Fawr Geopark was the first Geopark to be designated in Wales having gained membership of both the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO-assisted Global Network of National Geoparks in October 2005. The Geopark aims to promote and support sustainable tourism and other opportunities to...
which constitutes the western half of the National Park. Short films about the National Park and the Geopark can be viewed in the Centre.
A grassed area in front of the building is available for children to play games and for picknicking.