Local Villages

Bwlch

With a population approx 500 Bwlch is situated astride the A40 London to Fishguard trunk road. The village boasts a standing stone and a castle – Blaenllyfni – it is in a dip! Most of the older properties were built where there were natural springs and a tap in the village was still in use in the 1960s. Amenities include a shop/Post Office, a church, a chapel, a pub (there were 13 once!).

“Cwm Du” means “Black Valley”

Cwmdu

Cwmdu is situated in the heart of the Black Mountains and is an attractive hiking destination on the A479 Talgarth to Crickhowell road. The village has a church, village hall and a pub as well as a cafe, bike hire facility and a camp site.

Cadw have created a suite of rooms in the Court as they would have been in 1470

Tretower

Tretower is a hamlet at the foot of the Black Mountains much frequented by tourists visiting the impressive Tretower Court and medieval Castle. The church in the village is dedicated to St John the Evangelist. Though the site is ancient, the present church was completely re-built in 1876-77 after the earlier structure had fallen into disrepair.

There are five locks to see at Llangynidr on the canal

Llangynidr

The village of Llangynidr is approx 4 miles west of Crickhowell with the river Usk and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal flowing through it. Llangynidr has a population of 1200 and has a very active community with some twenty five clubs or societies serving all age groups and interests. Many of the societies utilise the facilities of the village hall. There is a variety of good quality housing in the village, two general stores, a Post Office, a garage and a bus and taxi services to larger shopping centres nearby. In addition there are two pubs, a church, two chapels, a primary school, village hall and recreation park

‘Llangattock’ is the anglicised version of the Welsh name ‘Llangatwg’ (Llan – a church or enclosure; Catwg – the Patron Saint).

Llangattock

Llangattock is across the river from Crickhowell in an area of great natural beauty, dominated by the limestone crags of Mynydd Llangatwg. The origins of the village are likely to have been associated with the ecclesiastical settlement, and the oldest part of Llangattock is centred round St Catwg’s Church, which dates back to the 11th Century. The village amenities include community hall, pub, a primary school and recreation ground.

The name Llanbedr derives from St Peter, the patron saint of the church.

Llanbedr

Llanbedr is a small village 2 miles northeast of Crickhowell. From the church there is a lane steeply down to the Grwyne Fechan river and a pleasant river side walk across an ancient stone bridge. Just below Llanbedr, the Grwyne Fechan joins the Grwyne Fawr and together they descend through Glangrwyney to meet the river Usk. Llanbedr has a pub, an active village hall and a primary school.

At Llangenny there is a fish ladder for the salmon which come up in the Autumn.

Llangenny

The two main features of picturesque Llangenny are the parish church of St.Cenau or Saint Keyne and the public house. The area is popular with hill-walkers and has a lovely small campsite.

Walking to the north you can see the mill lade (or stream) which used to supply the mill in the village.

Glangrwyney

On the A40 between Abergavenny and Crickhowell is Glangrwyney which has an excellent pub and a large cricket ground adjacent to the village hall. Just outside the village is the site of the former army camp at Cwrt y Gollen, well known to many soldiers as a training area.