BRECON Beacons Tourism has compiled a list of the best autumn walks in the Brecon Beacons.

Woodland Walks-The Brecon Beacons has some great nature reserves and woodlands that look their best in the autumn. Why not make an afternoon of it and call in one of the many pubs or cafes after your walk for a deserved drink or meal.

Pwll-yr-Wrach Reserve

The Black Mountains town of Talgarth is an excellent centre for nature-lovers, with superb woods where you can see bluebells, wood anemones and wild garlic in spring. The Brecknock Wildlife Trust’s Pwll-yr-Wrach Reserve is a beautiful spot to visit.

Priory Groves, Brecon

Priory Groves is located next to Brecon Cathedral and is a mixed woodland, bordering the Honddu river, with oak, beech, hazel and alder trees. Whatever the time of year there are always some birds to see. While you are near the river, look out for dippers at any time of year, and grey wagtails in summer. In spring and early summer there is a good display of wild flowers.

Taf Fechan Forest Walk

This is an excellent sheltered spot for wildlife including birds & dragonflies and is a great getaway on an autumn day. This is an isolated, but scenic spot in the middle of a forested valley. A short ramp with a gradient of 1:4 leads onto the boardwalk.

How to get there: This is an isolated spot on a minor road, 5km north of Pontsticill - follow the signs for Talybont-on-Usk. The board walk is just past the Ystradgynwyn tea rooms and holiday cottages (CF48 2UT) and are clearly visible on your left hand side.

More Autumn Walks include....

Pontneddfechan Waterfall Walk

Golden woodland, scenic gorges and – yes – waterfalls abound on this Brecon Beacons walk. Starting and finishing at the town of Pontneddfechan, the walk is 12 miles long, so leave plenty of time to get back before sunset. Highlights include the bubbling cascades of Sgwd yr Eira, Nedd Fechan and Sgwd Ddwli. Take care on the slippy paths.

Llangorse Lake

The lake in Llangorse is enchanting at any time of the year. Not only famous for its coarse fishing and watersports - what makes this place even more unique, is the fact that it’s home to the only example of a crannog in Wales and England. Watch out for the colourful dragonflies and damselflies as they patrol their territory, hunting down flying insects on the wing like miniature flying aces. More here.

Brecon Canal

The Brecon Canal towpath enchants autumn walkers. Still canal waters reflect jewelled leaves of red and gold. Bright painted boats pass aqueducts and bridges, and the wild and rural Brecon Beacons cast a storybook glow upon the towpath walk. The 35 mile canal towpath begins in Brecon and traverses the Usk Valley through villages, under bridges and across an aqueduct until it rambles into Five Locks in Cwmbran. Trees and wildflowers line the path, making it a haven for birds and butterflies. It’s a mild and easy walk, so take it in small sections depending upon how much time you have. Be sure to stop along the way to sample a local pub.