Off the Beaten Path: From Cardiff to Brecon Beacons National Park

This guide focuses on how to get from Cardiff to Brecon Beacons National Park via public transport. While many have shared tips on exploring Cardiff, here’s a quick summary of the city’s main attractions: 1️⃣ Bute Park – Very large, but similar to most UK parks. 2️⃣ Cardiff University & Alexandra Gardens – A pleasant green space nearby. 3️⃣ Cardiff Castle – Free to access the lawns; only parts of the interior and walls require a ticket. 4️⃣ Cardiff Market – Don’t miss the Bakestone stall for traditional Welsh cakes (I love the coconut flavour!). Their brownies are tasty but super sweet 😅. 5️⃣ National Museum Cardiff & Museum of Cardiff – Both free 🆓. The former takes about 1.5 hours (natural history & art), while the latter is tiny—just 30 minutes tops. ✅ How to Get to Storey Arms (Brecon Beacons) by Bus: ① From Greyfriars Road GJ in Cardiff, take the T4 bus. Tell the driver: “A return ticket to Storey Arms, please.” The fare is £8.70. ② After ~1 hour, you’ll reach Merthyr Tydfil. Transfer here (stay on the T4—just show your ticket) and continue to Storey Arms. This is the gateway to hiking Pen y Fan 🥾 (though I didn’t summit due to bad weather). ⚠️ Important Tips: Check the return bus schedule in advance! Buses from Storey Arms run only once every two hours. Visit the T4 bus official website for timetables. Choose a clear day for hiking. If the weather is poor, consider starting later in the day—unless you want to experience hurricane-force winds 🌪️ on the summit! Avoid going up in storms. Route Advice: A seasoned hiker recommended taking the blue path (less steep, ~1 hour to summit) instead of the steeper Google-suggested route. The blue trail has paved sections and is much easier. #Cardiff #ExploreCardiff #Wales #WalesTravel #WelshTransport #BreconBeacons