Laura
18 May 2021
The Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons are not just a beautiful mountain range to explore above ground, they’re also home to a multitude of exciting and varied cave systems just aching to be explored deep below.
Dive into a caving adventure by potholing with one of the local activity companies; Black Mountain Tours and Adventure Britain both offer exhilarating caving experiences and tours of the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons National Park.
For a more leisurely day out, experience the jaw-dropping sights at the National Showcaves Centre for Wales, or go deep underground at The Big Pit. Read on to discover more...
And if you need somewhere to rest up after exploring these amazing locations, take a look at our cosy cottages in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Dan-yr-Ogof National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Brecon Beacons
National Showcaves Centre for Wales credit: Instagram @showcaves
Travel back in time as you descend into the depths at the National Showcaves Centre, a fascinating underground world of caves and beautiful rock formations that makes for a fun-filled family day out.
There are three amazing caves to explore: Dan-yr-Ogof, Cathedral Cave and Bone Cave. For even more of an adventure, experienced caving club members can also discover the intriguing caverns and tunnels that lie beyond the areas open to the public.
Dan-yr-Ogof
Discovered by two brave farmer brothers, and still run by the same family, this jaw-dropping cave system is around 330 million years old! The Morgan brothers followed water that was flowing from a mountain onto their land in the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons and discovered this labyrinth of caves in 1912. They never found the source of the river, but this discovery led to the opening of this fantastic attraction for visitors to discover for themselves. Over 10 miles of caves have now been discovered, and two other caves are also now open to the public.
The river Llynfell flows from the mountain as you approach from the very same entrance that the Morgan Brothers made their dramatic discovery. Explore the beautifully decorated passages of Dan-yr-Ogof, and enjoy beautiful rock formations such as the ‘Rasher of Bacon’ and the heavenly ‘Angle’ on your journey.
Bone Cave
With a grizzly past, this cave is aptly named the Bone Cave due to the discovery of 42 human skeletons, which date back to the Bronze Age, over 3,000 years ago. Other precious finds were also discovered here, such as fine bronze jewellery, fragments of Roman pottery and silver rings.
Bone Cave, or Ogof-yr-Esgyrn, is now home to some fascinating exhibits which illustrate the cave’s past uses, such as man’s struggle to survive against hyenas, wolves and cave bears - who also shared the shelter of the caves!
Cathedral Cave
Cathedral Cave, a small tunnel-like cave above Dan-yr-Ogof, is a spectacular cavern filled with breathtaking, 40-foot-high cascading waterfalls. The scene is a unique, utterly romantic location if you’re dreaming of somewhere special for a romantic proposal or somewhere to tie the knot on your big day!
The National Showcaves Centre for Wales is also home to over 220 life-sized dinosaur models and a shire horse centre! Come face to face with a Tyrannosaurus Rex and greet the massive Brachiosaurus in the dinosaur park, or meet the gentle, giant shire horses down on the farm.
Holiday cottages nearby:
The Big Pit, Torfaen
Immerse yourself in Wales' industrial past with a trip to the Big Pit National Coal Museum. Lying just south of the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons Park boundary, the main attraction here is the huge underground mine.
Venture 330 feet down the Big Pit mineshaft on a captivating guided tour with a real miner to discover what life was like for thousands who worked down here. You’ll learn about the huge importance of coal and how it was processed - just mind your head!
Holiday cottages nearby:
The Bat Cave, Henrhyd Falls, Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons
Film fans may recognise this scene from the Hollywood blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises.
Henrhyd Falls, South Wales’s tallest waterfall (88 feet), was used as Batman’s Bat Cave in the blockbuster film. The Dark Knight Rises stars award-winning actor Christian Bale, who also has links to Wales as he was born in Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.
Just as Batman disappears behind the waterfall’s curtain of white water to his incredible hideout, so can you. Venture behind this beautiful Brecon Beacon falls and you’ll be enclosed in a vibrant space where the light shines in the darkness and water thunders into the pool below.
The Brecon Beacons is also known as waterfall country, so after visiting these incredible caves, take a look at our guide to waterfalls in Wales and our full guide to waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons.
Relax after your Batman adventure in one of our cavernous cottages in Mid Wales.
Holiday hideouts nearby:
Porth yr Ogof, Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons
Porth yr Ogof, translated as the gateway to the cave, has the largest entrance of any of Wales’s magnificent caves, at almost 5m high and 17m wide.
Lying below a picturesque setting with easy access, multiple entrances and a labyrinth of passages makes Porth yr Ogof a very popular cave for outdoor activity groups and caving folk from across the world. Venture deep underground into the caves that lie below the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons for an adventure weekend you’ll never forget. Walk, crawl, scramble and squeeze your way around this unforgettable experience.
Let your curiosity run away with you and overcome those dark tiny spaces with an experienced team of like-minded adventurers. A subterranean spectacular, Blue Ocean Activities & Adventure offer caving experiences at Porth yr Ogof, one of Brecon’s most popular caves.
What will you discover?
Holiday cottages nearby:
Carreg Cennen Castle, Llandeilo
This beautiful castle perches spectacularly atop a magnificent limestone precipice within the gorgeous Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons National Park. Head beneath it and you’ll discover a natural prehistoric cave-dwelling.
It’s thought that the water collected in the cave once provided drinking water for the castle via a modified fissure, or natural opening, to create a safe passage and supply of water during a siege!
Holiday cottages nearby:
The end of the cave
Now that you know all the coolest caves in the Brecon Beacons, there’s no time to waste! Visit Wales and start your caving adventure.
These caves are full of opportunities and surprises! Overcome your fears and explore the fascinating rock formations, making memories to last a lifetime and conjuring up plenty of tales to tell all. While you’re here, why not take a look at our guide to the Brecon Beacons as you plan your activity holiday in Wales.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.