Sharon Walters makes the short trip to Brecon Beacons to take in the scenery and try her hand at fly fishing.

The Brecon Beacons

It is fair to say that when you mention the Brecon Beacons to a lot of people they immediately think of the SAS on manoeuvres, or an area they pass through on the way to holiday in Pembrokeshire.

And that is a great pity because this area has so much to offer for short breaks and longer stays.

You can walk, visit charming little towns and villages, fish, visit historic sights and much more. And for visitors from Shropshire it is at most just over a two-hour drive away through pleasant countryside.

Brecon Beacons National Park is renowned for its gentle hills, more strenuous ones, breathtaking waterfalls, exceptional Welsh food and is home to some of Wales’ quaintest and most beautiful villages.

For instance take the small town of Crickhowell — a beautiful and thriving centre surrounded by some fantastic scenery.

Enjoy a walk around its streets, taking in historic sites, including Crickhowell Castle remains, and a visit to the Oriel Cric Gallery, part of the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre — a charity which owns and runs the building with a band of hard-working volunteers.

A waterfall in the Brecon Beacons

The gallery prides itself on encouraging local artists and makers to apply to exhibit and there is a very high standard on display. Since opening in 2006 it has gained a reputation as a venue for Welsh art and craft of exceptional quality.

And around the town there are the most stunning walks, from a gentle circular stroll from the town out and along the nearby canal to a climb up to Table Mountain Hill Fort, or up Sugar Loaf which is close on 600 metres above sea level.

Each year there is the Crickhowell Walking Festival. It takes place early in the year to take advantage of the lengthening days and there is a wide range of guided walks for all ages and abilities as well as a full programme of events for walkers and non-walkers alike.

The festival and the gallery are working with the National Park to promote Crickhowell as a destination which is great for art and walking — and it certainly proved that on my visit. Businesses helping to promote this make up a “cluster” which work together to promote their area.

This initiative is funded by Collabor8 — a project that is 50 per cent funded by the ERDF Interreg IVB North West Europe Programme to help local businesses work together to improve the impact of tourism for the benefit of both residents and visitors.

If you want bed and breakfast accommodation or self-catering there are many to choose from and a number of hotels.

An attractive bedroom at the Gliffaes Country House Hotel

I stayed at the glorious family-owned and run Gliffaes Country House Hotel, just a short drive away from Crickhowell. It is renowned for its hospitality, food and fishing on the Usk which wends its way through the grounds.

Gliffaes has service of the quality I have rarely found recently. The welcome was warm and staff very helpful, the rooms well appointed and relaxing and the restaurant was stunning. Again top service and this time with sublime food, placing the emphasis on quality local produce — from meat, game and vegetables to fish fresh from the Usk.

Down on the Usk I tried something I have wanted to for years — fly fishing. I went out with ghillie Jimmy Devoy on to one of the hotel’s beats.

Putting his skills to the test - ghillie Jimmy Devoy fly fishing on the River Usk

I was fascinated as he talked me through so many forms of flies and I tried so very hard to grasp the knack of casting the line. He was such a good teacher that I didn’t hook anybody else or blind myself!

A couple of hours standing in the river gently casting was utter bliss and add to that the two tiny wild trout that ended up on my line (OK Jimmy did help!) and I was hooked.

The hotel is a member of the Green Business Tourism Scheme, also funded by Collabor8, which assesses business and then advises on how they can improve sustainability — something which the owners of Gliffaes are very keen on.

Visit, you’ll love it.

• Brecon Beacons National Park: www.breconbeacons.org
• Collabor8: www.collabor8.me
• Crickhowell Walking Festival: www.crickhowellfestival.com/2010
• CRiC: www.crickhowellinfo.org.uk/cric/
• Gliffaes Country House Hotel. Standard double with garden view, dinner, B&B is £233.50 per room per night: www.gliffaeshotel.com
• A day with Jimmy Devoy costs £70 and to book call 01873 85353