The country park was once the gardens of Craig Y Nos Castle, an usual building with a fascinating history. The castle has its own bunkhouse, providing accommodation in twin rooms with fully made up beds available to individuals and groups of all sizes. The bunkhouse has some basic self catering facilities and the restaurant in the Castle provides quality meals. Guests of the bunkhouse are welcome to spend their evening in the Castle Bar which has a huge log burner and stunning views over the river.

A truly glorious walk for those who are sure of their navigation skills. The path passes through the Black Mountains and east of the Breacon Beacons National Park onto the wild western Beacons where you walk under wide skies with no sign of humans and no roads. The route is waymarked where it crosses farmland, but there is no waymarking on open hills and moorland.  Here is a page showing all the hostels and bunkhouses on or near The Beacons Way in the independent network.

Sitting majestically on a mountain pass in the Brecon Beacons, unpeel the history of this fascinating castle, where you have the honor of living like royalty.

Its a fascinating place, Craig Y Nos Castle. Not only does it sit high on a mountain pass in the Brecon Beacons placed perfectly for those highlands and the legendary beaches of Gower, but it also has more stories from history and myth than I can possibly fit into this natter.

We’re outdoors types here and we’re often looking for a walking, cycling or adventure base and, yes Craig Y Nos can offer that – with a plethora of outdoor activities on offer in house and nearby as well as a picturesque 40-acre country park in the grounds and easy access to the 100 mile Beacons Way. But sometimes we wind down, relax, perhaps even spend time indoors.

The castle has served time as a sanatorium offering the ‘fresh air cure’ and as a side effect of this has a ‘Nurses’ Block’ which currently houses the hostel accommodation. So you’ll be sleeping in the Nurses’ Block. Stop sniggering at the back there, Sid James! It has 11 twin and single rooms with self catering facilities but you’re also welcome to use the facilities of the castle as well! Hot tub, conservatory, period theatre, cosy wood fires. The actual definition of convivial.

But what about those stories from history and myth? Well, while you’re there, ask them about the free history tour; about the ghosts (it claims to be the most haunted castle in Wales!); and about the Arthurian Lady of the Lake.

Walk among the ghosts of the past, through the hallways that once inhabited the children of the TB sanatorium, and continue onward into the past as you gaze into the faded grandeur of the famous diva Adalina Patti’s elaborate architectural style!

Find out about the famous diva Adalina Patti and the children of the Criag Y Nos TB Hospital by joining the daily History Tour.

Normally costing £10, but free to people staying in the Castle or the Nurses block Bunkhouses, the tour takes you into the ruined upper floors of the castle, the preserved Adalina Patti theatre and onto the roof with stunning views of Brecon Beacons.