Talgarth Walkers are Welcome Group and the Talgarth Walking Festival
Talgarth ‘Gateway to the Black Mountains’ Walkers are Welcome Group was formed in late 2011 and is made up of local businesses, charitable organisations, accommodation providers, passionate walkers and local residents who want to see our town thriving.
The Talgarth Walking Festival offers walks which guide you through the local history, geology, literature and nature. Explore the area with our knowledgeable leaders who will take you on journeys through the landscape from deep wooded dingles to the high Black Mountains plateau.
About the Organisers
Talgarth Walking Festival is run by a group of enthusiastic volunteers under the nationwide organisation Walkers Are Welcome.
Talgarth Walkers Are Welcome Group (TWAWG) is one of six similar groups in towns located within the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Walkers are Welcome is a not for profit organisation that aims to do what it says: “welcome walkers” by encouraging visitors to come to the area, by providing top quality information on local walks, by maintaining footpaths and signage in the district, by contributing to local tourism and regeneration and to promote the use of local transport.
Showcasing Talgarth
The group aims to bring people to Talgarth, the ancient capital of Brecknockshire by showcasing some of the great walks on the lesser known eastern side of the Brecon Beacons National Park by running an annual walking festival over the first May Bank Holiday.
The group has also helped to create waymarked walking routes around the area. These are promoted via booklets available in the town’s Tourist Information and Resource Centre situated in the centre of the town in the historic tower building that guards the river bridge
Talgarth Walking Festival is committed to supporting our community. Each year the Festival donates a part of any profit to local organisations. In 2022, we were able to half-fund (with the Welsh Government adding the other 50%) the purchase and installation of a defibrillator unit at the Dinas Castle Inn in Pengenffordd.
Talgarth - Gateway to the Black Mountains
The ancient market town of Talgarth - an ideal base for visitors wishing to explore the Brecon Beacons National Park - has many interesting features. A rewarding walk might include a visit to St. Gwendoline’s church, the burial place of C18th evangelist Howell Harris whilst a stroll along the river might give you the chance to see a dipper or a kingfisher.
The outlying area contains two castles that guard this corner of the national park. Namely the newly refurbished tower at Bronllys Castle and the dominant mound of Castell Dinas that guards the high pass at Pengenffordd.
We can also boast high peaks and sweeping escarpments, wild ponies and red kites, waterfalls, the lush green valleys of the Wye and Usk rivers, and stunning open country all on Talgarth’s doorstep.
Close to Brecon, Crickhowell and Hay-on-Wye, Talgarth is an ideal base for visitors to gain a taste not only of the wonderful walking opportunities we have on our doorstep but of our historic town too, and we also hope that through our efforts, local residents will rediscover some old paths and memories, renew their passion for the countryside and make some new friends too.
