Powys
Award-winning family park on the canal, four miles from Brecon
Pencelli Castle occupies an old farmstead in the village of Pencelli, four miles south-east of Brecon, with the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal running along one boundary and the central Beacons rising directly to the south. The site is laid out across three fields, known as the Orchard, the Oaks and the Meadow, with a wildflower meadow left uncut through the summer and mature trees giving shelter and shade. It takes touring caravans, motorhomes and tents, with hardstandings and fully serviced pitches available alongside grass.
Facilities are the reason this park wins awards year after year. The heated toilet block has en suite cubicles rather than the usual rows, there is a proper drying room for boots and waterproofs, a full laundry, a small shop for essentials and fast wifi across the whole site. A children's play area, a collection of vintage farm machinery and a small herd of red deer keep younger visitors occupied. Adults-only areas are available for those who would rather not have them nearby.
The location suits walkers and cyclists particularly well. The Taff Trail passes close by, the canal towpath gives level walking and cycling in both directions, and paths lead from the village up onto the Beacons ridge. Buses to Brecon, Abergavenny and Swansea stop at the gate, which makes this one of the few sites in the park where a car is genuinely optional. Booking well ahead is advisable for school holidays and bank holiday weekends, and a deposit is taken at the time of booking.