Brecon Beacons footpaths in £92k revamp

Workers installing a signpost on the Beacons Way

Nearly 100 miles (161km) of footpaths in the Brecon Beacons have undergone a major makeover.

The popular Beacons Way walking route across Powys, Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire has been refurbished thanks to wardens and volunteers.

The path was eroded by heavy rainfall, and bridges and walkways near waterfalls have also had a revamp.

Funding of £92,000 for the project came from the Countryside Council for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The improvements were made to three sections of the Beacons Way, which traverses nearly 100 miles across the national park from Skirrid Mountain, near Abergavenny, to Bethlehem in Carmarthenshire.

The first section of repairs started at the foot of Craig y Fan Ddu in the central Beacons. A second section - the path from Llyn y Fan Fawr to Fan Brycheiniog (near Brecon) - was also upgraded to minimise erosion and improve the experience for visitors.

A third section of the footpath in Carmarthenshire received a new non-slip walkway, along with way marking and sign posting improvements.

Richard Ball of the national park authority said: "The three footpath sections that we've improved along the Beacons Way are strategically very important and will have a significant impact on the walkers who use this route regularly - particularly the Craig y Fan Ddu section of the Beacons Way walk which stretches from Llangynidr (near Crickhowell) to the Storey Arms.

"This steep and popular section of the route was identified as being in poor condition and in desperate need of repair by walkers and national park staff who survey the route annually."