Why go now?
Now in its 26th year, the Brecon Jazz festival (7-9 August) brings a giddy air to the quiet streets of Brecon, with five venues around the town offering concerts, talks and performances, plus a jazz carnival parade through the streets on the Saturday morning and a jazz service at the cathedral on Sunday. This year the headline acts include Courtney Pine; tickets cost £5-15 (book on 0870 990 1299; breconjazz.org). High summer in Brecon may mean the town is busier than usual, but it's a relative term - and the surrounding countryside is so vast that it's always possible to find a quiet spot for that perfect evening picnic.
Where to stay
The best accommodation tends to be outside Brecon itself; Peterstone Court (01874 665387; peterstone-court.com) is an elegant Georgian country house, done out in an eclectic mix of traditional and ultra-contemporary furnishings. The accent is on the food, with all the meat and poultry reared on the family's nearby farm. Doubles from £110. For something simpler, The Old Storehouse (01874 665499; theoldstorehouse.co.uk) lies a mile outside town; a 200-year-old conversion on the banks of the Brecon and Monmouthshire canal, with comfy doubles from £70 including breakfast.
The perfect pub
The Felin Fach Griffin Inn (01874 620111; eatdrinksleep.ltd.uk) was one of the first of Wales's new breed of gastropubs-with-rooms, and it ticks just about every box. The bar has a roaring log fire and scrubbed wood tables, food is locally sourced and deliciously unfussy, and the rooms are simple but sumptuously comfy (doubles from £115). The Castle Inn (01874 711353; thecastleinn.co.uk) is renowned in the area for simple, well-prepared food - and its quirky habit of serving steaks on hot stones.
Don't miss
If you visit Brecon without exploring the Beacons you really are missing out. The visitor centre at Libanus (breconbeacons.org) is only a 15-minute drive out of town and the walk across Mynydd Illtyd common affords stunning views across the peaks of the Black Mountains. A less energetic hike is the stroll between the galleries, design shops and craft studios that make up Brecon's 'Artbeat Trail' (artbeatbrecon.co.uk).
Take the family
Younger kids will love the Cantref Adventure Farm (cantref.com), which has live animal shows every day and various rides and attractions, including a giant artificial sledge ride, while the Llangorse Multi Activity Centre (activityuk.com) will keep the teens happy, with zip-wiring, rock climbing and horse riding all on offer.
Cantref Adventure Farm (cantref.com), which has live animal shows every day and various rides and attractions, including a giant artificial sledge ride, while the Llangorse Multi Activity Centre (activityuk.com) will keep the teens happy, with zip-wiring, rock climbing and horse riding all on offer.
• More details at brecon-beacons.com
