Llangorse Lake, Brecon Beacons National Park
If you have a love for the outdoors and nature, there is a multitude of activities waiting for you. You will never be short of things to do at Llangorse Lake in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park.
Wondering what to do at Llangorse Lake?
On Easter Sunday, 2018, Didem and I jumped in the car and headed to Llangorse Lake. Didem had never been there, and I was returning for the first time in 34 years.
A childhood friend of mine used to live in a nearby village, and I have fond memories of my time spent holidaying in Llangorse as a 10-year-old boy.
Returning all these years later was certainly no disappointment. It was just as beautiful as I remembered. The largest natural lake in South Wales sits in the shadow of Mynydd Troed and Mynydd Llangorse to the east and Pen-y-Fan to the southwest, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons.
We had a super day enjoying our version of the and also had time to check out the information centre at the Lakeside Caravan Park reception.
We realised how much was on offer for the activity-minded individual or family. We, therefore, felt it necessary to put together a comprehensive post detailing all the amazing things to do at Llangorse Lake.
How to get to Llangorse Lake?
To help you with your Llangorse Lake directions, we have included this Llangorse Lake map:
Although it is nestled in the northern part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, Llangorse Lake is easily accessible owing to the decent road network running close by. As you can see from the map, the north/south A470 and the east/west A40 come within a few miles of the lake.
Llangorse Lake Parking
There is ample free parking at Llangorse Lake but do be aware that this is a popular destination, and spaces may fill quickly during school holidays and on weekends. If you use a Sat Nav, you may wish to know that the Llangorse Lake postcode is LD3 7TR.
Llangorse Lake Activities
If you like to have fun, there is an abundance of Llangorse Lake activities to keep you occupied all day. If getting out on the water floats your boat (pardon the pun), there are plenty of watercraft options that may interest you:
Llangorse Lake Boat Hire
You can do that if you fancy a gentle pootle around the lake in a pedalo or rowing boat. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something a little more energetic, then you may wish to take out a canoe or kayak. Visit the Llangorse Lake boat hire prices page to check out the cost of your preferred watercraft rental.
Is the thought of sailing on Llangorse Lake more your thing? Head to Llangorse Lake Sailing Club and check out the sailboat varieties available to hire, depending on your experience level.
Are you interested in taking a sailing course? Llangorse Sailing Club is an RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Recognised Training Centre (RTC). Look at the range of official RYA courses available for all ages.
Water Skiing/Wake Boarding on Llangorse Lake
Water skiing and wakeboarding are also popular pastimes on Llangorse Lake. If you have your boat and equipment, you can enjoy these activities in this idyllic setting within the Brecon Beacons National Park. For further details, visit the water skiing/wakeboarding charges and rules page.
If you don’t have the luxury of owning a boat or equipment and require some instruction, the Llangorse Lake Water Ski Club should be your next port of call.
Llangorse Lake Fishing
If you enjoy fishing, you will love the 400-acre Llangorse Lake. If you wait until October, when the pleasure boats are moored for the season, you can enjoy the lake at its tranquil best! Although the lake is renowned for its pike fishing, it also holds stocks of perch, roach, bream, tench, and eels.
Fishing is not permitted on the shores of Llangorse Lake owing to the many SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and conservation areas. Therefore, it is only possible to fish directly from boats.
Llangorse Lake Fishing Prices
Whether you have your boat or not, you can enjoy fishing on Llangorse Lake.
If you need to hire a fishing boat, visit the boat hire prices page. If you have your boat that you plan to use, you will need to check the permit and launch prices page.
To ensure that you comply with all the Llangorse Lake fishing rules and regulations, make sure that you read through the details on the fishing rules page.
Llangorse Lake Walks
If you are a keen walker, you will not be short of exciting walks in the Llangorse Lake area. Here are seven great examples that should help whet your appetite:
Walk 1 – Llangorse figure of 8
Walk 2 – The Lake Trail
Walk 3 – Buckland Hill – The Bucklebury Walk
Walk 4 – Llangasty Stroll
Walk 5 – Up and Over The Allt
Walk 6 – Mynydd Llangorse (also check out our version of the Mynydd Llangorse Walk)
Walk 7 – The Three Peaks Walk
For a detailed route description of each walk, a map, plus valuable route-specific information, download the Awesome Walks Around Llangorse & Bwlch PDF.
If these 7 walks are not enough, you may also wish to look at these four popular walks. Download PDF routes plans and route descriptions by clicking on the links below:
‘Bwlch with Altitude’
‘Bwlch with Fortitude’
‘Bwlch with Magnitude’
‘Bwlch with Solitude’ – as featured on the BBC’s ‘Weatherman Walking’
If you love walking, like so many other visitors, you will never be short of things to do at Llangorse Lake.
Llangorse Multi Activity Centre
The Llangorse Multi Activity Centre is an award-winning indoor and outdoor activity and training centre located just a short distance east of Llangorse Lake. This facility has operated since 1958 and offers various indoor and outdoor activities for children and adults of all abilities.
Indoor Activities
If you are looking for year-round adventures regardless of what the weather is doing, there are plenty of indoor activities waiting for you. Try out Wales’ only indoor natural rock climbing facility or the artificial rock climbing walls. These are just two indoor activities at the Llangorse Multi Activity Centre. Check out the complete list of indoor activities & prices.
Outdoor Activities
If aerial zip lines are more your cup of tea, you will love Sky Trek! This unique and exciting activity comprises 14 connected zip lines travelling between trees at heights of up to 22 metres as it zig-zags down the mountainside. Sky Trek is suitable for ages 12 and over.
Junior Challenge Course
This consists of stepping stones, hanging tunnels, balance logs, Burma buckets, a Vine traverse, swinging tyres, and more. This is suitable for children ranging from 6-12 years. Find out further details about the outdoor activities & prices.
Horse Riding
The Llangorse Multi Activity Centre also offers horse riding opportunities for individuals regardless of experience. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains and Llangorse Lake on horseback.
There is no need to worry about traffic as the horse rides occur on a network of private bridleways totalling 25 miles. Learn more about the horse riding options at the Llangorse Multi Activity Centre.
To find out the opinions of visitors to the Llangorse Multi Activity Centre, head on over to the TripAdvisor reviews.
Ellesmere Riding Centre
The Llangorse Multi Activity Centre is certainly not the only option for those looking to enjoy the beauty of this area on horseback. Ellesmere Riding Centre is located just north of the lake and offers a range of riding options for all experience levels.
Ellesmere Riding Centre is a small stable with 20 horses to choose from. You can opt for one of several riding experiences to suit your desires and experience. If you are a complete novice, you may choose a nice gentle trek for you and/or your family. If, on the other hand, you and/or your group are more accomplished riders, you can opt for a 6-day long-distance riding holiday.
To learn more, visit Ellesmere Riding Centre, but don’t forget to check out the Trip Advisor page to discover what others say about their horseback experiences.
Llangorse Lake Cycling
If exploring the area on a bike is more your thing, you will be pleased to know that there are plenty of cycling route options in the Llangorse area. Here we have highlighted four popular cycling routes for you to choose from:
- Around the shores of Llangorse Lake
- Brynich Loch Along the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
- To the top of the Talybont Reservoir
- Sarn Helen & the Roman Roads
Llangorse Lake Stargazing
With our towns and cities becoming ever more lit up, it is getting increasingly difficult to understand what we are looking at when we gaze into the night sky. Thankfully, there are several top dark sky locations in the UK where budding astronomers will get quite a treat! In Wales, there is just one – the Brecon Beacons.
Dark Sky Wales manager, Allan Trow, listed Llangorse Lake as one of his favourite sky-gazing locations in the Brecon Beacons. Check out the list of the top 5 dark sky locations in the UK.
After enjoying the wonders of this area by day, why not stick around after dark to marvel in the beauty of the Llangorse Lake night sky!
Llangorse Lake Wildlife
Llangorse is a beautiful haven for wildlife, and numerous species exist there. Otters and Water Voles are just some examples of mammals living there. That said, it is unlikely that you will catch sight of them as they are often hidden by the reeds along the lake’s shores.
However, you will certainly have no trouble spotting the wide variety of Llangorse Lake birds. Llangorse Lake is a favoured stop-off point for migrating birds; they rest before continuing their travels. Certain species, such as Canada Geese and Grey Herons, stay all year round.
Warblers, coots, swallows and swifts are other bird types that can regularly be seen around the lake. While visiting, we even enjoyed seeing the exquisite-looking Mandarin Drake!
If you want to learn about the latest bird rarities in this area, head over to Llangorse Lake bird sightings.
The Llangorse Lake bird hide may interest you if you are a keen bird watcher. It can be found on the south side of the lake at the Llangasty Nature Reserve near Ty-Mawr Farm. You can get there by driving to the car park adjacent to Llangasty church. Alternatively, follow the Llangorse Lake Trail from the Llangorse Lake caravan park.
Eat & Drink
Following your activity-filled day at Llangorse Lake, you will almost certainly want something to eat and drink. Thankfully, plenty of eating establishments are within easy reach of the lake.
The most convenient is the Llangorse Lake Café which is located alongside the parking area at the lake itself. There are also several pubs near Llangorse Lake which have excellent reviews. The closest is the Castle Inn and the Red Lion, located in the village of Llangorse, just a stone’s throw from the lake.
Check out this comprehensive list (plus reviews) of restaurants near Llangorse Lake, ordered by distance from the lake. We are confident you will find something that suits your taste and budget!
Where to Stay
Perhaps you are looking to spend a couple of days in the area, or even a little longer, to take advantage of the wide range of things to do at Llangorse Lake. There is a good selection of Llangorse Lake accommodation to suit all budgets, and you needn’t venture too far from the lake to find it!
Camping & Caravans
If you are looking for Llangorse Lake camping or a pitch for your caravan, the nearest facility is the Lakeside Caravan Park on the shores of the lake. Visit their camping and touring caravans page for details and pricing.
The Llangorse Lake Caravan Park also offers a range of well-equipped static caravans for rent with a minimum stay requirement of 2 nights. Visit their caravan hire page for full details, including pricing.
Want to know what others say about their stay at the Lakeside Caravan and Camping Park? Check out the TripAdvisor reviews.
Another popular camping and caravan site near Llangorse Lake is the Llynfi Holiday Park. As of July 2018, this site has received a 5 Star rating from those who have stayed there. Read the Facebook reviews.
These Llangorse Lake camping sites are ideally located just a short distance from the lake, so you are never too far from all the action.
Hotels
Looking for a little more comfort during your stay? Then, I guess you would like to browse the great variety of hotels around Llangorse Lake. There are plenty on offer, and you should find precisely what you are looking for, whether you want cheap and cheerful or total opulence!
Check out the wide range of hotels in the Llangorse area
Common Questions About Llangorse Lake
Llangorse or Llangors?
Wondering why you sometimes see these two spelling variations? Quite simply, the Welsh version is spelt without the ‘e’.
What is the distance around Llangorse Lake?
The circumference of Llangorse Lake is 5 miles (8 km)
Is it possible to walk around Llangorse Lake?
No, it is not possible to walk around Llangorse Lake in its entirety. However, you can take the Lake Trail from the parking area on the north side of the lake, around the western side and as far as Llangasty Village Hall on the lake’s south shore.
How deep is Llangorse Lake?
Llangorse Lake has a maximum depth of 7.5 metres
Things to do at Llangorse Lake – Your Suggestions…
Have you enjoyed (not enjoyed) one of the above-mentioned activities? If this is the case, please share your experience with our readers. If you have any questions or comments relating to this article, please enter them in the comment box below, and we will reply as soon as possible.
Thanks for reading, and we hope you enjoy/enjoyed your visit to Llangorse Lake just as much as we did!
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