Property Drop Issue 61

9
Where do you go for culture and entertainment?
You only need to step outside the front door.
We are surrounded by many talented, local artists
and a visit to the Oriel Gallery in CRiC is extremely
worthwhile, to view pieces of
art, jewellery and pottery.
Crickhowell’s annual calendar
includes the Art Trail and Open
Studios in May and the Literary
Festival in the autumn, plus a
new Children’s Book Festival
and regular events organised by
Crickhowell Choral Society. Then
there’s the Green Man music and
arts festival held every August,
which is wonderful for the area
and very exciting to visit. For
those interested in local history,
there is also an Archive Centre
based at CRiC which is run by
enthusiastic volunteers who
have a wealth of local knowledge
on the history of the town and
the surrounding areas, from
Crickhowell Castle to Second
World War plane wrecks.
Where do you go to “blow the
cobwebs away”?
Here, we are in the heart of
the Brecon Beacons National Park
so you can go on any number of
magnificent walks. From the town
you can even venture up Table
Mountain to enjoy the spectacular
views and then you can return to
the town for refreshments. Every
year, there’s a wonderful Walking
Festival in Crickhowell - next
year’s runs for nine days from
March 7 and caters for all level of
walkers. Perfect for blowing away
the cobwebs!!
What leisure pursuits do you enjoy
locally?
I am a horse rider so I am
biased when I say we have the
best off road riding! For those
who don’t own their own horse
there are a number of local
stables offering full day hacks,
which are a great way to view the
surrounding countryside.
What’s the social life like in
Crickhowell?
It can be as quiet or as lively as you want it to be.
Clarence Hall is a venue for musical evenings, talks
and cinema nights; there is a vast U3A community
for those over the age of 50; during the summer there
are duck races on the river, local fetes and fairs and
with Brecon and Abergavenny extremely close you can
broaden your horizons in any
direction.
How would you advise someone
new into the area to get to know the
locals?
I would highly recommend
volunteering in CRiC, which is
the hub of the town. You get to
know so many people and keep
on top of what’s going on. Joining
local clubs and groups is also a
very good idea.
Where are your favourite places to
go on outings with your children?
The park here in Crickhowell;
the Monmouthshire and Brecon
canal, where we feed the ducks;
Cantref Adventure Farm and
Llangorse Activity Centre both
near Brecon and Big Pit, which
makes for a fantastic day out for
adults and children alike.
Where else would you take adult
friends?
Round the town - there is so
much there to see (and buy!);
we’d also go up Table Mountain
for the views and to look round
Tretower Court and Raglan Castle.
What’s the best time of year in
Crickhowell?
Christmas!! We have the
Christmas Lights Switch On and
a visit from Father Christmas
on November 23 this year
and on December 5 we have
our Christmas in Crickhowell
event with late-night opening,
a Christmas Fair and street
entertainment. The buzz is
amazing.
Tell me one fascinating fact about
Crickhowell…
One of the town’s landmarks
is its Eighteenth Century bridge,
the longest stone bridge in Wales,
which spans the River Usk.
Look closely and you will notice that it has 12 arches
on one side and 13 the other. A wider arch, on the
Crickhowell end, was added in the 1800s to replace
two earlier ones.
Facts and Figures
The small market town of Crickhowell boasts a picturesque setting, alongside the River Usk with the spectacular
landscapes of the Black Mountains to the north and the Llangattock Mountain to the south. Recognised for its vibrant
High Street with its wealth of independent shops, it topped the Sunday Times list of Best Places to Live in Wales in April
2019. At its hub is Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre (CRiC), which houses the Tourist Information Centre, an
art gallery and internet café. For more information about Crickhowell visit: www.visitcrickhowell.co.uk
Photos: Sharon Chilcott
Sharon Chilcott