The Park was established in 1957, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. It was the tenth area in England and Wales to be given such status.

The Brecon Beacons National Park covers an area of 1347 sq km (520 sq miles) and contains some of the most spectacular and distinctive upland formations in southern Britain.

In the centre of the Park are the Brecon Beacons proper. A distinctive north-facing escarpment rising to 886m (2,906 ft) at Pen y fan, the highest point in southern Britain.

The Brecon Beacons National Park is a place steeped in history, magnificent in its natural beauty and with many things to see and do. The total number of visitors to the Park is 3.6 million per year. Many choose to partake in activities such as: walking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding, climbing, gliding, sailing and windsurfing, canoeing, bird watching and wildlife. Or simply to enjoy the canal and riverside walks, site of historical interest, spectacular viewpoints, lakes and reservoirs and nature reserves.