Cantref is a collection of scattered hill farms and homes in the heart of the Brecon Beacons. This is a lively community of almost a hundred adults, lots of young people and thousands of sheep.
There is a healthy mix of newcomers and families who have farmed here for generations. Many of them offer self-catering accommodation, bed and breakfast or camping in spectacular locations with access straight onto the hills.
A newcomer arriving right in the middle of Cantref could be forgiven for wondering where it is! Easiest landmark is the pretty church of St. Cynidr and St. Mary – the peak of Pen y Fan is in the parish. Opposite the church is Cantref Adventure Farm and Riding Centre. From here a spider’s web of country lanes lead to the hills where some of the country’s best Welsh hill lamb is produced. Be patient if your journey is slowed by pony trekkers or a flock of sheep.
Remote and isolated are not words you’d choose to describe a close-knit community. But paradoxically Cantref is just that. The need for co-operation in farming the hills is an essential ingredient of life here. It has created a culture that is strong and confident and which welcomes newcomers and visitors who make the effort to join in.
