Crickhowell, a market town in the Usk Valley, has been named one of the UK's best towns by consumer watchdog Which? and previously named the 'Best Place to Live' in Wales by The Sunday Times. The town is known for its independent shops, an award-winning pub and access to mountainous hiking trails.
Located south of the Black Mountains and near the eastern range of Bannau Brycheiniog, Crickhowell has attracted attention from celebrities. Carol Vorderman previously visited the dog-friendly coaching inn, The Bear, after a hike and shared her experience on Instagram.
History and hiking trails
Crickhowell's history dates back to the Iron Age, when settlers built a hillfort atop Crug Hywel, also known as Table Mountain due to its flat top. Later, the Normans added a motte-and-bailey castle, the remains of which still overlook the town.
For hikers, the town serves as a base for walks into the surrounding hills and mountains. Routes include Table Mountain, the Brecon and Monmouth Canal, the Llangattock escarpment, and the River Usk through the Glanusk Estate. Nearby peaks such as Sugar Loaf, Allt yr Esgair and Tor y Foel are within reach, while Pen y Fan, the highest summit in southern Britain, is a short drive away.
One of the most accessible routes from the town centre is the Crug Hywel Table Mountain walk, described by Visit Brecon Beacons as a "grade 4" walk, featuring narrow paths, steep climbs and muddy terrain after downpours. From the car park, a leafy path beside Cumbeth Brook leads to an open hillside and the ancient hillfort that gave Crickhowell its name.
High Street shops and cafes
In 2018, Crickhowell's High Street was crowned the Best High Street in the UK. It features indie boutiques, historic pubs and Crickhowell Adventure, an outdoor shop. Webbs of Crickhowell has been trading since 1936, offering stylish clothing and household goods.
Food options include Court Room Cafe in the market hall and Latte Da, a vintage-style cafe serving breakfast, lunch and traditional afternoon tea. Book-ish, founded in 2010 by Emma and Drew Corfield-Walters, is an award-winning bookshop that has won Independent Bookshop of the Year in Wales several times. In November 2021, the community raised more than £25,000 in a week to help save the shop, with a donation from Michael Sheen.
Owner Emma Corfield-Walters told WalesOnline at the time: "It has been really heartening for my team and me to know that there is so much love for us. To have had that acknowledgement and so many messages." She added: "We've always tried to make sure Book.ish is at the centre of this community. I think this is confirmation for us that people know what we're trying to achieve in the community and in the shop, and it's great to know they don't want that to go anywhere."
The store includes a children's reading room, the Snug, an in-house event venue, the Loft, and a cafe serving local produce. The cafe offers Welsh cakes and Bara Brith from Baked by Natalie, cakes from Cake Head, coffee from Black Mountain Roast in Hay-on-Wye, meats from Cashells butcher and smoked salmon from Black Mountain Smokery.
Pubs and breweries
The Bear, a 15th-century hotel in Powys, has attracted stars such as Carol Vorderman, Robbie Williams and Johnny Depp. It was named Inn of the Year in The Good Pub Guide and voted one of the AA's Best Pubs in Wales. The former coaching inn offers dining in its historic bar or restaurant, with dishes including slow-braised Welsh beef short rib, burgers, butternut squash mac and cheese and homemade lasagne.
The Dragon Inn, a family-run Visit Wales 4-star inn on the High Street, offers food and a selection of beers, wines and spirits. Antur Brew Co, a microbrewery and taproom, serves craft beers ranging from hoppy pours to German ales and lagers, and hosts foodie pop-ups with street food including smash burgers and tacos.
