Dozens of Brecon residents and visitors turned out for the launch of WALK: The Brecon Story, the new heritage trail for the town's history.

Brecon Story, the volunteer-led local history and culture group has published a printed and online guide to some of the key locations in the community’s near thousand-year history.  

The project was inspired and supported by The 15-Minute Heritage Fund initiative from Cadw and The National Lottery Heritage helping to discover the local history and architecture that exists within a fifteen-minute walk of our homes. 

The walk was officially launched by Brecon Mayor Cllr Michaela Davies and led by Andy Collinson, Brecon Story volunteer and author of the guide.

Elizabeth Jeffreys, who helped to found Brecon Story said:  “We were delighted that so many people were able to join us on such a beautiful day.

"There is so much to learn and to celebrate about the town's history.

"We are hoping that this will be something that is valued by local people and visitors alike."

The project has been so successful that a second print run of the printed route has been organised to ensure that the guide remains available throughout the summer. Copies can be picked up at Visit Brecon, y Gaer Museum and Library, the Cathedral and several other locations around the town.

Cllr Michaela Davies congratulated Brecon Story volunteers for all their hard work in producing the guide and developing the digital and Google Earth fly-through version of the heritage trail ,which can be accessed online here.

Brecon Story volunteer Andy Collinson said: "It has been a true privilege to learn about the history of our beautiful town from so many people who have studied our community's past for decades.

"But this is very much the first draft of the tour. We now want to add the memories of people who have lived and worked here over the decades to make it a real living history of our community."

Waymarker signs have been added along the route to guide walkers. The signs include a QR code which can be used to access the walk on mobile phones.

Punch Maughan of the Found Gallery and the Brecon Buzz group of local independent businesses had a grant from the Brilliant Basics funding pot, some of which was to support the waymarking and to make sure that all the historical plaques in the town were cleaned. The project has been invaluable to help visitors find their way around Brecon and to discover more of its history.

“We have a unique and vibrant community that we want to celebrate and share in a sustainable way that boosts our local economy and secures jobs that maintain that vibrancy into the future,” said Punch.

“This collaboration shows groups working together to get positive results for everybody who lives, works and cares about Brecon.”