Brecon Beacons renamed

THE Brecon Beacons Na ‐tional Park in Wales an ‐nounced that as from its 66th anniversary which was on Monday April 17 it will use the name Ban ‐nau Brycheiniog.

Those who run the park say the change will cele ‐brate and promote the area’s culture and her ‐itage. It is part of a man ‐agement overall to ad ‐dress environmental challenges.

Brycheiniog was named after the fifth century King Brychan who ruled over this independent kingdom in the early mid‐dle ages.

The Welch names means ‘the peaks of Brychan’s kingdom’. You pronounce the name ban‐aye ‐ bruch ‐ ein ‐ log with the ch in bruch pro ‐nounced like the word loch.

The National Park’s chief executive, Catherine Mealing ‐ Jones said: “It just felt the right time to reclaim the old name for the area (it) reflects our commitment to the Welsh language.

“But we understand people are used to calling the park by the name ev ‐eryone’s used for 66 years, so we don’t expect everyone to use it, at least straight away.”

The park covers almost 529 square miles (1.347 sq km) of south and mid wales. About four million visitors come to Bannau Brycheiniog every year.