Talgarth Campus
Talgarth, POwys
The Bannau Brycheiniog National Park is our campus. We are also in the process of renovating and converting an upland hill farm, Troed-yr-Harn. Learning at BMC you will be part of building facilities for future generations.
The town
The town of Talgarth, nestled in the heart of the Black Mountains in Powys, is a rural community rich in history and natural beauty. Once the ancient capital of the early mediaeval Kingdom of Brycheiniog in the historic county of Brecknockshire, Talgarth is a vibrant market town. The name ‘Talgarth’ comes from the Welsh words tâl (meaning the brow or forehead of a hill) and garth (meaning mountain ridge or promontory), translating to “end of the ridge.”
Our Troed yr Harn campus is located just a mile uphill from the town centre, accessible via a scenic walk through the Pwll y Wrach nature reserve. This area, which follows the banks of the River Ennig, is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its rare biodiversity. Here, you’ll find ancient woodlands, unique plant species, a variety of insects, and small mammals, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts and a perfect setting for immersive learning experiences.
learning sites
further education
Our NVQ courses are taught in community settings as well as on-site at our Farm campus, across the Bannau Brycheiniog and within local woodlands as well as our own. Coppicing sessions take place in our new workshop in Talgarth town centre.
higher education
Our Degree is also taught across the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, with many lectures, seminars and indoor sessions taking place at Troed yr Harn or within our new learning space in Talgarth town centre. From September 2025, lessons will take place in the former Youth Community Centre that is currently undergoing a £1.7million cutting-edge retrofit.
Troed yr harn farm
Troed-yr-Harn is our main farm campus, spanning 120-acres, where lots of lessons take place. In 2023 Troed yr Harn produced 80 bales of hay which fed local livestock in the winter and produced enough vegetables during the summer months to feed residents and cater for graduation and residential courses.
Our staff, students and community volunteers have planted approx 2500 trees across the site, and a grant funded orchard is being planted by paid ex-students who are now working in the industry in the local area. We have weekly volunteering opportunities from a diverse mix of students providing further learning of practical skills and the sense of community is growing.
Troed yr Harn now has established working relationships with local businesses, organisations, charities, contractors, and farmers. We aim to continue to build resilience into the farm system and demonstrate what can be achieved when farms work together with nature, not against it.
facilities
Located in the beautiful landscape of Wales, our farm campus is also a nature recovery project, transforming former upland grazing into regenerated woodland, organic orchards, horticulture, and agro-ecological nature-friendly farming.
We have two classrooms or meeting rooms which fit up to 20 people in each building. Our large sheep barn is also set up as an open-plan workshop for indoor activities. For horticultural activities, we have two horticulture plots across our fields as well as a polytunnel. We have a small amount of student accommodation in the farmhouse on site. We also have toilets and showers, a large stretch tent in summer, and a camping field. There is a fire pit and an outdoor kitchen. In 2023, our Coppicing NVQ students helped to build the roundhouse for gatherings.
Troed-yr-Harn is a car free campus (except if you have accessibility requirements) and we do expect most visitors to walk from Talgarth; a 1.2-mile uphill walk through beautiful ancient woodland. We operate a minibus for students during term times.
helping nature recover
We are implementing a plan to increase biodiversity and experiment with regenerative practices on the 120-acres of the land. Our volunteers, short course participants and FE students all help with ecological monitoring, nature restoration and management of the land. Join us to explore, preserve, conserve and learn.
We have recorded over 200 species of vascular plants and bryophytes, 115 species of invertebrates, 5 bat species, including the rare lesser horseshoe, 78 bird species and 21 species of trees. We recorded badger cubs on camera, young foxes hunting and a small group of roe deer spent the summer with us in 2023, which was a first according to local knowledge.
reaching us
in talgarth
We are located near Talgarth, in between Brecon and Hay-on-Wye. Our main reception is in the town centre, at Ennig Office, the Square.
The Troed yr Harn campus is a walk of 1 mile uphill through the Pwll y Wrach nature reserve. There are daily buses along the foothills of the black mountains between Hereford, Hay, Talgarth and Brecon, with good connections to Abergavenny and Hereford train stations if you are visiting from further afield!
Our countryside location can make it difficult for those who do not drive to reach us, so we have included public transport information to help.
If you arrive via train in Abergavenny, you will need to take a short walk to the bus station and jump on the 43 or X43 bus to Brecon.
Next, you will need to change at Brecon Bus Station to the T14 bus which then runs directly to Talgarth. Alternatively, if you are travelling to us on a Tuesday or Thursday only you can use the X12 bus to Builth Wells which stops in Talgarth.
If you arrive via train in Hereford, you can jump on a bus from Hereford Train Station and reach Talgarth through a more direct route without having to change buses. You also use the T14 bus from Hereford – Brecon.
You can use the X12 Bus Builth Wells – Abergavenny to reach us directly, but please note this service only runs on a Tuesday and Thursday.
If you’re visiting from Cardiff, you can get the T4 bus directly to Brecon, and then swap to the T14 at Brecon Bus Station towards Hereford which travels through Talgarth.
Please contact us at info@blackmountainscollege.uk if you are struggling to find us!
Read our student stories
Our students’ stories are a testament to personal transformation and impact. From mastering sustainable practices in regenerative horticulture to leading community-based conservation projects, each journey reflects a commitment to shaping a greener and more equitable future.