61-911: Gilwern is a village within the Brecon Beacons National Park in Monmouthshire , Wales . Historically in Brecknockshire , it extends to either side of the River Clydach on the south side of the Usk valley . Its position beside the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal led to it being an important industrial centre at one time. Gilwern is a village historically in Breconshire now in Monmouthshire about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Abergavenny , close to where
122-593: A glacial moraine which in part forms a natural dam. A small artificial dam was constructed in the 1930s to divert some of its waters to boost Llanelli 's water supply. Llyn y Fan Fach is associated with the Lady of the Lake legend. The lake can easily be reached on foot from the car park on the Welsh Water access road near Llanddeusant . Llyn y Fan Fawr ('large lake of the peak') lies below Fan Brycheiniog towards
183-407: A "huge blow". Most of the national park is bare, grassy moorland grazed by Welsh mountain ponies and Welsh mountain sheep , with scattered forestry plantations , and pasture in the valleys. Common ravens , red kites , peregrine falcons , northern wheatears , ring ouzels , and the rare merlin breeds in the park. The Brecon Beacons National Park was established in 1957, the third of
244-408: A bilingual nation as it did not treat English and Welsh languages equally, and ambassadors of the park were not consulted on the name change. A digital marketer dismissed the campaigner's argument, stating tourism would not be impacted, and the national park authority stated they are prioritising Welsh names going forward. Black Mountain (range) The Black Mountain ( Welsh : Y Mynydd Du )
305-487: A long ridge , and the sections joining the first four form a horseshoe shape around the head of the Taf Fechan , which flows away to the southeast. To the northeast of the ridge, interspersed with long parallel spurs, are four cirques (Welsh: cwm ) or four round-headed valleys, which from west to east these are Cwm Sere, Cwm Cynwyn, Cwm Oergwm and Cwm Cwareli. The Black Mountains in the east are clearly separated from
366-581: A significant role during the Industrial Revolution as various raw materials including limestone, silica sand and ironstone were quarried for transport southwards to the furnaces of the industrialising South Wales Valleys . The Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre was opened in 1966 to help visitors understand and enjoy the area. This western half of the national park gained European and global status in 2005 as Fforest Fawr Geopark , which includes
427-520: A slightly smaller area than it does presently. A 'Variation Order' was made in June 1966 to extend it by about 4.5 square miles (12 km ) at its southeastern extremity. West of the canal, the boundary had previously been drawn along the boundary between the (then) administrative parishes of Llanover and Goytre. The park is managed by Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, a special purpose local authority with responsibilities to conserve and enhance
488-547: A wharf at Gilwern, was built to transport coal , limestone and iron products from the surrounding area using a network of tramways and railroads. The Clydach Railroad and the Llam-march Tramroad both serviced the wharf with materials gathered and produced further up the Clydach Gorge . Both are still visible, the former being a road and the latter a footpath between Gilwern and Clydach . The canal crosses
549-474: Is Fan Brycheiniog , at 802.5 metres (2,633 ft). There are notable waterfalls in this area, including the 90-foot (27 m) Henrhyd Falls and the Ystradfellte falls to the south of Fforest Fawr. The Ogof Ffynnon Ddu cave system is on the southwestern edge of Fforest Fawr. Numerous town and community councils operate within these areas and include the town councils for Brecon and Hay on Wye and
610-595: Is a mountain range in South, Mid and West Wales, straddling the county boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys , and forming the westernmost range of the Brecon Beacons National Park . Its highest point is Fan Brycheiniog at 802 metres or 2,631 ft. The Black Mountain also forms a part of the Fforest Fawr Geopark . The Black Mountain should not be confused with the Black Mountains in
671-488: Is a very similar unexcavated round barrow on Picws Du . The excavation at Fan Foel indicated that the moorland was well-wooded in Bronze Age Britain owing to a warmer climate than at present, with much of the present moorland covered by hazel scrub with oak at lower heights, though the higher land is tree-less in its current sub-arctic state. The massif is drained by a number of rivers which flow down
SECTION 10
#1732801341485732-639: Is a well graded stone staircase which carries the Beacons Way path from Llyn y Fan Fawr up the escarpment to Fan Brycheiniog in the centre of the range. There are numerous different species of bird in the area, and they include the red kite , common buzzard , kestrel , carrion crow , common raven and skylark to name a few of the most obvious residents. The red kite was previously restricted to this and adjoining areas in South Wales such as Mynydd Mallaen owing to persecution by gamekeepers in
793-547: Is also a standards committee with three members. Between 1995 and 2020 the park authority had 24 members, sixteen appointed by the local authorities and eight by the government. Outdoor activities in Brecon Beacons National Park include walking , cycling , mountain biking and horse riding , as well as sailing , windsurfing , canoeing , fishing , rock climbing , hang-gliding , caravanning , camping and caving . A long-distance cycling route,
854-566: Is derived from the Welsh one; in the eleventh century the town of Brecon is recorded as 'Brecheniauc', which became "Brecknock" and "Brecon". In a paragraph on Brecknockshire, John Leland 's 1536–1539 Itinerary notes that: Blak Montayne is most famose, for he strecchith, as I have lerned, his rootes on one side within a iiii. or v. myles of Monemuth , and on the other side as nere to Cairmerdin ( Carmarthen ). Though this be al one montayne, yet many partes of him have sundry names. Leland ascribes
915-498: Is located two miles (3 km) north of Merthyr Tydfil town centre. Mountain rescue in south Wales is provided by five volunteer groups, with the police having overall command. In serious situations they were historically aided by Royal Navy or Royal Air Force helicopters from RM Chivenor or RAF Valley , but since 2015 this task has been performed by Bristow Helicopters on behalf of HM Coastguard . The five groups are: The groups are funded primarily by donations. Their work
976-553: Is not restricted to mountain rescue – they frequently assist the police in their search for missing or vulnerable people in the community. The Brecon Beacons are used for training members of the UK armed forces and military reservists . The Army ’s Infantry Battle School is located at Brecon, and the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service use the area to test the fitness of applicants. An exercise unique to
1037-556: Is the lowest, and the other two nearly of a height, they are sometimes called Cader Arthur or Arthur's chair'. This implies that "Brecknock Beacons" referred to only three summits, including Pen y Fan and Corn Du. To distinguish the Brecons Beacons range from the national park, the range is sometimes called the "Central Beacons". In April 2023, the national park changed its name to Bannau Brycheiniog in English , abandoning
1098-623: The A40 trunk road and the A465 Heads of the Valleys road meet. The River Usk and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal are close to the village. Gilwern Hill lies to the south of the village. It is partly tree-clad and has a mast on top. The name of the village translates from the Welsh Y Gilwern (from cil-gwern ) as "the recess (or bend) of the alders ", probably a reference to its position at
1159-659: The Brecon Mountain Railway . The railway is a 1 ft 11 + 3 ⁄ 4 in ( 603 mm ) narrow gauge tourist railway on the south side of the Brecon Beacons. It climbs northwards from Pant along the full length of the Pontsticill Reservoir (also called 'Taf Fechan' reservoir by Welsh Water ) and continues past the adjoining Pentwyn Reservoir to Torpantau railway station . The railway's starting point at Pant
1220-537: The Neolithic and the succeeding Bronze Age , the most obvious legacy of the latter being the numerous burial cairns which adorn the hills of the centre and west of the National Park. There are remnants of round barrows on Fan Brycheiniog, Pen y Fan and Corn Du. The former was excavated in 2002–4 and the ashes in the central cist dated to about 2000 BCE using radiocarbon dating . A wreath of meadowsweet
1281-483: The Pembrokeshire Coast . It is visited by approximately 4.4 million people each year. The name Bannau Brycheiniog is first attested in the sixteenth century, and 'Brecon Beacons' first occurs in the eighteenth century as "Brecknock Beacons". Bannau Brycheiniog derives from the Welsh bannau , "peaks", and Brycheiniog , the name of an early medieval kingdom which covered the area. The English name
SECTION 20
#17328013414851342-583: The Taff Trail , passes over the Beacons on its way from Brecon to Cardiff , and in 2005 the first walk to span the entire length of the park was opened. The 99-mile (159 km) route, called the Beacons Way , runs from Abergavenny via The Skirrid ( Ysgyryd Fawr ) in the east and ends in the village of Llangadog in Carmarthenshire in the west. A railway with narrow gauge trains is run by
1403-431: The "Carmarthen Fans" and the county top of Carmarthenshire is thus the minor summit of Fan Foel, height 781 metres (2,562 ft). The range stretches approximately from Ammanford in the south-west to Sennybridge in the north-east. The larger part of these hills is formed from Devonian age Old Red Sandstone , though bands of Carboniferous Limestone and of Twrch Sandstone are important landscape-forming rocks in
1464-700: The Agriculture of the County of Brecknock refers to 'the Vann, or Brecknock Beacon, the undisputed sovereign of all the mountains in South Wales', and an 1839 tithe map of Cantref parish labels the mountain simply 'Beacon'. A slightly wider definition was used in 1809 by the Breconshire historian Theophilus Jones , who wrote that 'of the lofty summits of the Brecknock Beacons, that most southwards
1525-675: The Black Mountain, the historic extent of Fforest Fawr, and much of the Brecon Beacons range and surrounding lowlands. The entire national park achieved the status of being an International Dark Sky Reserve in February 2013. In 2006 and 2007, controversy surrounded the government decision to build the South Wales Gas Pipeline through the park, the National Park Authority calling the decision
1586-558: The Black Mountains and the intervening high ground of Fforest Fawr . The term " Carmarthen Fans " ( Bannau Sir Gâr in Welsh ) is sometimes used inaccurately to describe the whole of this massif, whereas it should be restricted to the peaks along the northern escarpment within Carmarthenshire (the peak of Fan Brycheiniog lies east across the border into historic Brecknockshire ). The "Carmarthen Fans" thus includes Fan Foel , Picws Du and Waun Lefrith . The highest point of
1647-692: The River Clydach on the Gilwern Aqueduct, an embankment over 90 feet high, just next to Gilwern Wharf. The former Navigation Inn and the Towpath Inn stand on either side of the canal just beyond the aqueduct. Gilwern's precast-concrete arched bridge, on the A465 , ('Head of Valleys Road'), between Gilwern and Brynmawr , is made of 70 individual units. The bridge structure is believed to be the widest-spanned, pre-cast concrete arched bridge in
1708-703: The Romans came to Wales in 43 CE, they stationed more than 600 soldiers in the area. Y Gaer , near the town of Brecon was their main base. During the Norman Conquest many castles were erected throughout the park, including Carreg Cennen Castle . Brecon Castle is of Norman origin. There are many old tracks which were used over the centuries by drovers to take their cattle and geese to market in England. The drovers brought back gorse seed , which they sowed to provide food for their sheep . The area played
1769-885: The Tawe such as the River Giedd and the Afon Twrch , as well as the River Amman , a tributary of the Loughor, are the principal southerly-directed watercourses. Two left-bank tributaries of the River Towy , the River Cennen and the Afon Sawdde , drain the northwestern slopes of the Black Mountain. The range is noted for its two glacial lakes which sit directly below the main escarpment, being much larger than
1830-519: The access track to Llyn y Fan Fach . Virtually the entire massif consists of land mapped as open country and hence legally accessible to the public on foot under the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 . In addition the range is crossed from north to south by a number of long bridleways which may be used by mountain bikers and horseriders though long sections of them are very rough and indistinct. The Beacons Way traverses
1891-642: The area is the ' Fan dance ', which takes place on Pen y Fan. In July 2013 three soldiers died from overheating or heatstroke on an SAS selection exercise. An army captain had been found dead on Corn Du earlier in the year after training in freezing weather for the SAS. On 17 April 2023 it was announced that the National Park had officially adopted the name Bannau Brycheiniog in both Welsh and English. The new official English name became Bannau Brycheiniog National Park , or "the Bannau" for short. The change took effect on
Gilwern - Misplaced Pages Continue
1952-486: The banks of the River Tawe below Fan Hir , and is known as Cerrig Duon, or "black stones". There is a standing stone outside the circle nearby, known as Maen Mawr, with two smaller stones forming a small avenue. There is also evidence of human settlements , hut circles and agriculture . Recent excavation of a cairn or round barrow on Fan Foel showed it to be of early Bronze Age in date (circa 2000 BC) and there
2013-416: The central Beacons range by the Usk valley between Brecon and Abergavenny. Waun Fach (811 metres (2,661 ft)) is the highest mountain in this range. The Brecon Beacons range, Fforest Fawr, and Black Mountain form a continuous massif of high ground above 300 metres (1000'). The A470 road forms the approximate boundary between the central Beacons and Fforest Fawr. The highest peak of the Black Mountain
2074-437: The cliffs of Waun Lefrith and Picws Du . The lakes below the escarpment of Llyn y Fan Fawr and Llyn y Fan Fach are also a legacy of glacial action. There are many surviving remains, especially prehistoric and Roman, in the area. They include the marching camps or castras at Mynydd Bach Trecastell . There are numerous menhirs , round barrows and several small stone circles . An especially famous circle occurs on
2135-476: The community councils for Cefn-coed-y-cymmer , Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch and Cathedine , Llangattock , Llangors , Llanthony , Llywel , Pontsticill , Pontsarn and Vaynor , Talybont-on-Usk , Trallong , Trecastle and Ystradfellte . The geology of the national park consists of a thick succession of sedimentary rocks laid down from the late Ordovician through the Silurian and Devonian to
2196-636: The decision, with its leader Jane Dodds comparing it to movements in New Zealand. Conservative MP James Evans described the move as "not a priority" for locals and raised concerns over cost, and the local Conservative MP, Fay Jones , argued that the English name could have been kept. Upon the news of the name change the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated "I'm going to keep calling it the Brecon Beacons, and I would imagine most people will do that too." Catherine Mealing-Jones,
2257-466: The east of the National Park, nor with a 703 metres (2,306 ft) summit in the Black Mountains that is confusingly also called Black Mountain . In his description of a Blak Montayne , the antiquarian John Leland refers to a massif extending between Carmarthen and Monmouth i.e. what is now considered to be the Brecon Beacons in the wider modern sense of that term, thus also including
2318-487: The eastern end of the massif. It is of similar glacial origin to its westerly neighbour, but slightly larger. It is about 600 yards long and 200 yards wide, being roughly oriented north south. The lake is drained by a stream known as Nant y Llyn ( Welsh : 'stream of the lake'), whose waters flow into the River Tawe . The surface of Llyn y Fan Fawr lies at about 1980 feet or 605 m above sea level. The lake can be reached on foot by either of two 1.7 mile (2.7 km) paths across
2379-480: The highest mountain in South Wales, Pen y Fan , which has an elevation of 886 metres (2,907 ft). The national park has a total area of 1,344 square kilometres (519 sq mi). The Brecon Beacons and Fforest Fawr uplands form the central section of the park. To the east are the Black Mountains , which extend beyond the national park boundary into England, and to the west is the similarly named but distinct Black Mountain range. These ranges share much of
2440-597: The late Carboniferous period. The rock sequence most closely associated with the park is the Old Red Sandstone from which most of its mountains are formed. The older parts of the succession, in the northwest, were folded and faulted during the Caledonian orogeny . Further faulting and folding, particularly in the south of the park is associated with the Variscan orogeny . The area was inhabited during
2501-467: The main peaks which allows ground nesting of the species. Pied wagtails are common near the streams and torrents running from the hill tops. The Black Mountain is generally considered to be one of the wildest regions of Wales and is associated with numerous myths such as the Arthurian legend of the Lady of the Lake and Twrch Trwyth . More recent events are commemorated in prose and verse, e.g. 'From
Gilwern - Misplaced Pages Continue
2562-403: The moor from informal roadside parking off the minor Trecastle to Abercraf road. Parts of the massif are over 5 km or over 3 miles from the nearest public road. Some are minor single track roads with passing places . There are several small parking areas on the minor roads crossing the range, and a larger car park at the end of the minor road from Llanddeusant village to the start of
2623-462: The name "Banne Brekeniauc" to the hills surrounding "Artures Hille" (Pen-y-Fan), also calling the range the "Banne Hilles". The term "Brecknock Beacons" was used in the eighteenth century and referred to the area around Pen y Fan, which was itself was sometimes called 'the (Brecknock) Beacon'. For instance, Emanuel Bowen's A New and accurate map of South Wales (1729) labels the peak as 'The Vann or Brecknock Beacon', John Clark's 1794 General View of
2684-543: The natural beauty of the park, aid visitors' enjoyment of the park, and support the economic and social well-being of local communities. The National Park Authority has 18 members, twelve are appointed by the area's local authorities and six by the Welsh Government. Of the local authority members six are appointed by Powys County Council, and one each by the councils of Blaenau Gwent, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Torfaen. There
2745-441: The park authority's CEO, stated: "the name Brecon Beacons doesn't make any sense – the translation Brecon Beacons doesn't really mean anything in Welsh", adding that "a massive carbon-burning brazier is not a good look for an environmental organisation". Mealing-Jones admitted that people can refer to the park by either name, and that the change "isn't compulsory", but hoped the emphasis on the Welsh name would encourage people to use
2806-624: The point where the Clydach Gorge opens out into the Usk Valley and the River Clydach flows into a sharp bend in the River Usk . The village is within the Llanelly parish ward of Monmouthshire County Council . The church of Llanelly, dedicated to St Elli , is on the hillside above the village, and parts date back to the 12th century. The local area has a history of iron and lime production. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, which has
2867-472: The previous English name Brecon Beacons . The area covered by the national park stretches from Llandeilo in the west to Hay-on-Wye in the northeast and Pontypool in the southeast, covering 519 square miles (1,340 km ). It principally consists of three mountain ranges; the Black Mountains in the east, the Brecon Beacons and Fforest Fawr uplands in the centre, and the Black Mountain in
2928-508: The range roughly from east to west. Increased use of certain sections of path by walkers in recent years has resulted in accelerated erosion, a problem exacerbated by the sometimes thin, gravelly soils and the high rainfall, and has prompted repairs by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority . There are numerous peat bogs on the high and middle ground, although some are bridged by stone pavements. There
2989-459: The rest of the country, but has since been introduced widely in southern Britain, such as the Chilterns . The kestrel and buzzard are widely distributed, but the raven is restricted to the higher mountains. There is a wide distribution of mammals such as field voles , red foxes and badgers as well as many songbirds . The skylark is plentiful due to the extensive rough pasture present below
3050-460: The same basic geology, the southerly dip of the rock strata leading to north-facing escarpments. The highest peak of the Black Mountains is Waun Fach (811 metres (2,661 ft)), and Fan Brycheiniog (802.5 metres (2,633 ft)) is the highest of the Black Mountain. The park was founded in 1957 and is the third and most recently designated national park in Wales , after Snowdonia (Eryri) and
3111-422: The same day, the 66th anniversary of the park's designation. The authority stated that the change was to promote the area's culture and heritage, as well as part of a wider overhaul of how the park is managed and to address environmental issues , such as climate change , and removing references to carbon-emitting beacons. The plan for the park to become net zero by 2035 and to address environmental concerns
SECTION 50
#17328013414853172-488: The small lake of similar origin which occurs below Pen y Fan . Llyn y Fan Fach ( Welsh : 'little lake of the peak') is the smaller and more westerly of two natural lakes within the Black Mountain. It is enclosed within a rock hollow formed as a result of glacial action during the ice ages. It is about 500 yards long and 200 yards wide, and roughly oriented east-west. It is drained by the Afon Sawdde which cuts through
3233-444: The south and west of the range. The Plateau Beds form a protective cap over some of the eastern summits. They also form steep cliffs just below the edge of the escarpment . The area was glaciated during the ice ages and a number of fresh moraines are to be found beneath the spectacular north and east facing sandstone scarps in the north-east of the range, especially below Fan Hir . There are smaller moraines lying immediately below
3294-413: The southern dip-slopes of the massif from its main ridge. In contrast the northerly directed streams tend to be shorter and steeper. The larger parts of the range are moorland and include areas of peat bog . The rivers Usk and Tawe have their sources on the northern and eastern flanks of the range whilst the smaller Loughor arises at the western end of the range. Significant right bank tributaries of
3355-405: The term. She stated: "We’d always had the name Bannau Brycheiniog as the Welsh translation and [...] we wanted to be celebrating Welsh people, Welsh culture, Welsh food, Welsh farming". In May 2023 more than 50 local businesses in the national park campaigned for the "Brecon Beacons" name be restored alongside the Welsh name as a dual name. The campaigners say the decision did not respect Wales as
3416-596: The three Welsh parks after Snowdonia in 1951 and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in 1952. It covers an area of 519 square miles (1,340 km ), which is much larger than the Brecon Beacons range. Over half of the park is in the south of Powys ; the remainder of the park is split between northwestern Monmouthshire , eastern Carmarthenshire , northern Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil , and very small areas of Blaenau Gwent , and Torfaen . The Park as designated in 1957 covered
3477-625: The west. The park is entirely within Wales and therefore excludes the Olchon Valley and Black Hill , which are part of the Black Mountains but in the English county of Herefordshire . The central Brecon Beacons range comprises six main peaks, which from west to east are: Corn Du, 873 metres (2,864 ft); Pen y Fan, the highest peak, 886 metres (2,907 ft); Cribyn , 795 metres (2,608 ft); Fan y Bîg , 719 metres (2,359 ft); Bwlch y Ddwyallt , 754 metres (2,474 ft); and Waun Rydd , 769 metres (2,523 ft). These summits form
3538-478: The world. It has 70 pre-cast units, each weighing 27.5 tons. Its approximated measurements are a total length of 173.4 ft.; a height of 20.6 feet; and a span of 95.9 feet. Three local residents were the first to drive over the bridge when it was formally opened, replacing a former junction, at 14.30 hrs., on Thursday, January 26, 2018. The precast arch over the canal on the Heysham to M6 motorway Link Road
3599-458: Was probably placed in the burial. Over twenty hillforts were established in the area during the Iron Age . The largest, and indeed the largest in South Wales , were the pair of forts atop y Garn Goch near Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire – y Gaer Fawr and y Gaer Fach – literally "the big fort" and "the little fort". The forts are thought to have once been trading and political centres. When
3660-484: Was supported by Welsh actor Michael Sheen . The change was described by a local as "pride" for Welsh-speakers, while others admitted both names would probably continue to be used. As part of the name change, the park also adopted a different logo, replacing its previous logo showing a lit beacon. Plaid Cymru's Welsh language spokesperson supported the move, while the Welsh Liberal Democrats welcomed
3721-405: Was the previous record holder. The Usk Valley Walk passes through Gilwern. Brecon Beacons National Park Brecon Beacons National Park , officially named Bannau Brycheiniog National Park ( Welsh pronunciation ), is a national park in Wales. It is named after the Brecon Beacons ( Welsh : Bannau Brycheiniog ), the mountain range at its centre. The national park includes
SECTION 60
#1732801341485#484515