Black Mountain (range)
The Black Mountain (Welsh: Y Mynydd Du) is a mountain range in South, Mid and West Wales, straddling the administrative boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys (as well as the county boundary between Carmarthenshire and Brecknockshire) 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.[1]
Name
The Black Mountain should not be confused with the
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 Brecknockshire). The "Carmarthen Fans" thus includes Fan Foel, Picws Du and Waun Lefrith. The highest point of the "Carmarthen Fans" and the county top of Carmarthenshire is thus the minor summit of Fan Foel, height 781 metres (2,562 ft).
Geology
The range stretches approximately from
The lakes below the escarpment of Llyn y Fan Fawr and Llyn y Fan Fach are also remnants of glacial action, having been created by other moraines blocking drainage by forming deep hollows below the cliffs.
Archaeology
There are many surviving remains, especially prehistoric and Roman, in the area. They include the
Drainage
The massif is drained by a number of rivers which flow down the southern dip-slopes of the massif from its main ridge. In contrast the northerly directed streams tend to be shorter and steeper. The upper parts of the range are largely
The range is noted for its two large glacial lakes which sit directly below the main escarpment, being much larger than the small lake of similar origin which occurs below Pen y Fan.
Llyn y Fan Fach
The lake can easily be reached by foot from the car park on the water board access road near Llanddeusant, although the road to the car park is poorly signposted, and in very poor condition for car travel.
Llyn y Fan Fawr
The lake Llyn y Fan Fawr or lake of the large peak, which lies below Fan Brycheiniog towards the eastern end of the mountain. It is of similar glacial origin to its westerly neighbour, but is slightly larger. It is about 600 yards long and 200 yards wide, being roughly oriented north south. It 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.[6]
The lake can be reached on foot by an approximately 1.7 mile (2.7 km) walk across the moor from the minor Trecastle to Abercraf road, where there is a small space for cars to park. There is another small car park a short distance away to the south and next to the same road at the end of another footpath to the lake.
Access
Parts of the massif are over 5 km or over 3 miles from the nearest public road. Indeed, those roads are mostly very minor
Wildlife
There are numerous different species of bird in the area, and they include the
Cultural associations
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 the Mist to Heaven' written after a tragedy played out on these moors in May 1904.[7] Cribarth on its southeastern margin is sometimes known locally as the Sleeping Giant, after the appearance of its profile from Cwm Tawe to the south.
See also
- Black Mountains
- Brecon Beacons
- South Wales
References
- ^ "Geopark — Brecon Beacons National Park Authority". www.breconbeacons.org. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ISBN 0-86381-956-7
- ^ Toulmin Smith, Lucy (ed.), The Itinerary in Wales of John Leland in or about the years 1536-1539, Vol. 3 Archived April 28, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Containing Part 6 (The Itinerary in Wales), with a Map, London, 1906
- ^ Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 scale Explorer map sheet OL12 Brecon Beacons National Park: western area
- ^ "Reservoirs". Fforest Fawr Geopark. Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ Ordnance Survey Explorer map OL12 'Brecon Beacons National Park: western area'
- ^ "Geopark Timeline — Fforest Fawr Geopark". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.