Wales
Gyrn Ddu
522M
1713FT
About Gyrn Ddu
Rising above the quiet western reaches of the Brecon Beacons, this modest moorland peak offers a sense of isolation rarely found near the central summits. Though often boggy underfoot, its status as a Marilyn ensures a commanding perspective over the Usk Reservoir and the dramatic escarpments of Fan Brycheiniog.
Key Statistics
Rank
293rd Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Snowdonia
Prominence
?
386m
Nearest Town
Gwynedd
Geology
You're walking on a massive pool of molten rock that cooled slowly deep underground. This hard, granite-like stone creates the rugged ground beneath your boots.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SH401467
Latitude
52.9937°N
Longitude
4.3839°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Welsh Gyrn, meaning a horn or peak, and Ddu, meaning black; a fitting description for the dark, peaty moorland that defines its slopes.
- •It stands in the Black Mountain (Mynydd Du) range, which forms the wilder western end of the National Park, often confused with the Black Mountains (Y Mynyddoedd Duon) located on the eastern border.
- •The summit offers an exceptional vantage point for the Usk Reservoir to the north and the jagged silhouette of the Carmarthen Fans, specifically the peaks of Fan Foel and Fan Brycheiniog.
- •Despite standing at a relatively modest 522 metres, it is classified as a Marilyn because its prominence exceeds 150 metres, marking it as a significant high point in the local landscape.
- •While walkers flock to the central peaks of the Beacons, a visitor here is far more likely to lose a boot in a hidden bog-hole than to encounter another human being.