Hafod Ithel

Situated on the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons, this 361m Marilyn serves as a prominent green break between the industrial valleys of Gwent. Its broad, rounded profile is typical of the South Wales coalfield uplands, offering a straightforward but rewarding ascent through rough grazing land.

• •The name is derived from the Welsh 'hafod', meaning a summer pasture or shieling, combined with the personal name 'Ithel', indicating this was once the site of a medieval seasonal farmstead.
• •Despite its relatively low elevation, it is classified as a Marilyn because its summit stands at least 150 metres higher than any of the ground immediately surrounding it.
• •From the summit, walkers can look directly across the Usk Valley to the distinctive flat-topped silhouette of the Blorenge and the conical peak of the Sugar Loaf.
• •The hill overlooks the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where the remains of 19th-century coal and iron workings are still clearly visible in the valleys below.
• •While the name translates to a pleasant summer pasture, the frequent mist and boggy ground suggest Ithel might have reconsidered his choice of residence during a typical Welsh winter.