Wales
Hafod Ithel
361M
1184FT
About 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.
Key Statistics
Rank
713th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Wales
Prominence
?
156m
Nearest Town
Llangwyryfon
Geology
You are walking across the Mynydd Bach Formation, a landscape shaped from layers of sandstone and mudstone.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SN610677
Latitude
52.2898°N
Longitude
4.0394°W
Did You Know?
- •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.