Fells/Garreg Las [Twyn-Swnd]
Wales

Garreg Las [Twyn-Swnd]

634M
2079FT
Rank
178th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Brecon Beacons
Nearest Town
Llanddeusant

About Garreg Las [Twyn-Swnd]

Rising above the wild, western moorland of the Mynydd Du, this limestone-crowned Hewitt offers a rugged sense of isolation rarely found elsewhere in the Brecon Beacons. The broad plateau is dominated by two massive prehistoric cairns, providing a stark silhouette against expansive views of Fan Brycheiniog and the Usk Valley.

Key Statistics

Rank
178th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Brecon Beacons
Nearest Town
Llanddeusant
Prominence
?
93.1m
Geology
Ordovician Volcanics

Did You Know?

  • The name Garreg Las translates from Welsh as 'Blue Stone' or 'Grey Stone'. In older Welsh, 'glas' described a color spectrum including blue, green, and grey; here it refers to the weathered limestone outcrops and gritstone boulders that litter the summit.
  • The summit area is also known as Twyn-Swnd, which translates as 'sand mound'. This refers to the gritstone debris and sand found around the prehistoric burial sites, contrasting with the surrounding peat moorland.
  • The two massive Bronze Age cairns on the plateau are among the most impressive in South Wales. Their size and prominent location suggest this high ridge was a site of significant ritual importance for communities living in the valleys below thousands of years ago.
  • The hill marks a historic frontier, sitting directly on the boundary between the traditional counties of Carmarthenshire and Brecknockshire.
  • From the summit, walkers can look directly east across the glacial cwm to the dramatic, sky-lined escarpment of Fan Hir and the high peaks of the Black Mountain range.
  • While the name promises a 'Blue Stone', the primary color palette on a typical afternoon here is a very determined, horizontal shade of rain-cloud grey.

Find It

OS Grid Reference
SN777203
Latitude
51.8678°N
Longitude
3.7777°W

Explore Further

Wales Guide
Editorial guide for this region

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