Mynydd Epynt [Mynydd Eppynt]

About Mynydd Epynt [Mynydd Eppynt]

A sprawling, desolate plateau in Mid Wales that serves as a poignant reminder of the 1940s evictions. While the views across to the Brecon Beacons are sublime, the landscape is dominated by the military, making it one of the few hills where staying on the path is a survival strategy.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Epynt derives from an Old Welsh word meaning 'path of horses,' suggesting its historical importance as a high-level transport route long before the military arrived.
• •In 1940, the War Office requisitioned the entire area for training, resulting in the heart-wrenching eviction of a vibrant, Welsh-speaking farming community from the Cwm-y-Glyn valley.
• •To satisfy both hikers and the Ministry of Defence, the Epynt Way was created; it is a 50-mile circular permissive route that carefully skirts the boundary of the live-fire zones.
• •Geologically, the area is a massive block of Old Red Sandstone that forms a high-altitude moorland, often described as the 'empty' space between the Beacons and the Cambrian Mountains.
• •It is the only place in Wales where you might find your peaceful summit sandwich interrupted by the distant, thunderous percussion of artillery shells and the sight of red flags strongly suggesting you turn around.