Wales
Myarth
293M
961FT
About Myarth
Rising like a breaching whale from the Usk Valley floor, Myarth is the hill that couldn't quite decide if it wanted to be a mountain or a very ambitious speed bump. Mostly wooded and privately held, it remains the definitive 'look but don't touch' landmark of the Black Mountains.
Key Statistics
Rank
384th Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Brecon Beacons
Prominence
?
164m
Nearest Town
Tretower
Geology
Myarth is built upon the Senni Formation, where layers of sandstone alternate with fine-grained mudstone and silty rocks.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SO170208
Latitude
51.8796°N
Longitude
3.2072°W
Did You Know?
- •It is a classic example of a 'roche moutonnée,' a massive rock formation sculpted and smoothed by the movement of glaciers during the last Ice Age.
- •The summit is home to the Gaer Cerrig-chwyth hillfort, an Iron Age defensive site that suggests the locals have been territorial about this specific view for millennia.
- •Unlike the sprawling ridges nearby, this solitary hill stands smack in the middle of the valley, acting as a geological referee between the Usk and Rhiangoll rivers.
- •The hill is largely covered by managed coniferous plantations, ensuring that any straying hiker will eventually develop an intimate, face-to-face relationship with a prickly larch branch.
- •Since much of the hill is private, navigating the slopes is less about 'summit bagging' and more about 'apologizing to pheasants' while desperately hunting for a legitimate public right of way.