Mynydd y Betws

About Mynydd y Betws

At a modest 373 metres, Mynydd y Betws won't give you altitude sickness, but its breezy plateau offers expansive views. Straddling the Swansea-Carmarthenshire border, it’s less of a jagged peak and more of a very high, very windy common. It’s perfect for hikers who prefer horizontal distance over vertical suffering.

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Did You Know?

• •This upland serves as a natural boundary between the historic county of Carmarthenshire and the City and County of Swansea. It has been a site of human significance since the Bronze Age, as evidenced by several ancient cairns found across its broad ridge.
• •The hill is home to the significant Betws Wind Farm, featuring fifteen turbines that dominate the local skyline. These massive structures generate enough electricity to power thousands of homes by harnessing the reliably relentless Welsh wind.
• •Historically, the area was vital for local industry, with the surrounding valleys serving as a major hub for anthracite coal mining. Today, the landscape has returned to its roots as common grazing land for hardy sheep and local ponies.
• •Navigating the summit plateau in the mist is an exercise in faith rather than geography. You will likely spend your time wandering in circles until you either walk into a wind turbine or trip over a very confused sheep.
• •The summit is so remarkably flat that you might actually need a spirit level to be sure you have reached the highest point. It is the ideal mountain for hikers who like the idea of a summit without the inconvenience of an actual climb.