Wales
Cwar yr Ystrad
579M
1900FT
About Cwar yr Ystrad
Situated on the rugged southern fringe of the Brecon Beacons, this limestone upland offers a stark contrast to the grassy central peaks. Its character is defined by extensive quarrying and wild moorland pockmarked with natural shake holes. It provides a unique perspective over the industrial valleys and the high peaks to the north.
Key Statistics
Rank
52nd Highest in Wales
Parent Range
Brecon Beacons
Prominence
?
20m
Nearest Town
Powys
Geology
You are walking across layers of limestone, sandstone, and mudstone. This landscape features magnesium-rich rocks and sections where limestone is mixed with muddy sediment.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SO084142
Latitude
51.8189°N
Longitude
3.3303°W
Did You Know?
- •Cwar yr Ystrad translates from Welsh as 'Quarry of the Vale.' The name reflects the area's long history of limestone extraction, which has left a permanent mark on the hill's northern and eastern flanks.
- •The limestone from these slopes was historically vital to the industrial revolution in South Wales, feeding the great ironworks of Dowlais and Merthyr Tydfil via the Brinore Tramroad.
- •The summit sits on a high, karst plateau characterized by sinkholes and 'pavement' formations, situated just south of the popular Llangynidr moors.
- •On a clear day, the summit offers a specific view across the Taf Fechan forest towards the steep southern faces of Fan y Big, Cribyn, and Pen y Fan.
- •Finding the highest point can be a puzzle; the terrain is so heavily reshaped by man-made excavations and natural hollows that one person's summit is often another person's spoil heap.