Guide to Exploring the Geopark
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Fforest Fawr Geopark A guide to exploring the western half of the Brecon Beacons National Park. s"RECON www.fforestfawrgeopark.org.uk Great days out in Key to icons used in guide Fforest Fawr 6 figure OS grid reference of site entrance Geopark Sat Nav-friendly postcode Planning to spend some time Telephone number in the Geopark? Relevant website Here are some suggestions for places to Getting there visit, things to see and do to make your Many attractions in this rural area are not on a bus visit to the Geopark, the western half of route and remote from the rail network. Taxi services the Brecon Beacons National Park, both operate throughout the area - for more info go to: www.breconbeacons.org/getting-around or put in a enjoyable and memorable. We’ve postcode at www.traveline-cymru.info arranged them to help you choose Nearest regular bus route depending on the time available to you and distance by road - perhaps you’re looking to spend a half Nearest railway station or full day, then again maybe you’ve and distance by road only got an hour to spare. Free car parking Of course, you can extend or shorten Pay & display parking your visit to suit yourself. These and other stories - history, archaeology, myths, You can also get the times of the next buses from any stop at nextbuses.mobi or download wildlife - are told through Geotrails and the app other walk leaflets, exhibitions, audio trails Facilities and panels around the area. Also look What can I expect when I get there? Please be out for individual events organised aware that not all facilities are open seven days throughout the year by Fforest Fawr a week and some may be closed or have more Geopark, particularly during the annual restricted opening times during winter months. Also remember that details of attractions can Fforest Fawr Geopark Festival in late change – it’s always best to check on the web, by May/early June. phone or ask at an information centre before you go. To dig deeper, visit the website at Site admission charge payable www.fforestfawrgeopark.org.uk Free entry to attraction If you are looking for an introduction to the Toilet facilities available rocks, then pick up the general leaflet. For Site/trail leaflet or audio trail available further detail, browse the shelves of the information centres across the Geopark Café/restaurant/tea rooms at site - there’s something for all including the official 1:50,000 geological map of Fforest Picnicking facilities available Fawr Geopark – published by the British Geological Survey in 2014. Site with archaeological/historical interest Did you know? Site with industrial archaeology interest An increasing number of local people Nature reserve or other key wildlife site running tourism businesses in this area are National Park Ambassadors and Wet weather suggestion Geopark Ambassadors. Committed to ensuring that visitors get the best from their stay, they are trained and This is a landscape shaped by rock knowledgeable about the Geopark. Please remember that you don’t need any special www.breconbeacons.org/ambassadors geological knowledge to enjoy this place. Though Geoparks are areas with amazing geology, they’re not just about rocks, as this guide shows. However, look out for these icons which provide clues to what you’ll see: Geological interest - under your feet is a layer cake of rocks The Geopark after dark Karst landscapes produced as limestone rock Brecon Beacons National Park was dissolves to produce caves, limestone declared Wales’ first International Dark pavements sinkholes and springs Sky Reserve in 2013 - and some of the Geological faults & folds some of these rocks darkest skies are in Fforest Fawr Geopark. are fractured and crumpled! There are regular stargazing events Ice Age legacy - glaciers sculpted this land during a series of ice ages organised to help you enjoy our most distant views – many hosted by our Mining /quarrying interest - people have quarried mineral riches here for hundreds of years Dark Skies Ambassadors. www.breconbeacons.org/stargazing www.fforestfawrgeopark.org.uk 1. Castles and Crags Carreg Cennen Castle and Garn Goch Iron Age hillfort Visit spectacular Carreg Cennen Castle near Llandeilo. Perched atop a 100m high sheer limestone crag overlooking the Afon Cennen, this mediaeval fortress with a long and chequered history is now in the care of Cadw. Enjoy the tea rooms and craft shop at the farm before making the short walk to the castle ruins. Down the road (or along the Beacons Way) is Y Gaer Fawr, largest hill-fort in South Wales and one of two at Garn Goch overlooking the hamlet of Bethlehem. Once a stronghold of the Silures tribe who chose it perhaps for its commanding views over the Towy valley, it now rewards an hour or two of your time spent in exploration. Pick up the Garn Goch Geotrail (£1) at Llandovery Information Centre. The Red Kite feeding station and the National Trust’s Dinefwr Park, Newton House and Castle are nearby attractions. Ffairfach Grit used to construct Garn Goch hillfort Carreg Cennen Castle Carreg Cennen Castle SN 668191 SA19 6UA 01558 822291 www.carregcennencastle.com Getting there (Heart of Wales Line) Ffairfach, Llandeilo 3.7/4.5miles If you've got an hour or less: If you've got a full day (6-8 hours): Tea and cake at Castle tearooms Walk the first section of the Beacons Way from Bethlehem to the historic Black Mountain quarries. Explore Garn Goch SN 733186 follow the whole Geotrail if you’ve time www.breconbeacons.org/blackmountainquarries SN 682243 SA19 6YW Trap Village Hall and café SN 652188 SA19 6TR 01558 823213 www.trapvillagehall.com If you've got half a day (2-4 hours): A visit to Carreg Cennen Castle and woods Explore historic Llandeilo Visit Dinefwr Park Castle and Newton House SN 625225 SA19 6RT 01558 824512 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dinefwr Did you know? Carreg Cennen Castle has been described as the most romantic in all of Wales To find out more about local public transport go to www.traveline-cymru.info 2. Water and Woodlands, Tracks and Trains Garwnant Forest and Visitor Centre, Taf Fechan Forest Just off the A470, Garwnant Visitor Centre has information, outdoor play for children and a restaurant. Follow one of the woodland walks, some with a ‘geo’ theme. For walkers the Taff Trail runs up Cwm Taf past the centre and a separate route for cyclists follows the old railway from Cefn-coed-y-cymer up Cwm Taf Fechan then through the forest. The top end of the Taf Fechan is a good starting point for longer walks in the central Beacons. The less energetic can enjoy a ride on the Brecon Mountain Railway near Pontsticill. The railway and nearby Cyfarthfa Park, Castle, Museum and Art Gallery are also good family friendly places to visit if the rain starts to fall! crumbling mudstone in stream banks © Crown copyright Crown © Garwnant Visitor Centre Garwnant Visitor Centre SO 003132 CF48 2HU 01685 722481 www.facebook.com/GarwnantVisitorCentre Search for ‘Taff Trail at www.breconbeacons.org Getting there T4 Merthyr Tydfil (5 miles) If you've got an hour or less: If you've got half a day (2-4 hours): The sculpture trail from Garwnant Walk or cycle one of the longer forest trails A tour of Penderyn Welsh Whisky Distillery Take a ride on the Brecon Mountain Railway SN 952084 CF44 9JW 01685 810650 SO 059097 CF48 2UP 01685 722988 www.welsh-whisky.co.uk www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk Food and drink at Garwnant restaurant Cyfarthfa Park, Castle, Museum & Art Gallery SO 042074 CF47 8PA 01685 727371 www.cyfarthfa.com If you've got a full day (6-8 hours): Walk or cycle a section of the Taff Trail www.breconbeacons.org/tafftrail Did you know? The Taff Trail stretches all the way to Cardiff and is 55 miles / 88km long. To find out more about local public transport go to www.traveline-cymru.info 3. Caves and Kilns: delving into the wild Craig-y-nos Country Park and Penwyllt Start your exploration of the upper Swansea Valley/Cwm Tawe with a visit to Craig-y-nos Country Park. Soak up the atmosphere at Penwyllt where abandoned tramways, limekilns and an old fire-brickworks sit beside the Ogof Ffynnon Ddu National Nature Reserve. The reserve protects limestone pavements above ground and Britain’s deepest cave (308m) below. The Beacons Way passes through here en route from the wild and remote Black Mountain to the highly distinctive hills of Fforest Fawr. Closer at hand is the rocky ridge of Cribarth with its limestone crags, old quarries and tramroads. plant fossils in the Twrch Sandstone Penwyllt and Fan Gyhirych from Cribarth Craig-y-nos Country Park SN 840155 SA9 1GL 01639 730395 www.breconbeacons.org Getting there X63 ar hyd yr A4067 Neath (15.5miles) If you've got an hour or less: If you've got a full day (6-8 hours): Enjoy the Café, play area and a walk around Follow the Beacons Way east from Penwyllt the country park through Ogof Ffynnon Ddu NNR SN 855155 SA9 1GQ www.breconbeacons.org/ogof-ffynnon-ddu-nnr Short walk into the national nature reserve using www.breconbeacons.org/audiotrails the old Brecon Forest Tramroad SN 855155 SA9 1GQ www.breconbeacons.org/ogof-ffynnon-ddu-nnr Listen to the podcast as you walk to Waun Fignen Felen www.breconbeacons.org/audiotrails If you've got half a day (2-4 hours): Follow the Penwyllt walk card from the country park. Listen to the podcast Follow the Henrhyd Falls Geotrail down to the Tawe or follow the ‘Lines in the Landscape’ walk along Sarn Helen and old tramways SN 853120 SA10 9PG Explore Cribarth, very interesting limestone mountain Did you know? Nineteenth century opera singer Adelina Patti lived at Craig-y-nos – she was perhaps the first global superstar - the Lady Gaga of her day! To find out more about local public transport go to www.traveline-cymru.info 4.