Mountain Ranges
Some Of The Most Inspiring Mountain Explores In The UK
The Wye and its 4,000 Square Km catchment has numerous rivers, moorland and huge mountain tops feeding it with a plethora of plant and wildlife living there. Peer in and see what the Wye regions Mountain ranges are made up of. You'll be stoked and well surprised.
Picture: Source of the River Honddu/interior Hay Bluff in the Black Mountains
Black Mountains
The Black Mountains Welsh (Y Mynyddoedd Duonare) borders the West of Herefordshire, Monmouthshire and the Eastern fringe of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Formed of red sandstone some 300 million years old it's characterized by long whale back ridges that's home to numerous low valley, high hill farms and towns such as Abergavenny, Talgarth, Hay on Wye and Crickhowell.
The extensive mountains and plateaus give rise to a watershed that feeds the Wye via a myriad of brooks and rivers notably the Ennig, Olchon, Honddu & Monnow.
Not to be confused with the Black Mountain to the West in the Fforest Fawr the Black Mountains can be easily overlooked for the ranges West in the Central Beacons and those in the North in Snowdonia. As an integral part of the Wye basin however they are captivating. Read on for more
Named Black Because Of How The Mountains Are Viewed From the East
Authority/Districts: Powys/Monmouthshire/Herefordshire
Notable Wye Rivers: Monnow, Honddu & Ennig
Highest Peak in Range: Waun Fach 811 meters 2,660 Ft.
Highest in the Wye system: Rhos Dirion 713 meters 2,339 Ft & Black Mountain 703 Meters 2,306 Ft
Notable Trails: Offa’s Dyke National Trail taking in the Hatterral Ridge & the Beacons Way
Maps: Ordnance Survey 1.25,000 Sheet: OL13
Digital: 1.25,000: OS Digital
Location Map: Click
The Black Mountains is a walkers haven. You can hike the valleys or plateaus or follow the Wye rivers such as the Honddu within the range easily. Places and things to look out for are: Llanthony Priory, Capel Y Ffinn, Gospel Pass (highest road pass in Wales), The Vale of Ewyas, Grwyne Fawr (outside catchment) & Partrishow. Steeped in food production don't miss the old ways that were and are very much a part of this working land and neither the numerous cultural reference points as illustrated via the myriad of writers and artists that have been attracted here such as Eric Gill.
Other Areas of Interest: Long Town & Castle, Pwll Y Wrach nature reserve on the River Ennig & the Wonky church of Cwmyoy on the River Honddu.
Links: Half Moon Inn, Guardian Article, Local History
Getting to the Black Mountains
From Hereford its just over an hour West on the A465
From Gloucester it's 1 hr. 30 Mins West along the A40 & A465
From Bristol it's 1 hr 20 Mins North along the M5, A449, A40 & A465
From Birmingham it's 2 Hours South West along the M5 & A40.
From London it's 3.30 Mins North West via the M4.
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For buses (we like public transport) see Hereford T14 for Hay & Talgarth, From the West and South see the combined T4 & T14 to Brecon Interchange, which will take you to Talgarth or Hay, From the South to Abergavenny see the X4 Heads of the Valleys. From Llandrindod to Brecon see the T4 then either onto the T14 or X43 depending on what end of the Black Mountains you want to start from.
For Assistance if in trouble go to: Longtown Mountain Rescue
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Whole-body-mind & soul exercise
As John Muir once said, “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine into trees.”
This is as true now as it was back then when he first spoke the words. Our whole being is cleansed when we venture into the big hills and the wilds of the Wye basin.
Picture: Radnor Forest looking into the Harley Valley
Radnor Forest
The Radnor Forest in Radnorshire Mid Wales is in the least populated county/district in the UK outside of the Outer Hebrides. The forest itself is characterized by steep gullies, large conifer plantation and escarpments that rise to 650 meter tops and was once a medieval hunting ground. Water abounds everywhere as it flows off the heather moorland and peat bogs. Home to the river Lugg, wild dear and Short Eared owls (see Nature page) welcome to the Radnor Forest a major contributor of fresh water to the River Wye.
The range sits 20 KM to the East of the Cambrian Mountains and 25 KM North of the Black Mountains. Further to the East the region is bordered by Herefordshire and the Hergest Ridge. Read on for more.
In The Depths of Mid Wales It Rises
Authority/Districts: Powys/Radnorshire
Notable Wye Rivers: Lugg, Arrow & Hindwell Brook
Highest Peak in Range: Great Rhos 660 Meters 2,165 Feet
Notable Trails: Offa's Dyke, Glyndwrs Way & The Heart of Wales Trail
Maps: Ordnance Survey 1.25,000 Sheet: 200, 201 & Landranger 148
Digital: 1.25,000: OS Digital
Location Map: Click
The Radnor Forest is for the connoisseur of wild. There are numerous deep cut valleys most notably the Harley, which can only really be seen if you walk into the forest itself. It's unassuming nature is what makes this rock dome feature a gem alongside the natural history and views.
Places and things to look out for are: Mynydd Ffoesidoes nature reserve (at the roof of Radnorshire), the firing range in the Harley Valley, New Radnor Castle, Burial mounds, rings cairns and nearby Llandegley Rocks a local geological wonder.
Other Areas of Interest: Water Breaks Its Neck waterfall (Spectacular), Walton Basin, Forest SSSI,
Links: Good walking article, Fforest Inn, The Harp Inn, Royal Oak, Local Store New Radnor the Thomas Shop historical store Penybont
Getting to the Radnor
Forest
From Hereford its just over an hr West on the A465
From Gloucester it's 1 hr. 30 Mins North West along the A40 & A465
From Bristol it's 1 hr North along the M5, A449, A40 & A465
From Birmingham it's 1 hr 55 Mins along the A456 & A44
From London it's 3 Hrs 15 Mins along the M4, M48, A449, A40 & A465
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For buses (we like public transport) see Hereford 461 to New Radnor, From the West see the X47 to Llandrindod Wells then the 461 to New Radnor, From the South see Brecon T4 to Llandrindod Wells then the 461 to New Radnor. Lastly from the North see the X75 from Shrewsbury to Rhayader then the X47 to Llandrindod Wells and then onto the 461 to New Radnor.
Chi mountain is everywhere in the Wye Basin
The spirit of the Wye isn't just in the main channel it's in the mountains and vales that make it what it is. Breathe in it's life force and explore it's Wyeld waters.
Picture: Abergwesyn Valley in the Cambrian Mountains. Home to the River Irfon
Cambrian Mountains
The Cambrian Mountains are a vast area in Mid Wales that's home to what's known as the countries last remaining wilderness. Lying between the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons National Parks it's a working land as well as a national park in-waiting. With deep cut valleys, dark skies, vast plateaus and peat bogs, rushing rivers that feed some of Britain's most well known such as the Wye, Severn and Towy, waterfalls, ancient cultures, spectacular Victorian engineering via the Elan Valley dams, the Red Kite and rugged mountain views to inspire they are a place for exploration and peace.
With no large settlements within the mountains boundaries it was named in 1835 by English geologist Adam Sedgwick who discovered Rocks that were formed or deposited over 500 million years ago in Wales. Cambrian was the name given to Wales by the Romans but it now describes the rock that contains some of the earliest records of abundant and varied life-forms on earth. Read on for more.
The Last Wilderness Of Wales
Authority/Districts: Powys/Caredigion
Notable Wye Rivers: Irfon, Bidno, Tarrenig & Marteg
Highest Peak in Range: Plynlimon 752 Meters 2,467 Feet
Highest in the Wye system: Plynlimon
Notable Trails: Wye Valley Walk, Severn Way, Monks Trodd, Cambrian Way, Glyndwrs Way & The Heart of Wales Trail
Maps: Ordnance Survey 1.25,000 Sheet: 199, 188, 200, 213, 214 & LR 146, 147 & 135
Digital: 1.25,000: OS Digital
Location Map: Click
The Cambrian Mountains are for the tourist and the connoisseur of wild. There are miles and miles of trails to explore as well as mountain bike trails and there is a visitor center where more information can be obtained at the Elan Visitor Centre.
Places and things to look out for are: Claerwen Reservoir for the views, The Dolymynach, Drygarn Fawr for the summit and ancient history, Afon Gwesyn and Rhiwnant for the valleys, Cwmystwyth for the epic,
Other Areas of Interest: The town of Rhayader is a great spot to kick back as is Llanwrtyd Wells on the Irfon, Lost Arc Music, Gilfach Nature Reserve, Cae Pwll Bo Wildlife Reserve & Red Kite Rhayader
Links: Cambrian Mountains Society
Getting to the Cambrian Mountains
From Hereford its just over an hour West on the A465
From Gloucester it's 1 hr. 30 Mins West along the A40 & A465
From Bristol it's North along the M5, A449, A40 & A465
From Birmingham it's 2 hr 20 Mins along the A456, A4117, A49, A4113, A488 & A44
From London it's 4 Hrs along the M4, A449, A40, A479 & A470.
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