Mynydd Illtud
Encyclopedia
Mynydd Illtud is an extensive area of common land
three miles south-east of Brecon
in the Brecon Beacons National Park in the county of Powys
, Wales
. The common is an undulating plateau lying between 330 and 370 m (1,082.7 and 1,213.9 ft) above sea level. Its highest points are 381 metres (1,250 ft) at Allt Lom and 367 metres (1,204.1 ft) at Twyn y Gaer trig point
overlooking the valley of the River Usk
.
and Fforest Fach
to the west, Mynydd Illtud is formed from the mudstones and sandstones of the St. Maughans Formation of the Old Red Sandstone
laid down during the Devonian period. The sandstones have been quarried in places such as at Allt Lom.
The area was over-run by ice during the last ice age and evidence of this is seen in the glacial till which is spread across this undulating plateau and the occasional erratic block of sandstone. Traeth Mawr and Traeth Bach, two rock hollows towards the south-western end of the common are now filled with peat
, core sections of which have proved valuable in unravelling the climatic and vegetational history of this area over the last 10,000 years.
hill fort
of Twyn y Gaer (51.9417°N 3.4708°W) stands at the northern tip of the common. Nearby are a few pillow mounds which date from a time when rabbit
s were bred
on a large scale for their meat and fur. The course of a Roman road
, Sarn Helen
can be traced from south-west to north-east across the common. Also of interest are Llanilltyd church and associated earthworks
(51.9240°N 3.4975°W) and Bedd Gwyl Illtyd.
stands next to Mynydd Illtud on its eastern side and provides advice for visitors wishing to enjoy the area.
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
three miles south-east of Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
in the Brecon Beacons National Park in the county of Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The common is an undulating plateau lying between 330 and 370 m (1,082.7 and 1,213.9 ft) above sea level. Its highest points are 381 metres (1,250 ft) at Allt Lom and 367 metres (1,204.1 ft) at Twyn y Gaer trig point
Trig point
A triangulation station, also known as a triangulation pillar, trigonometrical station, trigonometrical point, trig station, trig beacon or trig point, and sometimes informally as a trig, is a fixed surveying station, used in geodetic surveying and other surveying projects in its vicinity...
overlooking the valley of the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
.
Geology
Like Cefn LlechidCefn Llechid
Cefn Llechid is a small area of unenclosed land in the Brecon Beacons National Park east of Sennybridge in the county of Powys, Wales. It lies within Fforest Fawr Geopark. Its plateau-like summit surface peaks at 400m where it is marked by a trig point. A couple of small bodies of water lie in a...
and Fforest Fach
Fforest Fach
Fforest Fach is a small area of unenclosed land within Brecon Beacons National Park southwest of Sennybridge in the county of Powys, Wales. Translating from Welsh as 'little forest', it is named in opposition to the much larger area of unenclosed land to the south which is known as Fforest Fawr or...
to the west, Mynydd Illtud is formed from the mudstones and sandstones of the St. Maughans Formation of the Old Red Sandstone
Old Red Sandstone
The Old Red Sandstone is a British rock formation of considerable importance to early paleontology. For convenience the short version of the term, 'ORS' is often used in literature on the subject.-Sedimentology:...
laid down during the Devonian period. The sandstones have been quarried in places such as at Allt Lom.
The area was over-run by ice during the last ice age and evidence of this is seen in the glacial till which is spread across this undulating plateau and the occasional erratic block of sandstone. Traeth Mawr and Traeth Bach, two rock hollows towards the south-western end of the common are now filled with peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
, core sections of which have proved valuable in unravelling the climatic and vegetational history of this area over the last 10,000 years.
History
The Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
of Twyn y Gaer (51.9417°N 3.4708°W) stands at the northern tip of the common. Nearby are a few pillow mounds which date from a time when rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s were bred
Warren (domestic)
A domestic warren is an artificial, enclosed establishment of animal husbandry dedicated to the raising of rabbits for meat and fur. It evolved from the Anglo-Norman concept of free warren, which had been, essentially, the equivalent of a hunting license for a given woodland.-Architecture of the...
on a large scale for their meat and fur. The course of a Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
, Sarn Helen
Sarn Helen
right|thumb|250px|A section of Sarn Helen near Betws-y-coed.Sarn Helen was a Roman road in Wales, running from Aberconwy in the north to Carmarthen in the south.It was some 160 miles in length...
can be traced from south-west to north-east across the common. Also of interest are Llanilltyd church and associated earthworks
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
(51.9240°N 3.4975°W) and Bedd Gwyl Illtyd.
Access
Walkers can freely access the entire common as it is open access land, though horseriders and mountain-bikers are restricted to the minor roads, restricted byways and bridleways which criss-cross this area. Other than along the public road network there is no legal right for the public to take motor vehicles (including motorbikes) across the common. Landowners and those with commoners' rights do have certain vehicular rights over Mynydd Illtud. The Brecon Beacons Mountain CentreBrecon Beacons Mountain Centre
The Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre is the popular name for the National Park Visitor Centre managed by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. It is also known simply as the Mountain Centre, and also as the Libanus Visitor Centre. It is situated near the village of Libanus some 8km / 5mi...
stands next to Mynydd Illtud on its eastern side and provides advice for visitors wishing to enjoy the area.