Dinas rock
Encyclopedia
Dinas Rock is a high promontory of carboniferous limestone
which rises between the Afon Mellte and its left-bank tributary, the Afon Sychryd
on the border between the county of Powys
and the county borough of Neath Port Talbot
in south Wales
. It can be found near the village of Pontneddfechan near Glyn Neath at the head of the Vale of Neath. It derives its name from the presence of Iron Age
earthworks on its summit, dinas in Welsh signifying a defensive site or "city".
. It is owned by the Forestry Commission
, who manage it for its wildlife interest and recreation. The deep gorges which define its northern and southern edges are designated as a part of the Coedydd Nedd a Mellte (Neath & Mellte Woodlands) Special Area of Conservation
(SAC) on account of their thick oak and ash woodlands, which shelter important bryophyte
communities, in particular certain species of moss. The woodlands are also designated as a part of the Dyffrynoedd Nedd a Mellte a Moel Penderyn (Neath & Mellte Valleys and Moel Penderyn) Site of Special Scientific Interest
.
and by the nearby mining of silica rock and its transport down-valley by various means. The former limestone quarry is now a car park; its walls are used by climbers and abseilers. The Dinas Rock Silica Mines just to the east of Dinas Rock itself used to provide large quantities of very pure crushed sandstone destined for the manufacture of refractory bricks for furnace linings and the like. A system of tramways, aerial cableways and inclines on the southern flanks of Dinas Rock conveyed the material from the mines to the valley below.
and gorge-walkers. The tramways now provide routes for walkers to enjoy the site, in particular the Sychryd easy-access trail, which runs for ¼ mile from the main car park to the Sgydau Sychryd cascade between Dinas Rock and the spectacular rock known as Bwa Maen, on the southern side of the Afon Sychryd.
in South Wales for rock climbing. The cliff features 75 sports routes through a variety of grades on clean rock with a variety of styles and features.
(CCW) is working with organised adventure sports providers and landowners to manage this activity, so as to minimise the damage which it can cause to the SAC, which CCW is charged with protecting under European environmental protection law.
knights lie waiting for a call to defend Britain.
Carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous Limestone is a term used to describe a variety of different types of limestone occurring widely across Great Britain and Ireland which were deposited during the Dinantian epoch of the Carboniferous period. They were formed between 363 and 325 million years ago...
which rises between the Afon Mellte and its left-bank tributary, the Afon Sychryd
Sychryd
Sychryd or Afon Sychryd Starts just below Graig y Llyn and is know localy as the Nant Gwrangon it flows past the village of Rhigos and through Cwm Wyrfa on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park and Fforest Fawr Geopark in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in south Wales...
on the border between 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...
and the county borough of Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot is a county borough and one of the unitary authority areas of Wales. Neath Port Talbot is the 8th most populous county in Wales and the third most populous county borough....
in south 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...
. It can be found near the village of Pontneddfechan near Glyn Neath at the head of the Vale of Neath. It derives its name from the presence of Iron Age
Iron 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...
earthworks on its summit, dinas in Welsh signifying a defensive site or "city".
Protected landscape and habitats
Dinas Rock lies within the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Fforest Fawr GeoparkFforest Fawr Geopark
Fforest Fawr Geopark was the first Geopark to be designated in Wales having gained membership of both the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO-assisted Global Network of National Geoparks in October 2005. The Geopark aims to promote and support sustainable tourism and other opportunities to...
. It is owned by the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
, who manage it for its wildlife interest and recreation. The deep gorges which define its northern and southern edges are designated as a part of the Coedydd Nedd a Mellte (Neath & Mellte Woodlands) Special Area of Conservation
Special Area of Conservation
A Special Area of Conservation is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive , also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora...
(SAC) on account of their thick oak and ash woodlands, which shelter important bryophyte
Bryophyte
Bryophyte is a traditional name used to refer to all embryophytes that do not have true vascular tissue and are therefore called 'non-vascular plants'. Some bryophytes do have specialized tissues for the transport of water; however since these do not contain lignin, they are not considered to be...
communities, in particular certain species of moss. The woodlands are also designated as a part of the Dyffrynoedd Nedd a Mellte a Moel Penderyn (Neath & Mellte Valleys and Moel Penderyn) Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
.
Industrial archaeology
The landform has been re-shaped by the extraction of limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and by the nearby mining of silica rock and its transport down-valley by various means. The former limestone quarry is now a car park; its walls are used by climbers and abseilers. The Dinas Rock Silica Mines just to the east of Dinas Rock itself used to provide large quantities of very pure crushed sandstone destined for the manufacture of refractory bricks for furnace linings and the like. A system of tramways, aerial cableways and inclines on the southern flanks of Dinas Rock conveyed the material from the mines to the valley below.
Recreation
Its dramatic appearance has long made Dinas Rock a destination for casual visitors, but its steep rocky flanks also attract rock climbersRock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
and gorge-walkers. The tramways now provide routes for walkers to enjoy the site, in particular the Sychryd easy-access trail, which runs for ¼ mile from the main car park to the Sgydau Sychryd cascade between Dinas Rock and the spectacular rock known as Bwa Maen, on the southern side of the Afon Sychryd.
Climbing
The steep and overhanging southern faces of Dinas Rock are moderately popular with sports climbers, whilst easier routes are enjoyed by organised groups in the former quarry at the western end of the rock. It is considered by some as the best inland cliffCliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
in South Wales for rock climbing. The cliff features 75 sports routes through a variety of grades on clean rock with a variety of styles and features.
Gorge walking
The beds and rocky sides of the two rivers provide one of the most popular venues in Wales for gorge-walkers. The Countryside Council for WalesCountryside Council for Wales
The Countryside Council for Wales is an Assembly Government Sponsored Body. It is the Welsh Assembly Government's wildlife conservation authority for Wales...
(CCW) is working with organised adventure sports providers and landowners to manage this activity, so as to minimise the damage which it can cause to the SAC, which CCW is charged with protecting under European environmental protection law.
Caving
There are a few short caves in and around Dinas Rock, including Ogof Pont Sychryd, Ogof Bwa Maen and Will's Hole. The last named is also known as Arthur's Cave or Dinas Rock Cave and extends to just under 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) in length. It is associated with Arthurian legend, as it is one of the many locations reputed to be the place where Arthur'sKing Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
knights lie waiting for a call to defend Britain.