Fan Llia
Encyclopedia
Fan Llia is a subsidiary summit of Fan Fawr
in the Fforest Fawr
section of the Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales
. In common with other peaks in the Fforest Fawr uplands it lies within the county of Powys
.
The hill has the form of a broad ridge aligned south-south-west to north-north-east peaking at an altitude of 632m. It has a subsidiary top to the north which is known as Fan Dringarth and which attains a height of 617m. Its broad northern ridge is eventually truncated by the cliffs of Craig Cwm-du.
A number of features of archaeological interest are to be found on its flanks including several house platforms
.
dating from the Devonian period. It southernmost slopes (around Cefn Perfedd) are formed in Plateau Beds Formation sandstones and an area in the north-east is underlain by sandstones and mudstones of the Senni Beds Formation. Rock exposures are infrequent - the hill being draped with glacial till and accumulations of peat. The most significant feature is a post-glacial landslip which extends from near the summit of Fan Dringarth down its eastern slopes almost to the Afon Dringarth
and which may be responsible for the name of this subsidiary peak (Welsh
'dringarth' = 'climbing ridge'). Craig Cwm-du to the north hosted a small glacier in the ice age.
The hill is drained to the west by a number of streams flowing into the Afon Llia
and to the east by streams flowing into the Afon Dringarth
, part of which has been impounded directly to the east of the hill as Ystradfellte Reservoir
. The hill is within the Fforest Fawr Geopark
designated in 2005 in recognition of the area's geological heritage.
car park at Blaen Llia (OS grid ref SN 926165) just off the minor road between the villages of Ystradfellte
and Heol Senni
. This ridge route is also followed by the Beacons Way long-distance footpath.
Fan Fawr
Fan Fawr is a mountain in the Fforest Fawr section of the Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales and over 734 m high....
in the Fforest Fawr
Fforest Fawr
Fforest Fawr is the name given to an extensive upland area in the county of Powys, Wales. Formerly known as the 'Great Forest of Brecknock' in English, it was a royal hunting area for several centuries but is now used primarily for sheep grazing, forestry, water catchment and recreation...
section of the Brecon Beacons National Park, 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...
. In common with other peaks in the Fforest Fawr uplands it lies within 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...
.
The hill has the form of a broad ridge aligned south-south-west to north-north-east peaking at an altitude of 632m. It has a subsidiary top to the north which is known as Fan Dringarth and which attains a height of 617m. Its broad northern ridge is eventually truncated by the cliffs of Craig Cwm-du.
A number of features of archaeological interest are to be found on its flanks including several house platforms
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...
.
Geology
The hill is formed largely from sandstones of the Brownstones Formation of the Old Red SandstoneOld 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:...
dating from the Devonian period. It southernmost slopes (around Cefn Perfedd) are formed in Plateau Beds Formation sandstones and an area in the north-east is underlain by sandstones and mudstones of the Senni Beds Formation. Rock exposures are infrequent - the hill being draped with glacial till and accumulations of peat. The most significant feature is a post-glacial landslip which extends from near the summit of Fan Dringarth down its eastern slopes almost to the Afon Dringarth
Afon Dringarth
The Afon Dringarth is a river in Powys, Wales and wholly contained within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Its headwater streams drain the eastern slopes of Fan Dringarth, the southern slopes of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad and the western slopes of Fan Fawr...
and which may be responsible for the name of this subsidiary peak (Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
'dringarth' = 'climbing ridge'). Craig Cwm-du to the north hosted a small glacier in the ice age.
The hill is drained to the west by a number of streams flowing into the Afon Llia
Afon Llia
The Afon Llia is a short river in Powys, Wales and which is wholly contained within the Brecon Beacons National Park.Several streams draining the eastern slopes of Fan Nedd and the western slopes of Fan Dringarth in the Fforest Fawr section of the national park meet to form the river which then...
and to the east by streams flowing into the Afon Dringarth
Afon Dringarth
The Afon Dringarth is a river in Powys, Wales and wholly contained within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Its headwater streams drain the eastern slopes of Fan Dringarth, the southern slopes of Craig Cerrig-gleisiad and the western slopes of Fan Fawr...
, part of which has been impounded directly to the east of the hill as Ystradfellte Reservoir
Ystradfellte Reservoir
Ystradfellte Reservoir is a water storage reservoir on the Afon Dringarth in the upland area of Fforest Fawr within the Brecon Beacons National Park in south Wales. It lies just north of the village of Ystradfellte in the county of Powys at OS Grid ref SN 946178.The embankment is long by high...
. The hill is within the Fforest Fawr Geopark
Fforest 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...
designated in 2005 in recognition of the area's geological heritage.
Access
The entire hill is designated as open country so walkers may wander at will though most choose to ascend the hill from the Forestry CommissionForestry 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....
car park at Blaen Llia (OS grid ref SN 926165) just off the minor road between the villages of Ystradfellte
Ystradfellte
Ystradfellte is a small village in Powys, Wales, in the Fforest Fawr area of the Brecon Beacons National Park.Because of the geography and topography of the area the village of Ystradfellte is not visible from the nearest main road, the A4059 Hirwaun to A470 stretch.Ystradfellte comes under...
and Heol Senni
Heol Senni
Heol Senni is a hamlet in the valley of the Afon Senni just north of the Fforest Fawr section of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It lies within the community of Maescar in the county of Powys, Wales. The Welsh name means the 'road by Senni' and reflects its position near the crossing of the...
. This ridge route is also followed by the Beacons Way long-distance footpath.